IBM MQ migration planning to the latest version on UNIX platforms, Windows, and IBM i

Before migrating from one version to another, read this topic. Create your own migration plan based on the outline in the planning topic.

If there are concepts about migration you do not understand, read Introduction to IBM MQ migration first.

About this task

Use the following steps as a guide to creating a migration plan.

Procedure

  1. Review the IBM® MQ system requirements for Version 8.0.
  2. Decide whether to run the current version of your product and the latest version on the same server.
    Note that if you require a multi version installation, and you are using a version of the product prior to IBM WebSphere® MQ 7.0.1.6, you must install IBM WebSphere MQ 7.0.1.6 first.
  3. Review all the changes in IBM MQ that affect you.
  4. Review performance changes.
  5. Review the latest README file for the product you are working with.

    See IBM MQ and MQSeries® product READMEs.

  6. Plan the sequence and timing of queue manager upgrades.
    • If the queue manager is part of a queue manager cluster, you must migrate the queue managers that are full repositories first.
    • If the queue manager is part of a high availability cluster, plan the migration to minimize downtime and maximize availability; see Migrating a queue manager in a high-availability configuration.
  7. Plan to migrate your queue manager to the latest version.

    Backing up queue manager data is part of the queue manager migration task.

    An alternative approach to backing up queue manager data, is to install and configure a new server. Test the latest version with a new queue manager on the new server. When you are ready to go into production on the latest version, copy the queue manager configuration and data, to the new server.

  8. Plan to update any manual or automated procedures you have written with changes to messages and codes.
  9. Decide on what regression tests to perform before putting the queue manager into production on the latest version.
    • Include the procedures and applications you identified in steps 6 and 7 in your regression tests.
  10. Plan to upgrade your IBM MQ MQI client installations to the latest version.
  11. Plan to upgrade your client and server applications to use new functions in the latest version.