Partner types

The partner list plays an important role during the administration of partners. A distinction is made between three types of partner systems depending on whether and in what form partner systems are entered in the partner list.

• Named partners:
  All partners that are entered with their addresses and names in the partner list

• Registered dynamic partners:
  All partners that are entered with their addresses but without a name in the partner list

• Free dynamic partners:
  All partners that are not entered in the partner list

Registered dynamic partners and free dynamic partners are both simply referred to as dynamic partners.

Named partners

In FT requests, named partners are addressed using the names defined for them in the partner list.

These partners remain in the partner list until they are deleted from it by the FT administrator. If authentication is required for the connection to a partner then this partner should be entered in the partner list.

The use of named partners has the following advantages:

• Complex partner addresses do not have to be specified explicitly in openFT requests.

• Security is enhanced because only partners that are genuinely recognized can be permitted.

• openFT requests are independent of address changes: Procedures, scripts or programs with automated openFT requests use the partner name and do not have to be modified in the case of address changes.

Although a named partner can also be connected to via its address, in all openFT tasks such as logging or request queue activities, the partner name is displayed.

Registered dynamic partners

All partners that are entered only with their addresses but without names in the partner list are registered dynamic partners. They can only be accessed via the address and possess at least one attribute that differs from the default value for a free dynamic partner (see section "Free dynamic partners").

If the FT administrator resets all the attributes for a partner of this type to the default values then this partner is removed from the partner list and becomes a free dynamic partner.

Free dynamic partners

Free dynamic partners are all the partners that are not entered in the partner list. They are therefore not displayed when you enter ftshwptn without specifying a partner name or partner address.

Partners of this type can only be connected to via their address and, with the exception of the security level (see section "FTAC security levels for partner entries"), possess default attributes in the same way as when a partner is added to the partner list.

The advantage of the free dynamic partner concept is that users can address any required partners that are not entered in the partner list. This reduces the administrator's workload in terms of administration requirements. The disadvantage lies in the increased security risk and is the reason why you are also able to prohibit the use of dynamic partners.

You can transform a free dynamic partner into a registered dynamic partner as follows:

• Enter a partner address that does not refer to any existing partner list entry

• Define one or more attributes with values other than the default (see above).

If the state of a free dynamic partner changes (e.g. to NOCON = Partner not available) and is therefore different from the default value then it is displayed in the partner list. However, it becomes a free dynamic partner again as soon as it once more becomes accessible (ACTIVE status).

Activating/deactivating dynamic partners

As FT administrator, you may prohibit the use of dynamic partners for security reasons by means of operating parameters. In this case, it is necessary to address partners via their names in the partner list. They cannot be addressed directly via their address. Inbound access is then also only permitted to partners that are entered with a partner name in the partner list.