Getting Started

Overview of Requirements

To get up and running with Multilink EDI's SPEC 2000, all you need is:

	The SPEC 2000 modules of your choice
	A Pentium class PC running Windows 2000 Professional / Server, XP, Windows 2003 Server Family with 32 Mbyte of RAM, 30 Mbyte for program files, 100 Mbyte free storage for normal operation with a CD-ROM/floppy drive and a printer (as a minimum).
	A modem (V22bis Hayes compatible).

NB: According to SITA/Equant, SITATEX will not run on a US Robotics 56K modem.

	A network connection – SITA, running SITATEX for Windows, (Application Gateway Version) or ARINC (using Multilink Communicator) and/or an Internet connection.
	A dedicated dial-up or leased telephone line to your nearest IATA network connection (for Sita IP-VPN).

Multilink EDI can arrange all these elements for you through our Project Management Service.

ARINC/SITA and/or Multilink EDI's Message Portal Network Connection

Multilink EDI offers you network independence – you can choose whichever IATA network (ARINC or SITA) or our own Message Portal to meet your needs . Changing network supplier at any time is easy and should just involve simple configuration changes.

Your choice of IATA network will have significant effects on your annual costs

The networks differ in four main ways:
	The way you receive messages
	The length of the contract
	Initial costs and monthly charges
	Connection lead times

Our SPEC 2000 software is compatible with SITA, ARINC networks and also our own Message Portal. We have many customers using more than one of these networks together. Whichever network you use, you can seemlessly send and receive messages to/from users of either network.

I do not have an ARINC , SITA or Message Portal network connection – what do I need to do?

You will need to purchase the Multilink EDI's Communicator for ARINCs Avinet or SITA’s SITATEX for Windows, Multilink EDI can arrange this for you through our Project Management Service.

I currently have a SITA connection – what do I need to do?

Multilink EDI’s SPEC 2000 will work with any SITATEX for Windows version or SITA4 (Application Gateway version). Multilink EDI can arrange this for you through our Project Management Upgrade Service.

I currently have an ARINC connection – what do I need to do?

Multilink EDI’s SPEC 2000 will work on ARINC’s Avinet network, using the Multilink EDI's Communicator. You may need to upgrade to this latest version. Multilink EDI can arrange this for you through our Project Management Upgrade Service.

SPEC 2000 and the Internet

The Air Transport Association and the aviation community is watchful of the continual advances in the Internet, and Multilink EDI is currently part of a Working Party investigating the best ways of using SPEC 2000 on the Internet.

No one method has yet been agreed, as each company appears to have different views on which is the best way. So, to adopt an Internet enabled package today may well mean that the eventual industry standard is different.

However, some users want Internet solutions now, and Multilink EDI has added Internet capability to the standard SPEC 2000 software suite. This will enable a company to send and receive SPEC 2000 messages over either ARINC Avinet, Sitatex for Windows / SITA IP VPN or the Internet Email system. To successfully communicate via Email over the Internet, your trading partner(s) will also need to be using Multilink EDI’s Internet enabled SPEC 2000 software.

Multilink EDI's Internet enabled software is highly suitable for companies wishing to communicate internally between different company sites.

Multilink EDI's Message Portal

Multilink EDI's Message Portal enables your organisation to trade with your trading partners without them having to purchase SPEC 2000. Multilink EDI hosts an on-line message entry system to enable your organisation to have a virtual SPEC 2000 Internet e-commerce site.

This helps your organisation to lever maximum value from your Multilink EDI SPEC 2000 system and will consolidate all your trading into a single easily maintainable system.

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