Cleo Adds Automation to B2B Software

June 23, 2009 Alex Woodie

Companies that use Cleo Communications‘ VersaLex software to drive B2B transactions among System i, Unix, Windows, and Linux servers will gain new automation capabilities with version 4.1 of the product, which was announced last week.

VersaLex is the core Java-based communications engine that’s behind several products used to send and receive EDI documents over the Internet using standards such as AS2, AS3, ebXML, HTTP/S, FTP/S, and WebSphere MQ. Other products that use this core engine (and are members of Cleo’s VersaLex Suite) include VersaLex Trader (VLTrader), a managed file transfer solution; LexiCom a secure file transfer agent; VersaLex Proxy (VLProxy), a Windows-based communication proxy for VLTrader or Lexicom; and several third-party B2B offerings.

Version 4.1 brings a number of new features that will help streamline the management of B2B environments. This includes a new Web portal for VLTrader users that allows trading partners to view file transfer history and manually upload and download files. VLTrader customers also gain the capability to send and receive orders via fax, with the new VLFax component.

A new “HTTP PUT+GET” command enables users to send and receive transactions with one server command. Similarly, a new FTP feature enables the software to automatically restart failed FTP or FTP/SSH transfers. For e-mail users, this release brings the capability to send SMTP payloads to multiple recipients, without requiring an SMTP forward proxy.

The PC-based VLNavigator management software has also been enhanced with version 4.1. Users can now access VLNavigator functions remotely via a Web browser. Security has also been improved with new role-based access to hosts. Support for LDAP authentication also boosts security.

Version 4.1 also introduces support for 64-bit Windows and Linux operating systems. Support for various operating systems that had been supported in the past, such as i5/OS V5R3, have been sunsetted with this release. Check the vendor’s Web site at www.cleo.com for supported platforms with version 4.1 and system requirements.