AS2

Learn about connecting to external AS2 providers with Couchdrop

Introduction

Couchdrop supports AS2 connectors, enabling secure file exchanges with partners using the AS2 protocol. Designed for EDI transfers, AS2 ensures both security and reliability. With Couchdrop, you can connect to external AS2 partners to send files outbound, or receive files as an AS2 provider. This section focuses on configuring connections to external AS2 partners for outbound transfers.

To configure Inbound AS2 - visit Inbound AS2 Stations

Requirements

To set up an AS2 connector, generally, you will need the following:

• Access to Couchdrop, with the appropriate user rights. Talk to your admin to get these.

• AS2 Partner ID (AS2 ID)

• AS2 Target URL

• AS2 Trading partners public certificate

• Your AS2 signing certificate

Configuration Steps

1. Log in to Couchdrop and add a new storage connection

2. Select Outbound AS2 from the list of available connections

3. Configure the Name and virtual folder name

4. Set the partner configuration details and upload the partners public certificate.

5. Upload your public and private key for signing under Message Signature Configuration

6. Save and Test

Now when file browsing you will see your newly created folder and every file dropped in will be sent to your configured partner.

We recommend testing a partner upload after initial configuration.

How it works

AS2 is different to most storage connections in Couchdrop in that it only supports outbound transfers. You can think of AS2 as a messaging protocol rather than a file storage or transfer protocol. With AS2 - operations like listing directory contents and downloading files are not supported.

In Couchdrop - an external AS2 connection is surfaced in the virtual filesystem as an outbound folder where files can be upload/sent.

We recommend learning about Virtual Folders here - External AS2 connections will appear as virtual folders.

When files are uploaded into an AS2 folder - Couchdrop wraps the files in an AS2 message, encrypts the file and sends it to the external provider.

Supported features with external AS2 servers.

Feature	Supported
Inbound SFTP and FTPs	Yes - Upload only
Inbound Mailboxes	Yes
Upload Links	Yes
Inbound Web hooks (https)	Yes
Inbound AS2	Yes
Inbound S3 (S3 Gateway)	Yes
File Actions	Yes - Upload only
Transfer Automations	Yes - Upload Only