A SMP (Service Metadata Publisher) is a component of the PEPPOL network that publishes the capabilities of a PEPPOL participant — specifically, which document types they can receive and at which access point endpoint URL. It is the mechanism by which senders discover where to deliver a document.
The lookup chain works as follows:
- Sender queries the SML (Service Metadata Locator) — a DNS-based registry — to find which SMP hosts the receiver's metadata
- Sender queries that SMP to retrieve the receiver's endpoint URL and supported document types
- Sender delivers the document to the receiver's access point via AS4
Each PEPPOL participant is registered in exactly one SMP, identified by their PEPPOL ID (scheme + value, e.g. 0184:CHE123456789).
Key facts
- Standard: OASIS SMP 1.0 / 2.0
- Works with: SML (DNS) for SMP discovery
- Each access point operator runs an SMP for their connected participants
- Allows dynamic routing without central message broker
- Central EU SMP operated by the European Commission (for public procurement)