How to set up a MQSeries Cluster on AIX platform?

[dng01]

Hi everyone,

I am a new mqer. I got some troubles about setting up the MQ Cluster across two AIX UNIX boxes. Here is a my problem list, could anyone help me?

1) Can I set up a queue manager connecting to a cluster environment with two queue manager running on two separated AIX UNIX boxes running on TCP/IP protocol?

[ (QM1) (Qm2) ] <--Cluster Queue Manager
||
||
(QM3) <--Non Cluster Queue Manager

I know there should exists one gateway queue manager between QM3 and (QM1 & QM2), but can I set up one more for resilience purpose?

2) Can I set up that cluster queue manager with Primary / Standby behaviour? How? By using user exit programming skill?

3) Can I use port instead of the default one(1414) for QM1, QM2 and QM3? I have followed the procedure given by IBM for setting up port mapping for TCP listener, but the cluster seems no communication?

 

[aixmurderer]

The beauty of clustering is that you only need to set up 2 cluster channels to one cluster QM, the cluster QM's advertise the joining of a QM to the others in the queue. All other channels will happen automatically.

Answers as best as I can, hope it helps:

1) No need to, if needed the other QM (not connected to initially) will establish a cluster channel if required in the case of the original QM becoming unavailable.

2) You can suspend the QM from the cluster if you want it to be on standby. There also is a priority setting in the receiver channel which will give it a higher or lower priority to make it primary or standby. You could also change the queues by taking them out of the cluster or insert them.

3)Haven't tried this with cluster queues yet, normally you will define the sender channel CONNAME by including the port number as well. This will probably require you to go and manually change the autodefined sender channels on the other QM's to include the port number as well.


Hope this helps you along. I cannot vouch for accuracy, best is go and download the Cluster manual at IBM's redbook site, that will clarify many of these questions. IBM Certified Specialist - MQSeries
IBM Certified Specialist - AIX 5 pSeries System Administration

 

[dng01]

Thanks for your reply first aixmurderer, cos MQ is a bit fresh to me. Something I am not pretty sure. Referring to question1. Do you mean I have to set up one more cluster for holding the gateway or router queue manager? Go to question2, If the non-cluster QM need to connect to the cluster QM, do you mean the connection to the cluster member QM will be made based on the priority given by the channel? Can you give me some hints in the configuration?

 

[smeridew]

I you are looking for auto fail-over from a non-clustered qmgr to a cluster, you're out of luck. It only works in a clustered environment. You will need to create a second channel (QM3.TO.QM2) to a second repository qmgr in the cluster, in case you lose the first cluster QMgr (QM1 in your diagram above).

Regarding your IP port issue, you can use whatever IP port you want. The cluster sender and receiver channels must be defined properly though (i.e. MY.SENDER.CHANNEL(1415) )

Scott.

Certified MQSeries Specialist
TxMQ Inc.

http://www.txmq.com

scott@txmq.com Scott Meridew
Certified MQSeries Specialist,MCSE
MQ Squared Inc.

http://www.mqsquared.com