Now the basics are explained, we can now start with the preparation of the samples. The following prerequisites need to be performed, before the samples can be executed. Remark that the AS4.NET component can solely run on a Windows machine.
1. Create two instances of the MSH
To send/receive messages from two different MSH’s you can use your own MSH configuration or just copy the root folder to another name:
AS4 .NET Sender (acts as Access Point A)
AS4 .NET Receiver (acts as Access Point B)
When we have two instances, we can configure the one for sending and another for receiving.
When you’re done copying the Sender/Receiver folders for the Component Instances; we can continue with the configuration of the two.
2. Change the HTTP port of the receiver instance
The two instances having an own HttpReceiver in place which can be hosted on a port. Default is this 8081. It’s logical that we can’t have to HTTP endpoints on the same port, that’s why you must configure one of the two to another port. The samples are made so that the Receiver instance is on port 9090 and the Sender on port 8081.
This can be configured in the AS4 .NET Receiver\config\settings.xml in the Receive Agent’s HTTP Receiver. In the settings of this receiver, change the port to 9090.
Note that there are two agents defined in the settings.xml file that use a HttpReceiver:
- Change the address of the submitagent to http://localhost:9090/msh/submit/
- Change the address of the receiveagent to http://localhost:9090/msh/receive/
3. Copy the required sample PModes
On the sending instance, copy the following PModes from the samples folder to the AS4 .NET Sender \config\ send-pmodes folder:
- samples \ pmodes \ 01-sample-send-pmode.xml
- samples \ pmodes \ 02-sample-send-pmode.xml
- samples \ pmodes \ 03-sample-send-pmode.xml
On the receiving instance, copy the following PModes from the samples folder to the AS4 .NET Receiver \config\ receive-pmodes folder:
- samples \ pmodes \ 01-sample-receive-pmode.xml
- samples \ pmodes \ 02-sample-receive-pmode.xml
- samples \ pmodes \ 03-sample-receive-pmode.xml
On the receiving instance, copy the following PModes from the samples folder to the AS4 .NET Receiver \config\ send-pmodes folder:
- samples \ pmodes \ signed-reponse-pmode.xml
- samples \ pmodes \ unsigned-reponse-pmode.xml
4. Install the required certificates
Import the following private certificates in Certificates (Local Computer) / Personal / Certificates:
- samples \ certificates \ AccessPointA.pfx
- samples \ certificates \ AccessPointB.pfx
Don't forget to mark these certificates as exportable.
Import the following public certificates in Certificates (Local Computer) / Trusted Root Certification Authorities / Certificates:
- samples \ certificates \ AccessPointA.cer
- samples \ certificates \ AccessPointB.cer
For instructions on how to Import the certificates files please see this page <INSERT LINK HERE>.
6. Start the two MSH instances
Start both instances by right clicking on Eu.EDelivery.AS4.ServiceHandler.ConsoleHost.exe and choosing ‘Run as Administrator’
When starting the 2nd instance you will probably get an error message saying that the 3000 and 5000 port are already in use.
These ports are used to run the AS4.net Portal and Payloads.
For this sample scenario you can ignore this error as it will have no impact. To avoid this error you can change the ports of either the receive or send instance, the configuration of these ports is done in the AS4 .NET Receiver(or Sender)\bin\appsettings.json file.
3.1 Sending Simple AS4 Message
The first example consists of a AS4 message with a single payload that’s being send from one AS4 .NET Instance to another. This example is the simplest form of sending a message, it contains no compression, signing or encryption.
Go to AS4 .NET Sender\samples\messages folder and copy the 01-sample-message.xml to the configured AS4 .NET Sender in the messages\out folder.
When the two instances are running, the message will now be sent to the configured AS4 .NET Receiver and will be stored in the messages\in folder of this instance together with the attachment that was being send with it.
The sending/receiving pmodes in this example are configured to notify/deliver the “Business Application” through the file system. Any Receipts received are notified in the messages\receipts folder, any Errors received are notified in the messages\errors folder and any Exceptions generated are notified in the messages\exceptions folder.
3.2 Sending Signed AS4 Message
The second example consists of a AS4 Message with multiple payloads that’s being send from one AS4 .NET Instance to another. This example uses compression and signing of the message and will return a normal receipt to the configured AS4 .NET Sender.
