Chapter 8. ebXML Technical Architecture

The combination of real-world business needs, previous experience with EDI, and availability of new web technologies offered the ebXML initiative an opportunity to craft a new technology for conducting electronic business. This chapter discusses ebXML's technology in more detail, in order for companies to evaluate its potential to support their business goals. This additional level of detail should also help technical managers and specialists get a head start on implementation and making transition plans to ebXML.

However, this chapter is not a substitute for the ebXML specifications or technical reports themselves. While rich in detail, the chapter doesn't provide the kind of concrete guidance that systems developers need to write new systems supporting ebXML. Only the ebXML specifications themselves can provide those kinds of details, and we encourage technical developers to download the documents (available free of charge) from the ebXML web site (www.ebxml.org). Another good techical resource is the ebXML Developers List; see www.ebxml.org/participate.htm for more details and to sign up.

The chapter describes the various parts of the ebXML technical architecture and related issues:

• Business process specifications as used in ebXML

• Registries and repositories that store the data objects used in ebXML messages and list potential trading partners

• Technical aspects of the trading partner relationship, called collaboration protocol agreements ( CPAs ), for establishing the rules of the road

• Messaging services that specify the packaging of ebXML messages, as well as their transport and routing

• Core components that provide the ability to exchange messages between industries

• Steps for getting a company operational with ebXML