Migrating between IBM MQ versions

IBM® MQ Version 8.0 provides generic tooling to migrate queue managers and queue data between IBM MQ versions.

You can migrate queue managers from IBM WebSphere® MQ Version 5.3 to IBM MQ V8, and from IBM MQ V8 to IBM MQ V8. You can migrate queue data from IBM MQ V8 to IBM WebSphere MQ Version 5.3.

There are four OSS utilities provided for migration:

exportmqm: Exports from an IBM MQ V8 queue manager.
mig/exportmqm: Exports from an IBM WebSphere MQ Version 5.3 queue manager.
importmqm: Creates and configures an IBM MQ V8 queue manager.
mig/importmqm: Imports queue data from an IBM MQ V8 queue manager back into a WebSphere MQ V5.3 queue manager.

The tools fit most configurations but are not guaranteed to succeed in all. While the tools are able to work with installations from IBM WebSphere MQ Version 5.3.1.8, it is recommended that you have the latest IBM WebSphere MQ V5 fix pack installed.

Import and export are distinct separate steps, and should be executed separately so you do not have the situation where an IBM WebSphere MQ V5 environment works against an IBM MQ V8 environment.

If the tooling fails, check that the executing environment is clean (check existing aliases, PATH, and other environment variables).

Verify the imported configuration before you proceed.

A step-by-step migration example from an IBM WebSphere MQ Version 5.3.1.15 queue manager to IBM MQ V8.1.0.2 is provided in Example export.