Issuing commands to IBM MQ for z/OS

We can use IBM MQ script commands (MQSC) in batch or interactive mode to control a queue manager.

IBM MQ for z/OS supports MQSC commands, which can be issued from the following sources:

• The z/OS console or equivalent (such as SDSF/TSO).

  When using the z/OS console, we need to add /cpf to the start of a command, where cpf is the command prefix for the queue manager subsystem.

• The initialization input data sets.
• The supplied batch utility, CSQUTIL, processing a list of commands in a sequential data set.

  When using the initialization input data sets or the supplied batch utility we do not need to add /cpf to the start of a command.

• A suitably authorized application, by sending a command as a message to the command input queue. The application can be any of the following:
  • A batch region program
  • A CICS application
  • An IMS application
  • A TSO application
  • An application program or utility on another IBM MQ system

Table 2 summarizes the MQSC commands and the sources from which they can be issued.

Much of the functionality of these commands is available in a convenient way from the IBM MQ for z/OS operations and controls panels.

Changes made to the resource definitions of a queue manager using the commands (directly or indirectly) are preserved across restarts of the IBM MQ subsystem.

IBM MQ for z/OS also supports Programmable Command Format (PCF) commands. These simplify the creation of applications for the administration of IBM MQ. MQSC commands are in human-readable text form, whereas PCF enables applications to create requests and read the replies without having to parse text strings. Like MQSC commands, applications issue PCF commands by sending them as messages to the command input queue. For more information about using PCF commands and for details of the commands, see the Programmable command formats reference documentation.

• Private and global definitions on IBM MQ for z/OS
  When you define an object on IBM MQ for z/OS, we can choose whether we want to share that definition with other queue managers (a global definition), or whether the object definition is to be used by one queue manager only (a private definition). This is called the object disposition.
• Directing commands to different queue managers on z/OS
  We can use the command scope to control on which queue manager the command runs.
• Command summary for IBM MQ for z/OS
  Use this topic as a reference of the main MQSC and PCF commands.
• Initialization commands for IBM MQ for z/OS
  Initialization commands can be used to control the queue manager startup.

Parent topic: Administer IBM MQ for z/OS