Please see attached for step by step instructions on how to set up an AS2, SFTP/FTPS, API, or web services connection to Loren Data via your ECGrid portal interface.
SETTING UP OR UPDATING MY CONNECTION TO ECGRID
All connectivity configuration and maintenance can be done by going to Mailboxes/My Connections to ECGrid:
Once you have navigated to the connections tab, you can choose your connection in the secondary navigation panel and edit the information as needed. The portal allows for full self-service configuration and management of your SFTP/FTPS, AS2, API, and Command line tool access. Additional protocols are under development and will be made available in a future release, such as OFTP and AS4, which are still available by reaching out to Support directly.
*Please Note: The My Connections tab provides options for connecting your network and mailboxes to the Loren Data network, not your trading partners’. Special connections to trading partners such as Walmart and Amazon can be configured on the Trading Partner Connections to ECGrid tab.
AS2
Under the AS2 tab, you can find information on Loren Data’s default AS2 profile and information on the top half of the page. The bottom half of the page allows you to upload your AS2 profile information and certificate.
ECGrid’s smart and adaptive AS2 technology means we only require three fields to successfully connect to your AS2 profile. You must provide your AS2 ID, AS2 url, and AS2 certificate, then click on “Add AS2”:
You are welcome to update the other fields and parameters at your discretion.
Once you add your profile, you will see it active on this AS2 tab. From this point, you are able to edit and maintain your profile as necessary.
To Edit your AS2 ID, url, or other parameters, click the green Edit button.
To upload a new certificate, click “Choose File” under the Add Certificates section. Navigate to the new certificate on your computer, choose the date and time you wish to make it effective, then click the “Add Certificate” button.
*Please note: If the ECGrid certificate that you are connecting to is expiring within the next 90 days, you can download the new one from this page. Our certificate renewal technology runs the new certificate in parallel with the current certificate, allowing you to update the certificate at your convenience. Once you upload the new ECGrid certificate, you must send a test or a file signing with the new certificate. This notifies our network that you have successfully uploaded the new certificate and we automatically switch your profile to the new certificate on our end.
SFTP/FTPS
The SFTP/FTPS tab on the portal provides connectivity for SFTP and FTPS connections. Our ECGrid SFTP/FTPS FAQ document provides our profile and technical information:
*Please note: ECGrid highly recommends using SFTP, (SSH FTP), which adds encryption and better TCP/IP handling.
To activate the provisioned SFTP/FTPS connection, make note of your password, (once you click Activate, you will no longer be able to view the password in text format), then click “Activate” at the bottom of the page:
Host/Servers: This url is used, regardless of whether you choose to connect through SFTP or FTPS.
Username: ECGrid strongly recommends using the provided Username, to allow our Support staff to more easily assist you in troubleshooting any issues. However, if you choose to update the Username, please note there is a 15-character limit.
Password: You can change your password at any time; however, you must include at least one lower-case letter, one upper-case letter, one number, and one special character, (!@#$%^&*). There is also an 8-character minimum.
Certificate (SSH-optional): You can use this field to provide the SSH certificate format.
Delete on Download: If you delete files through your script, you can leave this field as defaulted to No. If you choose to have us delete the file once it’s been downloaded, change the button from No to Yes.
IP Addresses: If you choose to connect via SFTP, you do not have to add IP addresses to your profile. However, if you choose to connect via FTPS, you must include all IP addresses that will connect to ECGrid. The IP addresses must be added on separate lines. If you are unsure of your IP address, it is provided for you at the bottom of the page, above the “Activate” button. However, please note this is only the IP address for the desktop you are working from. You will also want to include all addresses related to your communication server and firewall.
Testing: Once you activate your connection, you can test the connection in both directions from the bottom of the page. You must have active IDs already on your mailbox to complete the testing. You are able to Test Download and Test Upload. You are also able to download a test file for your convenience.
API (and Windows Command Line Tool)
Built to support high volume communications, ECGrid’s web services API supports over 150 functions, providing direct access to account creation, user administration, ID and partnership management, transaction visibility, and much more.
ECGridOS supports SOAP and HTTP protocols to allow you to manage your mailbox and data or integrate it within your own systems for automation.
For more information on ECGridOS, please visit the Official ECGridOS Website on GitHub at: https://github.com/LorenData/ECGrid-API
To view the WSDL or HTTP formats and to try out the calls online, go to: https://os.ecgrid.io/v4.1/prod/ECGridOS.asmx
The Windows Command Line Tool can also be accessed directly from your user interface. The ECGridOS Windows Command Line Tool uploads and downloads files using ECGridOS Web Services over an SSL encrypted channel on port 443 (just like HTTPs on your web browser). This application can be run on any Windows computer, XP or new, with .NET 3.5 or later installed.