Hi,

A Value Added Network (VAN) is a service provider that transmits your EDI data to their destinations. Value Added Networks simplify the communication process by reducing the number of parties that you have to communicate with. VANs insert themselves between trading partners.

sFTP is a secure form of the ftp command.Whenever a user opens up a regular ftp session or most other TCP/IP connections, the entire transmission made between the host and the user is sent in plain text.Anyone who has the ability to snoop on the network packets can read the data, including the password information.If an unauthorized user can login, they have the opportunity to compromise the system.
When using SSH's sFTP instead of the ftp, the entire login session, including transmission of password, is encrypted.It is therefore much more difficult for an outsider to observe and collect passwords from a system using SSH/sFTP sessions.

• Edited by Kamlesh Kumar Jha Thursday, July 30, 2015 9:54 PM Duplicate line

Hi,

EDI messages are passed through a Value Added Network or "VAN". In principle a VAN is an electronic mail station for holding and passing messages.

Services for a VAN would include:
1. Storing and forwarding messages
2. Communication between standard data formats
3. Detecting and correcting errors
4. Message decryption and encryption

Let me explain you with below diagram, 

Customer's order will send to VAN using FTP or sFTP adapter that will be outbound process and the revert process will be customer receive order acknowledgment or Invoice from VAN system through FTP or sFTP adapter.

Same Process will be configured in Supplier's system, they can receive orders through VAN using FTP or sFTP adapter, and can send Invoices through VAN using same adapter. 

It's very simple.  There is nothing special about a VAN, and there really isn't any "VAN" protocol.

A VAN is just a private network, like a VPN, that send files from one Trading Partner to another.  The "Value Added" usually just means the VAN will automatically route and deliver an EDI Interchange based on the Receive Identifier, ISA 03 & 04.  Some, like SWIFT, will do validation.

The on premise VAN endpoint, sometimes call a mailbox, is usually just an FTP site or sometimes a WMQ Queue.  So, BizTalk interfaces with the VAN through FTP.

There is no difference in the EDI.

1) You can either send EDI data through VAN or directly on FTP Server through BizTalk.

2) No, don't need to install any extra thing to use VAN, you can connect VAN through FTP or sFTP. 

3) Yes, you need to creating a BizTalk Server EDI solution and then trading partners (Receiver, Sender), business profiles and Agreements. Please refer below some useful link and video tutorial, video demonstrates how to create trading partners and business profiles.

https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/biztalk/gg153503

https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb226385.aspx

And to create business profiles and Agreements you will required the value of ISA5, ISA6, ISA7 and ISA8.

Hi,

VAN or value added network is used to transmit EDI messages . There is nothing special about it ,its only the networking part to communicate with system exchanging EDI messages.

You can use FTP or SFTP or any protocol over VAN to transmit the EDI messages .

Thanks

Abhishek

We get the source data from ERP system, we massage it and send the data out in EDI format to VAN . 1) So how different way BizTalk have to send data to VAN ? 2) Do we need to install anything in our BizTalk side because of VAN? 3) do we need to set like party settings like Receiver and Sender information like ISA04 and ISA06 in admin

We get the source data from ERP system, we massage it and send the data out in EDI format to VAN . 1) So how different way BizTalk have to send data to VAN ? 2) Do we need to install anything in our BizTalk side because of VAN? 3) do we need to set like party settings like Receiver and Sender information like ISA04 and ISA06 in admin console

Hi,

I will try to address your question and may it help you

1) So how different way BizTalk have to send data to VAN ?

VAN is a network to share EDI messages . There is difference between network and network protocol ,so you dont need to may much more attention here to the network here .FTP and SFTP are the protocol to transmit data over the network .These are the item which require the setup and the configuration .

2) Do we need to install anything in our BizTalk side because of VAN?

No, you don't need to install anything over BizTalk environment to transmit message over network.

3) do we need to set like party settings like Receiver and Sender information like ISA04 and ISA06 in admin console

VAN is totally independent of BizTalk process .So the business  process of sending edi messages remain unaffected with the VAN network

Thanks

Abhishek