WebSphere MQ

WebSphere MQ enables your entire messaging backbone to be remotely configured from a single console, called MQ Explorer. This graphical tool enables you to explore and configure all WebSphere MQ objects and resources, including Java Message Service (JMS), and publish and subscribe.

WebSphere MQ, Version 6.0 introduced this new configuration tool, which is based on open-source Eclipse Workbench technology. The Eclipse framework is common across IBM software products, so that WebSphere MQ Explorer can be combined with the tools of other products, such as WebSphere Message Broker, to provide a single integrated console. Because it is based on Eclipse technology, WebSphere MQ Explorer is highly customizable and fully extensible. You can add new tools as plug-ins to WebSphere MQ Explorer to add new features in a way that is integrated into the console. Documentation shipped with the WebSphere MQ Explorer provides the interfaces for plug-ins, together with examples of how to develop them so that IBM Business Partners and users can join IBM in augmenting its capabilities.

MQ Explorer can remotely connect to queue managers on any supported platform — enabling your entire messaging backbone to be viewed, explored and altered from the console. WebSphere MQ Explorer runs on Microsoft® Windows® and Linux® x86 machines. It does not need to be deployed with a WebSphere MQ client or server, and you can install as many copies as required.

To prevent unauthorized changes, the WebSphere MQ Explorer uses SSL security. It provides graphical tools to manage authority and access based on the Object Authority Manager (OAM) to help make governance control easier. For example, you can use WebSphere MQ Explorer to show at a glance all the users or groups that have permissions to certain queues and objects.

WebSphere MQ for z/OS running on the System z platform, provided it is running the Version 6.0 (or later) release, because of the added support for the programmable command format (PCF) administration messages that MQ Explorer uses.

MQ Explorer is provided with WebSphere MQ on distributed platforms. MQ Explorer does not require a local server or client, and it can be installed on workstations without charge.

New problem-diagnostic tools have recently been added in WebSphere MQ V6.0.2 to enable you to run tests against your messaging backbone to discover errors and potential problems with the configuration. With one click, this tool searches for problems and provides advice on solutions and improvements. User-defined checks can be added to its suite of tests.

MQ Explorer now helps simplify management of multiple queue managers, by enabling these to be grouped into separate views in the navigator. Test and production queue managers, for example, could be grouped and viewed separately. It is also easier to configure security settings. Channel exits and user IDs and passwords can be configured for each queue manager or globally for all queue managers in a group or workspace. WebSphere MQ, Version 7.0 incorporates and extends MQ Explorer plug-ins that were previously available in Fix Pack 6.0.2.0. These include graphical problem-discovery tools that provide one-click detection and diagnosis of messaging backbone configuration and support for graphical configuration of user permissions through WebSphere MQ Object Authority Manager (OAM).

With WebSphere MQ V7 publish-and-subscribe messaging can now be configuration is now fully integrated into MQ Explorer graphical tool. Topics can now be administered directly as first-class MQ Explorer objects just like queues, simplifying administration and security management. Topics can be created using graphical wizards that can also generate corresponding Java™ Message Service (JMS) topics. Testing publish-and-subscribe messaging is now even easier, with built-in tools to send and receive test publications. Specific documented samples for publish-and-subscribe and point-to-point messaging are included. With WebSphere MQ, Version 7.0, it is easier to see which applications are subscribed to topics in the same way that you can see which applications are using particular queues. Existing applications can be switched from using a point-to-point message pattern to using a publish-and-subscribe pattern without any code changes required. Administrators can create subscriptions on behalf of applications and redefine queues to have a topic assigned to them. Extensions in the Message Queuing Interface (MQI) make it easier for applications to take full advantage of publish-and-subscribe messaging. WebSphere MQ, Version 7.0 also now offers publish-and-subscribe statistics, such as the number of messages published on a topic.

WebSphere MQ, Version 7.0 integrates JMS configuration into its graphical, Eclipse-based tool, MQ Explorer, making it easier to design and deploy JMS solutions (see Figure 3). JMS objects, such as connection factories and destinations, are now displayed in MQ Explorer along with WebSphere MQ objects, such as queues and channels. MQ Explorer can remotely configure the entire WebSphere MQ network, it is now easier to explore and configure JMS messaging across the network. Now MQ Explorer makes it easier to see all the properties of JMS resources at a glance and update JMS object properties. It is easier to create JMS resources, such as connection factories, using step-by-step wizards. Creating a queue or topic can launch a wizard to help define a corresponding JMS destination at the same time. Developers can now customize views of JMS objects just as they can for other WebSphere MQ resources, such as filtering JMS objects that match selection criteria. Enhanced JMS trace facilities can help improve problem determination and serviceability. When problems are encountered that require the assistance of IBM support, improved diagnostic capabilities are provided to help resolve the problems rapidly. This includes First Failure Data Capture as well as enhanced trace control and formatting.