Inbound AS2 Stations

Learn about how to configure Couchdrop to receive files via AS2

Introduction

Couchdrop supports inbound AS2, enabling secure file exchanges with partners using the AS2 protocol to send and receive data.

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 station. This section focusses on receiving data as an AS2 station in Couchdrop from partners.

Requirements

To support receiving files via AS2 in Couchdrop - you need to create an AS2 Station to receive files from your trading partners using the AS2 protocol. Every station will have a unique URL where your partners can send you files and these files will be mapped to a folder in Couchdrop.

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

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

• A folder or details for a cloud storage drive and rights to manage it.

• Information from the partners you wish to receive files such as their AS2 ID and the signing certificate to validate the signature of the incoming files.

	Field Type
AS2 ID	Required
Signing Certificate	Required

Creating an AS2 Station

To create the AS2 Station, follow the steps below:

1. Click Create New AS2 Station. If you don't see this option, talk to your administrator.

2. Provide a name for the AS2 Station. This is simply so you can identify it.

3. Provide the AS2 ID for your station. You will need to share this ID with your trading partners.

4. Add your private key and public certificate for file decryption and MDN (Message disposition notification) signing. You can choose to use the same key pair for decryption and signing or use a different pair for each.

5. Select a location for files to arrive. This is the place where files sent by your AS2 trading partners will be located. You can choose an existing folder, or configure a new cloud storage connection here. Once you are done, click Save and Continue.

6. Add your AS2 trading partner

   1. Click Create New AS2 Trading Partner.

   2. Provide a name for your AS2 partner

   3. Add the partner's AS2 ID provided by them.

   4. Add the partner's signing certificate provided by them.

   5. Once you are done, click Save and Back.

7. Now you will see your recently added trading partner in the AS2 Trading Partners table, you could add more trading partners by repeating the steps described above. When done, click Save and Continue.

Using the AS2 Station

For the file transmission to be successful you will need to share the following information with your AS2 trading partners:

• Station AS2 ID

• Station URL

• Certificate file for signing

• Certificate file for encryption

As an option, you can use the Share Instructions action to send this information.