IBM MQ 9.3.2 is the next MQ continuous delivery release following MQ 9.3.1 in October 2022. This update delivers enhancements across the portfolio for the MQ Appliance, high availability, security and Java compatibility.
Here are your MQ and MQ Appliance options at this point:
Where can I get IBM MQ 9.3.2 from?
For further information about what each Program entitles you to install check out the MQ license information page.
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What’s new in the MQ 9.3.2 release?
In addition to the below, there is also a MQ focused Podcast available from www.DoYouMQ.com, Spotify or Apple Podcasts featuring MQ experts, customers and business partners sharing their knowledge and insights about MQ capabilities. If you have suggestions for topics let us know!
MQ updates
What's new/changed - IBM MQ and IBM MQ for z/OS Deprecations and removals - IBM MQ and IBM MQ for z/OS
What's new/changed - IBM MQ Appliance firmware
The MQ 9.3.2 announcement letter also contains an overview of the release content.
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Migrating from Docker Hub to the IBM Cloud Container Registry
Pre-built IBM MQ Advanced for Developers and IBM MQ Operator container images have been available on Docker Hub for many years. IBM now has its own secure container registry, so is migrating its free-to-use container images from Docker Hub to the IBM Cloud Container Registry (icr.io). The IBM registry does not apply the same rate limiting that Docker Hub has introduced. Use of Docker Hub was deprecated from February 2022.
For further information on this and configuration updates needed to find the images on the IBM Cloud Container Registry, see this article.
- IBM MQ Appliance Disaster Recovery configuration between HA pairs
A requested feature for the MQ Appliance has been to have a High Availability pair of appliances in one location serve as the DR failover for a HA pair of appliances in another location and vice versa. The MQ Appliance 9.3.2 firmware delivers this capability, including the updates to the Web console to configure the systems. For a more in depth look and links to further information see Jamie Squibb's blog article.
- TLS 1.3 support in the MQ .NET Clients
MQ 9.3.2 brings the .NET client up to parity with other parts of the MQ product by adding TLS 1.3 support. The MQ .NET and XMS .NET clients are available from nuget.org or IBM download sites. See the Downloadable resources section for the links.
- Initial support for Java modules
MQ Classes for JMS and MQ Classes for Jakarta Messaging (com.ibm.mq.allclient.jar) now includes support for Java modules.
- To use the MQ Classes for JMS configure the application to require com.ibm.mq.javax and add the “java/lib/modules/javax” subdirectory of the MQ installation directory in their module-path.
- To use the MQ Classes for Jakarta Messaging configure the application to require com.ibm.mq.jakarta and add the “java/lib/modules/jakarta” subdirectory of the MQ installation directory in their module-path.
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Display QMStatus enhancements in runmqsc and PCF
The MQCMD_INQUIRE_Q_MGR_STATUS PCF and DISPLAY QMSTATUS commands have been updated to provide additional data on the queue manager, include data and log file file system sizes and percentage used, clustering and Native HA instances.
- New web Console application view
The MQ web console adds a new view of the applications that are connected to a queue manager, with an overview and the ability to drill down for more details.
- Ability to set the user context user for the messaging REST API
From IBM MQ 9.3.2, it is possible to configure what user context is used for authorization when using the messaging REST API. Either the user that is logged into the messaging REST API or the user under which the mqweb server is running can be used. This can help simplify security configuration because only the user that starts the mqweb server needs authorization to access the IBM MQ objects.
- IBM MQ Classes for JMS /Jakarta Messaging connection strategy
A new property can be used to set the connection strategy for sharing TCP/IP connections between JMS Objects. GLOBAL minimises the number of open sockets, whilst CONNECTION minimises the connection time.
- MQ IPT trace file configuration options
The number of trace files and size of files used by MQ IPT can be configured using the TraceFileSize and TraceFileCount properties in the MQIPT configuration file
- IBM MQ for z/OS SMF accounting data enhancements
The number of messages being streamed using the Streaming Queues feature added in MQ 9.3 can be tracked using the new StreamedN datapoint in the CSQDWQ macro.
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Can I get a copy of IBM MQ for development purposes?
The LearnMQ site is regularly updated with a mix of tutorials and essential getting started information, and offers you the opportunity to earn an IBM MQ Developer Essentials badge.
The full list of Developer download options are below.
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Downloadable resources
A number of MQ components are made available on IBM Fix Central and elsewhere for ease of download. Below are the links to the available components. Where applicable, they will show the latest 9.2 Continuous Delivery (CD) and Long Term Support (LTS) updates for each component. Be sure to know which you require!
Main product:
Fix packs:
Checksums and Signatures:
Clients:
Components:
Containers:
Development:
Tip: Try opening the links in a private browsing tab if they don’t correctly resolve.
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MQ System Requirements and documentation
The system requirements are documented at the links below. IBM MQ Continuous Delivery releases are being made available on z/OS, Microsoft Windows, Linux on x86-64, Linux on IBM z Systems, Linux on Little Endian Power (RHEL, SLES and Ubuntu) and AIX.
Further information can be found in the IBM MQ Documentation and IBM MQ system requirements
MQ 9.3 operating system support
|
MQ 9.3.1 |
MQ 9.3 LTS |
Removed compared to MQ 9.2 LTS |
| AIX |
|
7.2 TL5, 7.3 |
7.1 TL5, 7.2 TL3 |
| IBM i |
N/A |
7.3, 7.4, 7.5 |
None |
| Linux |
RHEL 9 added
Ubuntu 22.04 added
|
RHEL 7.9+, 8.4+
SLES 12 SP5, 15 SP2
Ubuntu 20.04
|
RHEL 7.6, 7.7, 7.8, 8.0, 8.1, 8.2, 8.3
SLES 12 SP4, 15 SP1
Ubuntu 18.04 |
| Windows |
|
Windows Server 2019, 2022
Windows 10 20H2 or later
Windows 11 |
Windows Server 2016
Windows 10 pre-20H2 |
| z/OS |
|
z/OS 2.4, 2.5 |
z/OS 2.3 |
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What function has released in previous updates?
IBM MQ and IBM MQ Appliance 9.3.1 Continuous Delivery Release
IBM MQ and IBM MQ Appliance 9.3 Long Term Support Release
IBM MQ and IBM MQ Appliance 9.2.5 Continuous Delivery Release
IBM MQ and IBM MQ Appliance 9.2 Long Term Support Release
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Remind me how the Continuous Delivery support model works…
It's worth reminding you what the Continuous Delivery support model means for MQ.
- MQ 9.3 LTS is supported for a minimum of 5 years from its availability in June 2022, and will receive fix only updates through fixpacks versioned 9.3.0.1, 9.3.0.2 and so on.
- MQ CD updates will be delivered with the 3rd digit change – 9.3.1, 9.3.2 and so on. Defect support for a CD release is available for 12 months from the availability of the release or while it remains one of the two most recent CD releases, whichever is longer, so you need to keep moving forward with the MQ CD releases.
- MQ CD updates will be delivered with new function enabled by default.
- The IBM MQ FAQ for Long Term Support and Continuous Delivery Releases will hopefully answer most of your questions.
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