Environments of the Data Exchange Layer and API Catalogue

The Suomi.fi Data Exchange Layer contains three different environments: a development environment, a test environment and a production environment. The API Catalogue presents the organisations and services available in the production environment of the Data Exchange Layer. Respectively, the Test API Catalogue presents organisations and services in the test environment.

Data Exchange Layer environments

• Development environment (FI-DEV): You can test how the Data Exchange Layer works without the obligation to join a test or production environment. Private individuals may also join the development environment.
• Test environment (FI-TEST): You must always join the test environment before joining the production environment. The test environment functions in a similar manner to the production environment and allows you to test how the Data Exchange Layer works and how it can be joined.
• Production environment (FI): The production environment is the official environment of the Data Exchange Layer. You must always join the test environment before moving on to the production environment.

API Catalogue environments

Picture: API Catalogue Environments.

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Like the Data Exchange Layer’s test environment, the Test API Catalogue is intended for testing purposes: for example, you can test how the API Catalogue works and how to add descriptions.

• Test API CatalogueOpens in a new window.: In the Test API Catalogue, you can browse the organisations that have joined the Data Exchange Layer’s test environment (FI-TEST) as well as their available services. Practice editing your organisation’s data and subsystem, or API, descriptions in the Test API Catalogue before moving on to the production environment. You will be provided with a user ID to the Test API Catalogue once you have joined the Data Exchange Layer’s test environment.
• API CatalogueOpens in a new window.: The API Catalogue contains a list of all organisations that have joined the Data Exchange Layer’s production environment (FI). You will be provided with a user ID to the API Catalogue once you have joined the Data Exchange Layer’s production environment.

No API Catalogue is available for the Data Exchange Layer’s development environment (FI-DEV). This means that the organisations that have joined it and their services are not described anywhere.

Details and comparison of the Data Exchange Layer's environments

Development environment (FI-DEV)

The development environment is a free form piloting environment where you can join without first joining the test or production environments themselves. In the development environment you can try out the functions of the Data Exchange Layer, test new software versions or validate the results of your own development efforts.

Compared to the test and production environments, the primary difference of the development environment is that also private persons may join it. By contrast, the test and production environments only allow recognised domestic and foreign organisations to join them.

The development environment uses certificates that belong to the operator maintaining the service. These certificates can be obtained by email without an actual application process. The same operator also maintains the timestamp service of the development environment. 

Read instructions about joining the development environment.

Test environment (FI-TEST)

The functionality of the test environment corresponds to that of the production environment. Joining the test environment is the first step towards the production environment. As a rule, joining the test environment means that the organisation intends to join the production environment as well. If there is no such intention, the correct environment for the organisation is the development environment.

An organisation must always join the test environment before transferring to the production environment. It is not possible to join the production environment directly. However, an organisation can join both the test and production environments at the same time.

The test environment can only be joined by Finnish and foreign recognised organisations.

The test environment uses the certificates that are specially tailored for the Data Exchange Layer by the Digital and Population Data Services Agency. The Digital and Population Data Services Agency acts as the Certificate Authority for these certificates. Certificates are applied with the user permit application you complete when joining the Data Exchange Layer. The test environment uses the Digital and Population Data Services Agency’s timestamp service, which uses the official exact time of Finland.

Production environment (FI)

The production environment is the official environment of the Data Exchange Layer. Before an organisation can join the production environment, it must first join the test environment. It is not possible to join the production environment directly. However, an organisation can join both the test and production environments at the same time.

The production environment can only be joined by Finnish and foreign recognised organisations.

The production environment uses the certificates that are specially tailored for the Data Exchange Layer by the Digital and Population Data Services Agency. The Digital and Population Data Services Agency acts as the Certificate Authority for these certificates. Certificates are applied with the user permit application you complete when joining the Data Exchange Layer. The production environment uses the Digital and Population Data Services Agency’s timestamp service, which uses the official exact time of Finland.

The API Catalogue describes the subsystemsOpens in a new window. you can find in the production environment of the Data Exchange Layer.

You can also test the X-Road software of the Data Exchange Layer in an introductory environment in X-Road -PlaygroundOpens in a new window.. No IDs or applications are required to use the X-Road -Playground. 

Summary table

Table 1. Summary of Data Exchange Layer's environments.