Choosing how you want to use IBM MQ in containers

There are multiple options for using IBM® MQ in containers: you can choose to use the IBM MQ Operator, which uses pre-packaged container images, or you can build your own images and deployment code.

[OpenShift Container Platform][IBM Cloud Pak for Integration]

Using the IBM MQ Operator

If you are planning to deploy on Red Hat® OpenShift® Container Platform, then you probably want to use the IBM MQ Operator.

The IBM MQ Operator adds a new QueueManager custom resource to Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform. The operator watches for new queue manager definitions, and then turns them into necessary low-level resources, such as StatefulSet and Service resources. In the case of Native HA, the operator can also perform the complex rolling update of queue manager instances. See Considerations for performing your own rolling update of a Native HA queue manager

Some IBM MQ features are not supported when using the IBM MQ Operator. You will need to build your own images and charts if you want to do any of the following:
  • Use the REST APIs for administration or messaging
  • Use any of the following MQ components:
    • Managed File Transfer Agents and its resources. However you can use the IBM MQ Operator to provide one or more Coordination, Command, or Agent queue managers.
    • AMQP
    • IBM MQ Bridge to Salesforce
    • IBM MQ Bridge to blockchain (not supported in containers)
    • IBM MQ Telemetry Transport (MQTT).
  • Customize options used with crtmqm, strmqm and endmqm, such as configuring log file pages. Most options can be configured using an INI file.
Note that the IBM MQ Operator and containers are evolving rapidly, and are therefore not supported under Long Term Support releases.

The IBM MQ Operator includes both pre-built container images, as well as deployment code for running on Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform. The IBM MQ Operator can be used to deploy the provided IBM MQ container image, or a container image layered on top of that, but can not be used to deploy custom built MQ container images.

[UNIX, Linux, Windows, IBM i]

Building your own images and deployment code

This is the most flexible container solution, but it requires you to have strong skills in configuring containers, and to own the resultant container. If you aren't planning to use Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform, then you will need to build your own images and deployment code.

Samples for building your own images are available. See Building your own IBM MQ container and deployment code.