IBM MQ 9.1 and IBM MQ Appliance M2002 are available
Ian Harwood
Published on 23/07/2018 / Updated on 30/07/2018
- Where can I get IBM MQ 9.1 LTS from?
- What’s new in MQ 9.1 LTS?
- Can I get a copy of IBM MQ for development purposes?
- Downloadable resources
- What function has released in previous continuous delivery updates?
- Remind me how the Continuous Delivery support model works…
IBM MQ 9.1 is the new Long Term Support release of IBM MQ, superseding IBM MQ 9.0 LTS. IBM MQ 9.1 contains a roll up of all the function delivered throughout the MQ 9.0 Continuous Delivery releases. On the MQ Appliance, the 9.1 firmware can be installed on the M2000 and M2001 hardware models, and will be default firmware level on the new IBM MQ Appliance M2002 hardware model. Version 9.1 has been delivered concurrently on distributed, z/OS and the appliance platforms, and the IBM MQ on IBM Cloud managed service will be updated to MQ 9.1 as well.
The ‘IBM MQ Advanced – IBM Cloud Pak’ image for IBM Cloud Private and IBM Cloud Kubernetes Service is delivered as a Continuous Delivery image only due to the pace of change in this area, so will need to be updated in line with the MQ CD releases.
MQ 9.1 can be obtained from:
- Distributed platforms: PassportAdvantage for AIX, IBM i, Linux, Solaris and Windows platforms (Search for part numbers CJ3DZML for Production use and CJ3E0ML for Trial. For the IBM MQ Advanced Cloud Pak search for CJ3E1ML)
- z/OS: shopZ for z/OS. Each PID has a Long Term Support and Continuous Delivery orderable feature.
The MQ for z/OS 9.1 LTS orderable feature will be available on 10th August 2018.
PIDs are:
- 5655-MQ9 – IBM MQ for z/OS
- 5655-VU9 – IBM MQ for z/OS Value Unit Edition
- 5655-AM9 – IBM MQ Advanced Message Security for z/OS
- 5655-MF9 – IBM MQ Managed File Transfer for z/OS
- 5655-AV9 – IBM MQ Advanced for z/OS
- This is a bundle of MQ Advanced Message Security and MQ Managed File Transfer (no MQ entitlement included)
- 5655-AV1 – IBM MQ Advanced for z/OS Value Unit Edition
- This is a bundle of MQ Advanced Message Security, MQ Managed File Transfer and MQ for z/OS Value Unit Edition
- MQ Appliance: The IBM MQ Appliance firmware image can be obtained from Fix Central and can be applied to both the M2000 and M2001 hardware models. The M2002 hardware model is available from 27th July 2018.
- IBM MQ on IBM Cloud: IBM MQ on IBM Cloud managed service, which has 3 pre-configured queue manager sizes and a 30 day Trial
What’s new in MQ 9.1 LTS?
IBM MQ and MQ Appliance 9.1 announcement letters:
For our Offering Management perspective on MQ 9.1 head over to Leif Davidsen’s wordpress blog for MQ 9.1 and MQ Appliance M2002
YouTube playlists: MQ, MQ for z/OS, MQ Appliance.
MQ developer resources
The Learn MQ site has continued to be updated with a mix of tutorials and essential getting started information. A tutorial of setting up TLS has recently been added and can found from the Learn MQ link in the menu above this blog
IBM MQ enhancements:
Following IBM MQ’s transition to a Continuous Delivery development model, this is the second Long Term Support release following MQ 9.0 LTS. The CD model has been a success for MQ, giving us a regular vehicle to deliver new function in a timely manner to those who need it and providing an opportunity for those on the LTS stream to be able see what is coming and maybe pilot the function. The LTS has provided a solid base for those just want to install MQ and leave it doing its thing, apart from occasional maintenance.
IBM MQ 9.1 is a roll up of all the function delivered during the 9.0.x CD releases, consolidating it to ensure that function incrementally delivered across several CD releases is consistent, and updating the system requirements to remove older supported software and add the latest levels.
Leif Davidsen’s blog (linked above) above gives a good round up of what has been delivered over the course of the MQ 9.0 CD releases, which I won’t repeat here. The IBM MQ Advanced IBM Cloud Pak delivers IBM MQ Advanced in a format that can be installed into IBm Cloud Private or the IBM Cloud Kubernetes Service. A link is included in the list of IBM Fix Central resources further down this blog. MQ Advanced entitlement is required in order to download and use.
IBM MQ Appliance enhancements:
- A new 3rd generation hardware platform has been delivered – the IBM MQ Appliance M2002. There are now 24 cores (Intel Skylake architecture with hyperthreading). The storage has expanded from 2 to 4 SSDs, each with 3.2TB capacity, now making use of RAID 10, with a doubled RAID cache. Networking has been increased with six 10Gb network ports. Plus, there are now 40Gb ports – there are 2 pairs of ports, with each pair being able to provide 40Gb in total.
- There are still 2 models available – the M2002A and the M2002B. As before the ‘A’ model provides access to the full capacity of the Appliance, including all cores and all storage (about 6TB of usable storage). The M2002B model had access to 6 cores, and access to half of the storage capacity (about 3TB). As before there is an additional capacity option to enable the conversion of the M2002B to the M2002A without any hardware changes or modifications.
- The IBM MQ Appliance V9.1 firmware can also be installed on M2001 and M2000 hardware models.
Look out for further blog articles and video demos on our playlists.
Can I get a copy of IBM MQ for development purposes?
- Yes, you can. A free download to use for development on Windows and Linux x86-64 is available from the IBM MQ download page
- An IBM MQ Advanced for Developers Docker image is also available on Docker Hub @ ibmcom/mq
Downloadable resources
A number of MQ components are made available on IBM Fix Central and elsewhere for ease of download. Here are the links to the available components:
MQ System Requirements and documentation
The system requirements are documented at the links below. IBM MQ 9.1 LTS is 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), AIX, Oracle Solaris and IBM i.
Further information can be found in the IBM MQ Knowledge Center and the IBM MQ Appliance Knowledge Center
What function has released in previous continuous delivery updates?
IBM MQ and IBM MQ Appliance 9.0.5
IBM MQ and IBM MQ Appliance 9.0.4
IBM MQ and IBM MQ Appliance 9.0.3
IBM MQ and IBM MQ Appliance 9.0.2
IBM MQ and IBM MQ Appliance 9.0.1
Remind me how the Continuous Delivery support model works…
Its worth reminding you what the Continuous Delivery support model means for MQ.
- MQ 9.1 LTS is supported for a minimum of 5 years from its availability in July 2018, and will receive fix only updates through fixpacks versioned 9.1.0.1, 9.1.0.2 and so on.
- MQ CD updates will be delivered with the 3rd digit change – 9.1.1, 9.1.2 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.