A trace-route message comprises specific message descriptor and message data parts. To generate a trace-route message, either create the message manually or use the IBM MQ display route application.
A trace-route message consists of the following parts:
Message descriptor
An MQMD structure, with the Format field set to MQFMT_ADMIN or MQFMT_EMBEDDED_PCF.
Message data
One of the following combinations:
A PCF header (MQCFH) and trace-route message data, if Format is set to MQFMT_ADMIN
An embedded PCF header (MQEPH), trace-route message data, and additional user-specified message data, if Format is set to MQFMT_EMBEDDED_PCF
The trace-route message data consists of the TraceRoute PCF group and one or more Activity PCF groups.
Manual generation
When generating a trace-route message manually, an Activity PCF group is not required. Activity PCF groups are written to the message data of the trace-route message when an MCA or user-written application performs an activity on its behalf.
The IBM MQ display route application
Use the IBM MQ display route application, dspmqrte, to configure, generate and put a trace-route message into a queue manager network. Set the Format parameter in the message descriptor to MQFMT_ADMIN. We cannot add user data to the trace-route message generated by the IBM MQ display route application.
Restriction: dspmqrte cannot be issued on queue managers before IBM WebSphere MQ Version 6.0 or on IBM MQ for z/OS® queue managers. If you want the first queue manager the trace-route message is routed through to be a queue manager of this type, connect to the queue manager as a IBM WebSphere MQ Version 6.0 or later client using the optional parameter -c.