The new B2B Add-On for SAP NetWeaver Process

Integration
As you might have already seen the Announcement: B2B adapters for SAP NetWeaver PI that
SAP plans to release some B2B adapters for SAP NetWeaver Process Integration. It is time for
sharing some further details: These B2B adapters will be provided as comprehensive B2B Add-
On allowing to run B2B processes as part of an existing SAP NetWeaver PI based integration
hub or as dedicated B2B integration hub. It comes with a set of B2B protocol adapters, converter
modules and B2B infrastructure services for serving the B2B/EDI integration needs of most
industries.

Just FYI: In addition to the B2B add-on SAP intends to deliver an SFTP adapter and adapter
module for PGP encryption, too.

Technical architecture

The B2B Add-On runs on the SAP NetWeaver Process Integration Adapter Framework, based
on the Java Connector Architecture (JCA). Accordingly its capabilities are being used for
enabling the common message delivery options (best-effort, exactly-once, exactly-once-in-
order), an automatic retry mechanism and information logging. The configuration of B2B
adapters, monitoring and operations is done in the same way as for other adapters of SAP
NetWeaver PI. The B2B Add-On runs fully in the Java stack and supports all valid deployment
options of SAP NetWeaver PI (ABAP + Java, Java only).

Product availability and supported releases

The B2B Add-On will be released for SAP Enhancement Package 1 for SAP NetWeaver PI 7.1
and SAP NetWeaver PI 7.3 at the beginning of Q2 2012 (date is subject to change). A version
for SAP Enhancement Package 1 of SAP NetWeaver PI 7.3 will follow at a later point in time.

Product components
Now, let’s take a closer look at the scope of the B2B Add-On for SAP NetWeaver Process
Integration. The B2B Add-On comprises of three building blocks:
  B2B protocol adapters enabling a standards based exchange of B2B documents
with business partners
 Converter modules for transforming native EDI and plain text formats into XML
messages
 B2B infrastructure services allowing to manage and process EDI documents properly

B2B protocol adapters

The B2B Add-On comes with three adapters supporting specific B2B/EDI messaging protocols:

 AS2 adapter
 OFTP adapter
 X.400 adapter

AS2 adapter

AS2 enables companies to exchange business documents securely and reliably over the Internet
as defined by RFC 4130. AS2 is based on HTTP and S/MIME.

 Transport Protocols: HTTP and HTTPS (w/o proxies)

 Message level security: Message de- and encryption, signing and verification
 Authentication of partners: Via URL, AS2 sender, AS2 recipient, message subject,
message ID, signature and encryption via, X.509 certificates and RSA private keys
 Acknowledgements: Message disposition notifications synchronous and asynchronous
for inbound and outbound communication
 Character set conversion
 Support of dynamic attributes

OFTP adapter

OFTP was introduced by the Odette organization to enable secure, reliable electronic message
exchange (point-to-point or indirectly via a VAN). OFTP2 is a specification for secure document
exchange over the Internet, ISDN and X.25 networks.

 Supported OFTP versions: OFTP1.x and OFTP2, certified by Odette

 Transport protocols: TCP/IP, ISDN (X.25) for transport via RCAPI & Funkwerk ISDN
Routers
 Authentication: Via cryptographic handshake or against the Odette trusted services list
 Encryption: SSL encryption of the transport layer with client authentication. CMS
encryption, signing and compression of the messages
 Acknowledgements: End to end responses (optionally signed)
 Automatic exchange of certificates with partners
 Character set conversion
 Support of dynamic attributes

X.400 adapter

The X.400 adapter is used for VAN based communication using the P7 Protocol to connect to
X.400 mailboxes.
  Transport protocols: TCP/IP (w/o SSL), support of SOCKS5 proxy
 Authentication: Content-based sender determination as multiple partners and message
types might share one mailbox
 Document content: IA5 text, binary and bilaterally defined body parts, general text
extended body parts
 Acknowledgements: Delivery, non delivery report, submission reports
 Configurable poll schedule (per weekday, time-dependent)
 Configurable maximum number of messages per poll
 Support of dynamic attributes

Converter modules
The B2B Add-On contains a set of adapter modules allowing to convert native EDI messages
into EDI XML messages and the other way around. In addition to that a plain text module is
being provided for handling custom B2B message formats in the same way. This content
conversion is beneficial as SAP NetWeaver PI is optimized for processing XML messages.

