Create a network share for queue manager data using NetServer on IBM i

Create a network share on an IBM i server for storing queue manager data. Set up connections from two servers, which are going to host queue manager instances, to access the network share.

Before starting

• You require three IBM i servers for this task. The network share is defined on one of the servers, GAMMA. The other two servers, ALPHA and BETA, are to connect to GAMMA.
• Install IBM MQ on all three servers.
• Install the System i Navigator; see System i Navigator.

• Create the queue manager directory on GAMMA and set the correct ownership and permissions for the user profiles QMQM and QMQMADM. The directory and permission are easily created by installing IBM MQ on GAMMA.
• Use System i Navigator to create a share to the queue manager data directory on GAMMA.
• Create directories on ALPHA and BETA that point to the share.

Procedure

1. On GAMMA, create the directory to host the queue manager data with the QMQM user profile as the owner, and QMQMADM as the primary group. Tip:

   A quick and reliable way to create the directory with the correct permissions is to install IBM MQ on GAMMA.

   Later, if we do not want to run IBM MQ on GAMMA, uninstall IBM MQ. After uninstallation, the directory /QIBM/UserData/mqm/qmgrs remains on GAMMA with the owner QMQM user profile, and QMQMADM the primary group.

   The task uses the /QIBM/UserData/mqm/qmgrs directory on GAMMA for the share.

2. Start the System i Navigator Add connection wizard and connect to the GAMMA system.
   1. Double-click the System i Navigator icon on your Windows desktop.
   2. Click Yes to create a connection.
   3. Follow the instructions in the Add Connection wizard and create a connection from the IBM i system to GAMMA.

      The connection to GAMMA is added to My Connections.

3. Add a new file share on GAMMA.
   1. In the System i Navigator window, click the File Shares folder in My Connections/GAMMA/File Systems.
   2. In the My Tasks window, click Manage IBM i NetServer shares.

      A new window, IBM i NetServer - GAMMA, opens on your desktop and shows shared objects.

   3. Right-click the Shared Objects folder> File > New > File.

      A new window, IBM i NetServer File Share - GAMMA, opens.

   4. Give the share a name, WMQ for example.
   5. Set the access control to Read/Write.
   6. Select the Path name by browsing to the /QIBM/UserData/mqm/qmgrs directory you created earlier, and click OK.

      The IBM i NetServer File Share - GAMMA window closes, and WMQ is listed in the shared objects window.

4. Right click WMQ in the shared objects window. Click File > Permissions.

   A window opens, Qmgrs Permissions - GAMMA, for the object /QIBM/UserData/mqm/qmgrs.

   1. Check the following permissions for QMQM, if they are not already set:
      • Read
      • Write
      • Execute
      • Management
      • Existence
      • Alter
      • Reference

   2. Check the following permissions for QMQMADM, if they are not already set:
      • Read
      • Write
      • Execute
      • Reference

   3. Add other user profiles that we want to give permissions to /QIBM/UserData/mqm/qmgrs.

      For example, you might give the default user profile (Public) Read and Execute permissions to /QIBM/UserData/mqm/qmgrs.

5. Check that all the user profiles that are granted access to /QIBM/UserData/mqm/qmgrs on GAMMA have the same password as they do on the servers that access GAMMA. In particular, ensure that the QMQM user profiles on other servers, which are going to access the share, have the same password as the QMQM user profile on GAMMA. Tip: Click the My Connections/GAMMA/Users and Groups folder in the System i Navigator to set the passwords. Alternatively, use the CHFUSRPRF and CHGPWD commands.

Results

CRTDIR DIR('/QNTC/GAMMA')

When you have checked that we have access to /QNTC/GAMMA/WMQ from ALPHA or BETA, issuing the command, CRTMQM MQMNAME('QM1') MQMDIRP('/QNTC/GAMMA/WMQ') creates /QIBM/UserData/mqm/qmgrs/QM1 on GAMMA.

What to do next

Create a multi-instance queue manager by following the steps in either of the tasks, Create a multi-instance queue manager using journal mirroring and NetServer on IBM i or Convert a single instance queue manager to a multi-instance queue manager using NetServer and journal mirroring on IBM i.