XFS 3.x and XFS4IoT
XFS 3.x and XFS4IoT are two generations of the same standard. XFS 3.x is a C interface for the Windows PC inside the machine. XFS4IoT is a message protocol over a network connection that does not depend on an operating system or on a single computer. Both are in use.
XFS 3.x: one Windows PC
XFS 3.x assumes a Windows computer with the devices attached to it. The application, the XFS manager and the manufacturers' service providers are programs on that PC. They call each other through a C interface and Windows messages and are configured in the Windows registry. The last edition is 3.50 (December 2022). Machines installed before XFS4IoT run it.
XFS4IoT: services over a network
XFS4IoT keeps the device model: the same kinds of devices and largely the same commands and events. It replaces the mechanics. Each device is a service that exchanges JSON messages over a secured WebSocket connection. The application can run on the machine, on another computer or in a data centre. A device service can run on any operating system. Security, discovery and lifecycle are specified in the standard instead of being left to each installation.
What carries over
- The device classes. Cash dispenser, card reader, PIN pad, printer, cash-in, sensors: the division of the machine into kinds of devices is the same.
- The commands and events. Most operations have a counterpart. The names and the data formats change; the meaning is largely the same, which is what makes a class-by-class comparison possible.
- The authors. The same Workshop writes both.
What changes
- Transport: a C API with Windows messages becomes JSON over WebSocket.
- Platform: Windows only becomes any operating system, on one computer or several.
- Security: left to the installation becomes part of the standard (TLS, authenticated services).
- Publication: CEN PDFs become CEN PDFs plus a public repository with machine-readable schemas; each release is published as a preview first.
Why both are in use
A self-service machine stays in service for many years, so the XFS 3.x software in the installed base will run until those machines are replaced. New machines and new applications can use XFS4IoT. For banks, vendors and software houses the practical question is how to run both: the same application against an older machine and a newer one, and the same device software behind both interfaces.