IBM MQ fundamentals course (EN/NL/FR)

This 2 day ABIS course gives an insight in the use of the message queuing technique as implemented through the IBM Message Queuing (MQ) software. Meant to help out in a Client/Server environment, a product like IBM MQ currently gets a lot of attention in an SOA context. By using the IBM MQ product, the course shows how to work safely and efficiently in a C/S environment built around a Q-infrastructure.

Participants will also learn 'when' and 'why' this technique can be used;  and technical concepts are discussed. In order to attend, familiarity with application development and programming is an advantage

Remark: Course description in English; Dutch and French versions are available on the ABIS website. Courses are planned in Dutch, English, and French. Consult the ABIS website for alternate course formats.

Main topics:

Day 1 

• Positioning IBM MQ as a product in the classic MQ and WebSphere Java software stack
• Basic concepts of a Message Oriented Middleware (MOM) solution
• Positioning IBM MQ in the system infrastructure: Message and Q • Standalone • Distributed • Asynchronous infrastructure • what is IBM MQ used for
• Communication patterns: Send and Forget • Request/Reply • Publish/Subscribe
• Technical concepts for configuration: Commands and utilities • Queue creation/deletion • Channel manipulation • Distributed queuing • Security and Recovery • Priority • Monitoring & Performance
• The use of commands in order to define and to manage IBM MQ objects
• Description of the base IBM MQ objects:
  • Types of queues (local and remote queues, event queues, transmission queues, dead-letter queues, command queues .....)
  • components (queues, queue managers, .....)
• Labs to illustrate the organisation of a Queue Manager and the configuration of the base objects

Day 2 

• The distributed setup explained: remote queues • transmission Q • the use of channel agents • listeners • channel types
• Lab to illustrate message transmission
• The trigger concept: trigger types • initiation Q • trigger monitor(s) 
• Lab to illustrate Q triggering
• Miscellaneous:
  • cluster concept • transactional behaviour • logging infrastructure • space/file management • shared data Q (z/OS) • CICS/IMS interface (z/OS) • MQ in an integration scenario • Publish/Subscribe support
• Application programming: basic concepts
  • MQInterface (MQGET, MQPUT, MQCONN, MQOPEN, MQCLOSE, MQINQ .....) • anatomy of a call • MQMD structure

Intended for/Audience: System Programmers and administrators who will be responsible for the maintenance of the "IBM MQ" infrastructure get a good feeling of the scope and workings of "IBM MQ".

Software architects, designers and (system) administrators can also strongly benefit from this practical introduction of IBM MQ concepts. After all IBM MQ very often is the building block of the transport backbone of their company.

This course is required as a step up for delegates who are going to attend the course IBM MQ administration for Linux, UNIX & Windows or IBM MQ z/OS system administration, as well as for those delegates who are going to attend the course IBM Integration Bus - development & administration.

Background/Prerequisites: Being familiar with application development and programming is an advantage. Some experience (command line and graphical interface) in a distributed environment will come in handy.

Training Method/Didactics: Part of the course time is reserved for the labs so that the functioning of IBM MQ products in a z/OS and a Windows environment is well illustrated. Foils and demos support the lectured subjects.

Duration: 2 days.