Go to AS4 .NET Sender\samples\messages folder and copy the 02-sample-message.xml to the configured AS4 .NET Sender in the messages\out folder.
When the two instances are running, the message will now be sent to the configured AS4 .NET Receiver and will be stored in the messages\in folder of this instance together with the attachment that was being send with it.
The sending/receiving pmodes in this example are configured to notify/deliver the “Business Application” through the file system. Any Receipts received are notified in the messages\receipts folder, any Errors received are notified in the messages\errors folder and any Exceptions generated are notified in the messages\exceptions folder.
3.3 Sending Signed & Encrypted AS4 Message
The third example consists of a AS4 Message with multiple payloads that’s being send from one AS4 .NET Instance to another. This example uses compression, signing and encryption of the message and will return a NRR (Non-Repudiation Receipt) to the configured AS4 .NET Sender.
Go to AS4 .NET Sender\samples\messages folder and copy the 03-sample-message.xml to the configured AS4 .NET Sender in the messages\out folder.
When the two instances are running, the message will now be send to the configured AS4 .NET Receiver and will be stored in the messages\in folder of this instance together with the attachment that was being send with it.
The sending/receiving pmodes in this example are configured to notify/deliver the “Business Application” through the file system. Any Receipts received are notified in the messages\receipts folder, any Errors received are notified in the messages\errors folder and any Exceptions generated are notified in the messages\exceptions folder.
3.4 Pulling as a Receiver as an ebMS endpoint in EESSI
The AS4.NET Component can act as an ebMS endpoint in the EESSI profile and can receive AS4 Messages via Pulling.
To configure an AS4.NET MessageHandler to act as an ebMS endpoint that receives AS4 Messages from EESSI the following PModes are required:
- A Sending PMode which is used to send AS4 Messages via MultiHop in the Push Message Exchange Pattern. (eessi-push-send-pmode-AP)
- A Sending PMode that is used by a PullReceive Agent. The PullReceive Agent uses this PMode to send PullRequest signal-messages. (eessi-pull-send-pmode)
- A Receiving PMode that is used by the PullReceive Agent. When an AS4 Message is received via Pulling, the PullReceive Agent will dynamically determine the Receiving PMode that is necessary to treat the received AS4 Message. (eessi-pull-receive-pmode)
- A Sending PMode that is used to send a Receipt or Error signal-message. (eessi-pull-response-send-pmode)
To setup an EESSI ebMS endpoint, the following steps need to be undertaken:
3.4.1 Configure the Pmodes
In the samples\pmodes\eessi folder, you can find skeleton files for the PModes that were mentioned in the previous section.
You’ll need to make some minor modifications to those files in order to be able to use them within EESSI:
eessi-push-send-pmode.xml
- Configure the URL to where AS4 Messages should be pushed
- Specify the TLS certificate that must be used
- Specify the Signing certificate that must be used
- Specify the PartyInfo
eessi-pull-send-pmode.xml
- Specify the MPC that is used for pulling
- Configure the URL to where PullRequest signals must be send
- Specify the TLS certificate that must be used
- Specify the Signing certificate that must be used
eessi-pull-receive-pmode.xml
No mandatory configuration modifications are required.
eessi-pull-response-send-pmode.xml
- Configure the URL to where PullRequest signals must be send
- Specify the TLS certificate that must be used
- Specify the Signing certificate that must be used
Copy the eessi-pull-receive-pmode.xml file to config\receive-pmodes folder.
Copy the following files to the config\sending-pmodes folder:
- eessi-push-send-pmode.xml
- eessi-pull-send-pmode.xml
- eessi-pull-response-pmode.xml
3.4.2 Modify settings.xml to enable a PullReceive Agent
The settings.xml file has a PullReceive Agent configured that is currently commented out.
In the configuration of that PullReceive Agent you’ll see that the eessi-pull-send-pmode is used to send PullRequest signal-messages. The PullReceive Agent will send PullRequest messages in intervals that vary from 1 second to 25 seconds, depending on the response that is received for the PullRequest. When no messages are received as a result of a PullRequest, the interval will gradually increase until a maximum interval of 25 seconds is reached. When messages are received, the interval will be reset to the configured minimum-interval.
Remove the comments and start the AS4.NET component. You’ll see that the AS4.NET MSH will start sending PullRequest signal-messages to the URL that has been configured in the eessi-pull-send-pmode.