This Network Update was distributed via the Exchange Network email alerts list on June 2, 2008.

Final Node 2.0 Documentation Now Available

The Exchange Network governance has released the final documents that comprise Node 2.0 -- the next generation of technologies and services that will power the Exchange Network. Final versions of the Node Functional Specification, Exchange Protocol, and Web Services Description Language (WSDL) file for the Exchange Network are available at http://www.exchangenetwork.net/node/node_products.htm. The page also includes links to Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs), additional guidance documents, and some additional information on the plans for transitioning to Node 2.0 technologies.

Please keep in mind that the release of these resources only marks the beginning of the transition to Node 2.0. The Network governance is encouraging all Network Partners to evaluate their current Node 1.1 infrastructure and migrate to Node 2.0 when appropriate. There is currently no set time by which EN Partners must move to Node 2.0. U.S. EPA's Central Data Exchange (CDX) will continue to support Node 1.1 Flows for the foreseeable future. However, as new data exchanges are developed that take advantage of Node 2.0 features, EN Partners will need to evaluate the costs of staying with the Node 1.1 architecture as compared to migrating to Node 2.0 and taking advantage of the new features offered.