The converter modules can be used together with any transport protocol adapter for inbound and
outbound communication. They support all common message type and versions of the following
B2B/EDI standards:

 ANSI X.12
 EDIFACT
 TRADACOM
 Odette
 VDA
 Plain text

The conversion rules are maintained in tables. A maintenance tool is being provided allowing
you to modify or create conversion rules as needed. Additional features are as follows:

 Syntax check of inbound B2B/EDI messages (optionally)

 Ability to generate XSD definitions which can be imported into the Enterprise Services
Repository (for designing service interfaces, mappings)
 Test features for validating EDI messages and generating sample EDI messages
 Automatic detection of message type and conversion direction at runtime
 Maintenance of number ranges for automatically inserting continuous counters into
outgoing EDI messages

B2B infrastructure services

In addition to the technical connectivity, message handling and processing specific B2B/EDI
related infrastructure services are being delivered ensuring a secure and professional integration
B2B/EDI message exchange with your business partners, such as:

 Security through key management: Digital certificates and keys are centrally managed in
the key store views of the SAP Java application server.
 EDI numbering: Generation of transmission numbers to insert automatically continuous
counters into outgoing EDI messages
 Acknowledgement handling: Generation and handling of acknowledgements compliant
with respective B2B/EDI protocol standard.
  Archiving of B2B messages: Adapter module extending basic archiving functionality
which is built into the AS2, X.400 and OFTP adapter. In and outgoing messages can be
stored on the file system with more information (e.g. IDoc number in filename, archiving
per business partner, etc.).
 B2B mapping functions: A library of specific mapping functions needed for EDI/B2B
communication. Besides, some basic mapping templates (EDI <-> IDoc) are being
provided for testing purposes.
 EDI splitting of inbound messages: This service requires a bit more explanation than the
ones above: The EDI separator is an adapter is used for splitting inbound Electronic Data
Interchanges comprising of multiple messages. Depending on the EDI standard splitting
is done on the following segments:
o EDIFACT – split per service string advice (UNA,) interchange header (UNB),
message header (UNH) segment
o ANSI X.12 – split per interchange control header (ISA), functional group header
(GS), transaction set header (ST) segment
o VDA – split per start segment

In addition to that the messages can be filtered by parameters like message type, version, sender,
and receiver. Character set conversion is supported, too.

You might wonder how the EDI Splitter Adapter is used and how it works? Let’s take a look at
the single steps performed in SAP NetWeaver PI:

1. Electronic Data Interchange comprising of multiple B2B messages received by any

technical adapter of SAP NetWeaver Process Orchestration
2. Outbound EDI Separator Adapter splitting Electronic Data Interchange into single B2B
messages
3. Single B2B messages received by SAP NetWeaver Process Orchestration and mapped to
corresponding internal message format (IDoc, Enterprise Service)
4. Optionally acknowledgement generated and sent to business partner
5. IDoc/Enterprise Service sent to receiving application
Common problems and guides related to B2B
Add-On
Перейти к концу метаданных

 Создатель Former Member, отредактировано авг 18, 2015

Переход к началу метаданных

1) Installation of B2B Add-on 1.0

note 1690557 - When will the SAP standard SFTP and B2B adapters be available?

note 1695520 - Download location of business to business add on 1.0 in SMP

note 1695522 - Compatibility Matrix: PI-B2B Add-On 1.0

note 1772535 - Patches not getting installed for SFTPPGP AddOn & B2B AddOn

note 2067194 - Unresolved dependencies error when deploying SFTP

adapter(PIB2BOFTP*)

note 2172007 - How to import B2B Content

Please note that you must install the Secure Connectivity add-on before installing the
B2B add-on.

SP Update Guide/ Direct Installation Guide for business-to-business add-on 1.0

Master Guide for Secure Connectivity Add-On 1.0

2) Configuring Adapters

 Configuring the Communication Channels with the AS2 Adapter

 Configuring the Communication Channels with the OFTP Adapter
 Configuring the Communication Channels with the X.400 Adapter
 Configuring the Communication Channel with EDI Separator Adapter

3) Configuring Adapter Modules

 Configuring the Archiver Module

 Configuring the NRO Module
 Configuring the ANSI ASC X12-XML Converter Module
 Configuring the EDIFACT-XML Converter Module
 Configuring the EANCOM-XML Converter Module
 Configuring the Generic Converter Module
 Configuring the ODETTE-XML Converter Module
  Configuring the PLAIN-XML Converter Module
 Configuring the TRADACOMS-XML Converter Module
 Configuring the VDA-XML Converter Module
 Configuring the EDI Search Parameter Module
 Configuring the Module Configuration Parameters

4) FAQ notes

note 1692749 - FAQ: PI OFTP2 Adapter

note 1692751 - FAQ: PI X400 Adapter

note 1692752 - FAQ: PI AS2 Adapter

note 1692813 - FAQ: PI EDI Separator Adapter

note 1692814 - FAQ:PI EDI Modules-Plain Text,Archiving,Odette,VDA and X12

note 1692820 - FAQ: PI B2B Content Generator Toolset

note 2172012 - Setting XPI Inspector log locations for tracing B2B adapters and
modules

Additional Information

SCN main page for B2B Integration with SAP Process Orchestration

 SP4 Released: B2B Add-On and Secure Connectivity Add-On

 SP3 Released: B2B Add-On and Secure Connectivity Add-On
 SP2 Released: B2B Add-On and Secure Connectivity Add-On
 SP1 Released: B2B Add-On and Secure Connectivity Add-On

Seeburger Suite for SAP PI

Common problems and guides related to Secure connectivity Add-On

SAP continues licensing simplification of its Process Orchestration portfolio: B2B Add-
On now included

Common problems and guides related to Secure connectivity Add-On