IBM MQ release types: planning considerations
From IBM® MQ 9.0 there are two types of release; a Long Term Support (LTS) release and a Continuous Delivery (CD) release. For each supported platform, the release type you choose affects ordering, installation, maintenance and migration.
For detailed information about the release types, see IBM MQ release types and versioning.
Considerations for IBM MQ for Multiplatforms
Within Passport Advantage there are two separate eAssemblies for IBM MQ 9.1. One contains installation images for the IBM MQ 9.1.0 Long Term Support release, and the other contains installation images for the IBM MQ 9.1.x Continuous Delivery release. Download installation images from the eAssembly according to your choice of release.
Alternatively, for the LTS release only, a media pack is available, containing product installation DVDs.
All IBM MQ versions, and for IBM MQ 9.1 both the LTS releases and CD releases, belong to the same Product Id.
Entitlement to use IBM MQ extends across the entire product (PID) subject to the constraints of licensed components and pricing metrics. This means that you can freely choose between LTS release and CD release installation images for IBM MQ 9.1.
After you download an installation image from Passport Advantage, you should select for installation only the components for which you have purchased entitlement. See IBM MQ license information for further information about which installable components are included for each chargeable component.
You can install IBM MQ 9.1.0 LTS release and IBM MQ 9.1.x CD release on the same operating system image. If you do this, the components appear as separate installations, as supported by IBM MQ multi-version support. Each version has distinct sets of queue managers associated with that version.
Each new CD release is provided as an installation image. The new CD release can be installed alongside an existing release, or, an earlier CD release can be updated in place by the installer to the new release.
CD releases contain functional enhancements as well as the latest set of defect fixes and security updates. Each CD release is cumulative, and wholly replaces all prior ones for that version of IBM MQ. So you can skip a specific CD release if it does not contain any function that is relevant for your enterprise.
The LTS release is serviced by the application of fix packs, which provide defect fixes, and cumulative security updates (CSUs), which provide security patches. The fix packs and CSUs are made available periodically and are cumulative.
For CD, CSUs are produced for the latest CD release only, which might be on a subsequent version.
You might occasionally be directed by the IBM Support team to apply an interim fix. Interim fixes are also known as emergency or test fixes, and are used to apply urgent updates that cannot wait for the next maintenance delivery.
There are constraints and limitations but, generally, a single queue manager can be migrated from using LTS release code to CD release code, or from using CD release code to LTS release code, provided that the target release is higher than that in use prior to the migration.
- Install the new release of code in place so that an existing installation of IBM MQ is updated. Any queue managers associated with the installation use the new release of code when started.
- Install the new release of code as a new installation, then move individual queue manager instances to the new installation using the setmqm command.
When a queue manager starts running a CD release of code, the queue manager command level is
updated to indicate the new release level. This means any new functions provided in the release are
enabled, and you can no longer restart the queue manager using a code release with a lower
VRM
number.
Considerations for IBM MQ for z/OS
- IBM MQ for z/OS 9.1
- Managed File Transfer for z/OS 9.1
If you are selecting products for inclusion in a ServerPac, you cannot choose both the LTS release and CD release in the same ServerPac order, because the products cannot be installed by SMP/E in the same target zone.
Advanced Message Security for z/OS (AMS) 9.1 provides both the LTS release and CD release options.
The release options are selected by choosing the equivalent release for the base product, IBM MQ for z/OS 9.1, and enabling with the product 5655-AM9.
If your enterprise uses IBM MQ for z/OS Value Unit Edition (VUE) 9.1, the same product 5655-VU9 enables VUE licensing in either the LTS release or CD release of IBM MQ for z/OS 9.1.
- Install the LTS release and CD release in separate target zones
- Maintain separate target and distribution libraries for the two releases
If your queue manger is in a queue sharing group, when you upgrade to the latest CD version you must upgrade all queue managers in the group.
The command level of a queue manager is the three-digit VRM level. An IBM MQ program can call MQINQ, passing the MQIA_COMMAND_LEVEL
selector, to get the command level of the queue manager it is connected to.
Because the releases use different FMIDs, you cannot update a CD release with maintenance for an LTS release or the other way round. Similarly, there is no way to switch a version of the product code from LTS release to CD release or the other way round. However, you can switch a queue manager between the release models. See Migration between LTS release and CD release.
You can distinguish between an LTS and CD release with the same VRM level by looking at the CSQY000I message in the queue manager job log.
IBM MQ for z/OS uses PTFs for Maintenance.
PTFs are specific to a particular set of libraries corresponding to specific release level. For UNIX System Services features (that is, JMS and WEB UI, Connector Pack, and Managed File Transfer) the z/OS PTFs are aligned directly with the Multiplatforms fix packs and cumulative security updates (CSUs). These fixes are cumulative, and are made available at the same time as the equivalent Multiplatforms fix pack or CSU.
CD CSUs are not usually made available between CD releases, but are included in the next IBM MQ for z/OS CD release. You can also contact support to request a ++USERMOD.
Other fixes on IBM MQ for z/OS are distinct fixes on particular parts. These fixes resolve specific issues, are not cumulative, and are made available as and when they are produced.
There are constraints and limitations, but generally a single queue manager can be migrated from using LTS release code to CD release code or from using CD release code to LTS release code provided that the target release is higher than that in use prior to the migration.
IBM MQ for z/OS has traditionally provided a fallback capability (backward migration) so that after a period of running following a migration, you can fall back to the prior release. This capability is retained for LTS releases, but is not possible when the source or target of a migration is a CD release.
Source release | Destination release | Notes |
---|---|---|
V8.0.0 | V9.1.0 LTS | Backwards migration always supported, provided backwards migration PTFs applied at V8.0.0. |
V9.0.0 | V9.1.0 LTS | Backwards migration always supported, provided backwards migration PTFs applied at V9.0.0. |
V9.0.5 CD | V9.1.0 LTS | No backwards migration, source release is CD. |
V9.0.0 | V9.1.1 CD | No backwards migration, target release is CD.
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