Postcard: Signing on

The Postcard application can use either the Default Configuration queue manager, or a queue manager that you have created yourself.

About this task

To verify your IBM® MQ installation, you start two instances of the Postcard sample and exchange messages between these two instances, which can either be on the same computer or on different connected computers.

When you run the Postcard sample, you can either use the Default configuration queue manager, or a queue manager that you have created yourself.

Using the Default Configuration queue manager
You can use the Default Configuration wizard to add the first configured queue manager to your installation of IBM MQ. For more information about using this wizard, see Default Configuration wizard.
Using the Default Configuration queue manager to send the Postcards is the easiest way to use the Postcard sample, and also the simplest way to send Postcards between two or more computers. If you are using the Postcard sample between two or more computers, make sure that you have run the Default Configuration wizard on all of the computers. If you start the Postcard sample on computer with no queue managers set up, you are asked if you want to launch the Default Configuration wizard or close the Postcard.
Note: If you create a cluster using the Default Configuration wizard, make sure that one of the computers in the cluster hosts the repository for the cluster and that all the other computers use the first computer as their repository so that all the computers are in the same cluster.
Using a different queue manager
If you have other queue managers defined on the computer on which you are running the Postcard sample, you can select the queue manager that the Postcard sample uses. If you want to send postcards between two queue managers on one or more computers, ensure that your installation meets following conditions:
  • The queue managers are in the same cluster.
  • You have created explicit connections between the queue managers.

Procedure

  • Use the Default Configuration queue manager:
    1. In the Nickname field of the first Postcard, type a nickname to use for sending postcards, for example Nick, and in the second Postcard type a nickname to use for receiving postcards, for example Tim.
      It doesn't matter what nicknames you choose.
    2. Click OK to continue.
    The Postcard sample exchanges messages between the two nicknames using the Default Configuration queue manager.
  • Use a different queue manager:
    1. In the Nickname field of the first Postcard, type a nickname to use for sending postcards, for example Nick, and in the second Postcard type a nickname to use for receiving postcards, for example Tim.
      It doesn't matter what nicknames you choose.
    2. Select the Advanced check box.
      The dialog extends to display more options.
    3. In the extended dialog, click Choose queue manager as mailbox, then select the queue manager from the list.
    4. Click OK to continue.
    A local queue called postcard is automatically created on the queue manager that you selected. Ensure that any postcard, on the same computer or on a different computer, uses the name of this queue manager to send messages. The Postcard sample exchanges messages between the two nicknames using the queue manager that you selected.