IBM MQ objects

Queue managers define the properties of IBM MQ objects. The values of these properties affect the way in which IBM MQ processes these objects. You create and manage objects using IBM MQ commands and interfaces. From the applications, we use the Message Queue Interface (MQI) to control objects. Objects are identified by an IBM MQ object descriptor (MQOD) when addressed from a program.

The administration of objects includes the following tasks:

• Start and stop queue managers.
• Create objects, particularly queues, for applications.
• Display or altering the attributes of objects.
• Delete objects.
• Work with channels to create communication paths to queue managers on other (remote) systems.
• Create clusters of queue managers to simplify the overall administration process, and to balance workload.

With the exception of dynamic queues, objects must be defined to the queue manager before we can work with them.

When we use an IBM MQ command to carry out an object administration operation, the queue manager checks that we have the required level of authority to perform the operation. Similarly, when an application uses the MQOPEN call to open an object, the queue manager checks that the application has the required level of authority before it allows access to that object. The checks are made on the name of the object being opened.

We can define and manage objects by using the following methods:

• The PCF commands described in Programmable command formats reference and Automating administration tasks
• The MQSC commands described in The MQSC commands
• The IBM MQ for z/OS operations and control panels, described in Operate IBM MQ for z/OS
• The IBM MQ Explorer ( Windows and Linux for Intel systems only). For more information, see Introduction to MQ Explorer.

We can also manage objects by using the following methods:

• Control commands, which are typed in from a keyboard. See Administration using the control commands.
• IBM MQ Administration Interface (MQAI) calls in a program. See IBM MQ Administration Interface (MQAI).

For sequences of IBM MQ for z/OS commands that we use regularly, we can write administration programs that create messages containing commands and that put these messages on the system-command input queue. The queue manager processes the messages on this queue in the same way that it processes commands entered from the command line or from the operations and control panels. This technique is described in the Writing programs to administer IBM MQ, and demonstrated in the Mail Manager sample application delivered with IBM MQ for z/OS. For a description of this sample, see Sample programs for IBM MQ for z/OS .

For sequences of IBM MQ for IBM i commands that we use regularly we can write CL programs. For more information, see Manage IBM MQ for IBM i using CL commands.

For sequences of IBM MQ commands on UNIX, Linux, and Windows, we can use the MQSC facility to run a series of commands held in a file. For more information, see Administration using MQSC commands.

• Object types
  
• Naming IBM MQ objects
  
• Object attributes
  
• Queue sharing groups
  
• System default objects
  

Parent topic: IBM MQ Technical overview