IBM MQ for z/OS and WebSphere Application Server

Use this topic to understand the use of IBM® MQ for z/OS® by the WebSphere® Application Server.

Applications written in Java that are running under WebSphere Application Server can use the Java Messaging Service (JMS) specification to perform messaging. Point-to-point messaging in this environment can be provided by an IBM MQ for z/OS queue manager.

A benefit of using an IBM MQ for z/OS queue manager to provide the messaging is that connecting JMS applications can participate fully in the functionality of an IBM MQ network. For example, they can use the IMS bridge, or exchange messages with queue managers running on other platforms.

Connection between WebSphere Application Server and a queue manager

You can choose either client transport or bindings transport for the queue connection factory object. If you choose bindings transport, the WebSphere Application Server and the queue manager must both exist on the same z/OS image.

Note that you require native libraries for bindings transport.

Both types of connection support transactional applications: the client transport by using XA protocols; the bindings transport by using a WebSphere Application Server stub, CSQBWSTB, which uses RRS services.

For more information about configuring queue connection factories see IBM MQ Using Java .

Using IBM MQ functions from JMS applications

By default, JMS messages held on IBM MQ queues use an MQRFH2 header to hold some of the JMS message header information. Many legacy IBM MQ applications cannot process messages with these headers, and require their own characteristic headers, for example the MQCIH for CICS® Bridge, or MQWIH for IBM MQ Workflow applications. For more details about these special considerations, see Mapping JMS messages onto IBM MQ messages.