RA.JMS installation with IBM MQ

Products

• CA Automic Workload Automation - Automation Engine

Issue/Introduction

Introduction

When installing the RA.JMS agent with IBM MQ queue manager, there are a number of details that are not specifically outlined in the documentation.

This KB details the gotchas to successfully run sender/receiver jobs with the RA.JMS agent against IBM MQ.

Note that currently the product is called IBM MQ, while before it was called IBM Websphere MQ. These names are used interchangeably but these are the same product (see: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IBM_MQ#History).

This KB is based on IBM MQ v9.2 that was installed from freely available a Docker image (https://developer.ibm.com/tutorials/mq-connect-app-queue-manager-containers/)

 

Preliminary

First install RA.JMS as described in the documentation.

Then follow the general steps outlined in the documentation, but take note of the details outlined below regarding the configuration in client 0, the creation of the connection object and the setup of a job.

Because the JNDI object plays a central role as a interface between the agent and the queue manager, a short explanation is given in the section Additional Information about how to create the necessary JNDI file with IBM MQ Explorer

Environment

Release : 2.x

Component : RA JMS

Resolution

STEP 1. The JMS Agent definition in client 0

In the JMS agent definition in client 0, choose the entire java lib-folder of the IBM MQ application in Provider Details, there is no need to select individual JAR files.

The <IBM MQ>/java/lib folder can be found here in the installation directory of IBM MQ: /opt/mqm/java/lib/

If needed you can copy the entire lib-folder to a subfolder of the RA.JMS installation:

 

STEP 2. Creating the connection object

Create a new CONN object of type JMSCONNECTION

In Agent Settings choose the installed agent and the Provider Type IBM Websphere MQ

Fill out the General JNDI Properties as in the screenshot below: 

 

Note that the Provider URL points to a folder that contains the JNDI file ('.bindings') that you received from your IBM MQ administrator (created with IBM MQ Explorer).

The entry in the field Connection Factory has to correspond to the name of the Connection Factory defined in the JNDI.

If necessary provide the User and Password in the Security section.

 

STEP 3. Creating your first job

The creation of a Sender or Receiver job is fairly self-explanatory.

One detail is important: the Queue or Topic has to exist in the provided JNDI file.

Additional Information

Creating the JNDI with IBM MQ Explorer.

The minimum content of the JNDI files are (i) a Connection Factory and (ii) a Destination (Queue or Topic).

When creating a new Connection Factories or Destinations the information is appended to a JNDI file called .bindings:

 

STEP 1. Indicating the folder to store then JNDI file

Use 'Add Initial Context' by right-clicking JMS Administrated Objects to indicate a folder where the JNDI file called '.bindings' will be stored.

 

STEP 2. Creating a Connection Factory

Right click Connection Factories and choose New > Connection Factory... and follow the steps in the Wizard:

Screen 1

• Choose the name of the Connection Factory, this name will be used in the RA.JMS Connection Object
• Choose the type 'Connection Factory'

Screen 2

• Choose transport MQ Client

Screen 3 (leave blank)

Screen 4 (summary)

• In Connection 
  • Choose Base queue manager (QM1)
  • Broker can be left blank
  • Connection list: set the IP address(port) of the server that runs IBM MQ
  • Code character set: leave default (819)
• In Channel 
  • Choose the appropriate channel from the list, for instance DEV.ADMIN.SRVCONN

All other field can be left untouched or can be set as required.

Save the Connection Factory

 

STEP 3. Create a Destination

Right click Destination and choose New > Destination... and follow the steps in the Wizard:

 Screen 1

• Choose a name, this will be used in the RA job and refers to an existing MQ queue/topic.
• Choose Queue or Topic

Screen 2 (leave blank)

Screen 3 (summary)

• General 
  • Choose the same Queue Manager (from the pick list)
  • Choose the Queue or Topic (from pick list)

All other field can be left untouched or can be set as required.

Save Destination

 

Now you can copy the .bindings-file to a subdirectory of the RA.JMS or refer to it if the agent is installed on the same server.