Using MLLP

Owned by Gunjan Tulwani (Unlicensed)
Last updated: Oct 04, 2017 by Saurabh Gupta (Unlicensed)Version comment
4 min read

The Minimal Lower Layer Protocol (MLLP) is the most common mechanism for exchanging the HL7 data. MLLP uses the TCP/IP protocol to transfer the data in a continuous stream of bytes. MLLP delimiters are used to recognize the start and the end of a message.

Adeptia Suite supports the transfer of data using MLLP. You can configure Adeptia Suite as MLLP Server or MLLP client. 

 

Configuring MLLP Server

MLLP Server is used to receive the data. When an MLLP activity is configured in server mode, it opens the specified port and waits from the specified client to send the data.
 

Steps to configure MLLP Server

  1. Go to Develop > Services > Connector > MLLP Configuration.

     

  2. Click Create New.

     

  3. On the New MLLP Configuration window, type the name and description for the new MLLP activity in the Name and Description.
  4. Expand TCP Connection. 
  5. Type the IP address and port number of the client in the Host Name and Port. This is the host and port from where MLLP server is supposed to receive the data.
  6. Select Server from the Mode Type.



  7. Type the maximum number of retries which the adapter attempts to connect to a specific TCP/IP connection before giving up in the Connection Retry Count.
  8. Type the duration between the retries in the Interval Between Retry. This specifies the length of time (in seconds) the adapter waits between attempts to connect to a specific external TCP/IP connection. 
  9. Expand MLLP.



  10. Type the start, end, and last text character in the Start Text Character, End Text Character, and Last Text Character.
  11. Type the data timeout duration in the Data Time Out. This time (in seconds) specifies the length of time for which client will try to transmit the data.
  12. Type the data polling frequency in the Data Polling Frequency. This is the time interval between successive polls for data.
  13. Type the acknowledgment timeout duration in the Ack Time Out field. This time (in seconds) specifies the length of time for inactivity.
  14. Type the acknowledgment polling frequency in the Ack Polling Frequency. This is the time interval between successive polls for acknowledgment.
  15. Provide the location to store the received data in the File Base Location. The received data is stored in the file named as Message_<yyyy-MM-dd-hh-mm-ss-SSS>. This file doesn't have any extension.
  16. Select the process flow from the Process Flow Name to trigger when any data is received.
  17. Expand Advanced Properties. For information about the fields, refer to Changing Advanced Properties.
  18. Click Save. 

 

Configuring MLLP Client

MLLP Client is used to send the data to the specified MLLP server. While creating the MLLP Client, you need to define the data location. As soon as any data is stored, it starts sending the data to the specified MLLP Server. 

Steps to configure MLLP Client

  1. Go to Develop > Services > Connector > MLLP.

  2. Click Create New. 

     

  3. Type the name and description for the new MLLP activity in the Name and Description text boxes.
  4. Expand TCP Connection. 
  5. Type the IP address and port number of the server in the Host Name and Port. This is the name of the host and port from where MLLP client is supposed to transmit the data.
  6. Select Client from the Mode Type.

  7. Type the maximum number of retries which the adapter attempts to connect to a specific TCP/IP connection before giving up in the Connection Retry Count.
  8. Type the duration between the retries in the Interval Between Retry. This specifies the length of time (in seconds) the adapter waits between attempts to connect to a specific external TCP/IP connection.
  9. Expand MLLP. 



  10. Type the start, end, and last text character in the Start Text Character, End Text Character, and Last Text Character.
  11. Type the data polling frequency in the Data Polling Frequency. This is the time interval between successive polls for data.
  12. Type the acknowledgment timeout duration in the Ack Time Out field. This time (in seconds) specifies the length of time for inactivity.
  13. Type the acknowledgment polling frequency in the Ack Polling Frequency. This is the time interval between successive polls for acknowledgment.
  14. Provide the location to store the transmitted data in the File Base Location. The data is stored in the file named as Message_<yyyy-MM-dd-hh-mm-ss-SSS>. This file doesn't have any extension.
  15. Select Ignore Sub-Folders check box to not to transmit the files present in the subfolders of the provided File Base Location.
  16. Expand Advanced Properties. For information about the fields, refer to Changing Advanced Properties.
  17. Click Save.

Activating MLLP Activity

Once you create the MLLP server or client, you need to activate it in order to receive or send the data. To activate the activity:

  1. Go to Develop > Services > Connector > MLLP. 

  2. Select the MLLP activity that you want to activate and click the Activate link. The selected MLLP activity is activated and a confirmation is displayed. 

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