About iLink®
The iLink order entry solution allows customers to access the electronic CME Globex® markets virtually 24 hours a day. The iLink interface facilitates entry, modification and cancellation of orders, as well as receipt of order confirmation and fill information. iLink, based on the FIX 4.X industry standard protocol, allows customers to create customized interfaces to execute orders for all products listed on CME Globex. iLink is not an API; a socket connection creates a session between CME and the client through FIX protocol, which eliminates the need for any Standard Template Libraries (STL).

To facilitate customer development, documentation is available online in the iLink SDK. Comprehensive documentation for CME Globex connectivity and development is available in the CME Globex Software Development Kits.

iTOPS
To accommodate the needs of customers and FCMs who trade on both CME Globex and the trading floors, CME has extended the iLink 2.X architecture and functionality to include routing orders to the floor, including CUBS workstations. iTOPS allows iLink customers to route orders to the TOPS system and to receive order status and fill information.