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| SAFraser |
 Posted: Tue Sep 25, 2007 5:38 am Post subject: MQ v6 Server & Client: Which first? |
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Shaman
Joined: 22 Oct 2003
Posts: 742
Location: Austin, Texas, USA
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I know that client and server upgrades can be intermingled in any fashion (one of the beauties of MQ). I have done it many times with prior versions.
I have a little "doubt", as they say, with this 6.x upgrade. I have read several posts where servers have upgraded to 6.x and then 5.3 clients (specifically associated with WAS) seem to have some connection troubles
Here is the source of my concern: I am upgrading our MQ servers (gee, it's only Sept. 25, I don't want to rush into anything). But the biggest application that connects to the MQ servers uses client connections from WAS 5.1.1.11 servers. I am having a sandbox environment built right now for testing, but worry that my unit testing may not reveal potential connection issues.
Do you think I should press for client upgrades first, before the server upgrade? Or am I being unnecessarily nervous? The client upgrades are going to be a Big Deal from a logistics perspective. I'm obviously going to miss the 9/28 deadline for the servers, and the client upgrades will slow the process even further.
Your thoughts on this tricky business will be appreciated.
Thanks,
Shirley |
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| Vitor |
| Posted: Tue Sep 25, 2007 6:09 am Post subject: |
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Grand High Poobah
Joined: 11 Nov 2005
Posts: 26093
Location: Texas, USA
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We run under WAS v5.something, did the servers, left the clients at v5.3 & it's all gone swimingly.
I'll see if any of the Java monkeys know something more definative about WAS level.
_________________
Honesty is the best policy.
Insanity is the best defence. |
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| SAFraser |
| Posted: Tue Sep 25, 2007 6:19 am Post subject: |
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Shaman
Joined: 22 Oct 2003
Posts: 742
Location: Austin, Texas, USA
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Vitor,
Bless you. I am actually losing sleep over this.
The development WAS server has MQClient 5.3 CSD10. Maybe that one will be just dandy.
I was poking around on the production WAS server this morning. I think they might still be using the files from MA88, although I couldn't find the files. I can't find any evidence of an MQ Client installation at all.
I think I'm in a sticky wicket, as they say in your part of the world.
Signed,
Feeling a Little Sick |
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| jefflowrey |
| Posted: Tue Sep 25, 2007 6:48 am Post subject: |
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Grand Poobah
Joined: 16 Oct 2002
Posts: 19981
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CSD10 is not a great level. It's better than 8 or 9, but should still be at 13 or later...
You can look at the WAS server configuration and see if it has a value set for a (WAS) Environment variable called "MQ_INSTALL_ROOT".
If you don't see that set at all... then it's entirely possible that every application deployed to that server is using a different version of the MQ client Java libraries.
That actually makes it somewhat easier to update. You don't have to worry about testing ALL of the applications against the update. You can install a v6 MQ Client on the server, set the MQ_INSTALL_ROOT, and then test each application as you do a redeploy that DOES NOT include the MQ client jars in the ear or jar.
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| SAFraser |
| Posted: Tue Sep 25, 2007 7:58 am Post subject: |
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Shaman
Joined: 22 Oct 2003
Posts: 742
Location: Austin, Texas, USA
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Thanks, Jeff.
I am not that excited about CSD10 either, but I figure if I am going to bring down development (which hosts an embarassing number of development queue managers and brokers) for an upgrade, I'll jump right to the 6.x client.
I have read the messaging section of the WAS installation manual several times, but did not come to the understanding that you have given me so clearly. (Maybe I am not even studying the right manuals.) Anyway, I am now better equipped to speak with our WAS admins.
Shirley |
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| jefflowrey |
| Posted: Tue Sep 25, 2007 8:15 am Post subject: |
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Grand Poobah
Joined: 16 Oct 2002
Posts: 19981
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The WAS admins at a minimum should know how they've configured the servers to support MQ - or at a minimum whether there are MQ jars in the WAR or EAR files that they deploy.
If they don't know this - then you'll have to ask development what their practices are.... 
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| Nigelg |
| Posted: Tue Sep 25, 2007 6:48 pm Post subject: |
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Grand Master
Joined: 02 Aug 2004
Posts: 1046
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The client licence, and therefore the support status, depends on the server version. So, if you have 5.3 clients connecting to a 6.0 server, then you have a supported configuration because the server is supported. If however you have 6.0 clients connecting to a 5.3 server it is not a supported configuration because the server is out of support.
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| SAFraser |
| Posted: Wed Sep 26, 2007 5:48 am Post subject: |
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Shaman
Joined: 22 Oct 2003
Posts: 742
Location: Austin, Texas, USA
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Nigel,
That makes perfect sense and it somewhat comforting at this point. Thanks very much for your post.
All,
In addition to WAS clients, we also have batch servers and Oracle messaging gateways that connect to MQ servers. All I can find on these servers are the three com.ibm.mq.* files. The pkginfo command yields no output at all. The file dates on the files are, presumably, useless; the files would no doubt have been copied without regard to date preservation.
The files are certainly not the same size as current 5.3 CSD13 files.
In the absence of output from pkginfo, I have a sinking feeling that these are still MA88 files. At a minimum, they are certainly not current 5.3 files.
Is my logic correct, do you think? No point in wasting any more time trying to determine version, I should just call them "really old" and go on with my life?
Thank you for your continued interest in my dilemma. |
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| jefflowrey |
| Posted: Wed Sep 26, 2007 6:09 am Post subject: |
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Grand Poobah
Joined: 16 Oct 2002
Posts: 19981
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It's an unusual thing that in technology we have to assume that "really old" is the same thing as "must be thrown out".
The MANIFEST.MF file in those jars may tell you more about how old they are.
But it's entirely better to just replace them and move on with your life... after all, we're all getting older every day...
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| Vitor |
| Posted: Wed Sep 26, 2007 6:10 am Post subject: |
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Grand High Poobah
Joined: 11 Nov 2005
Posts: 26093
Location: Texas, USA
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For the record, I've finally found a Java monkey who will talk for a bunch of contact admin.
We apparently have WAS v4.3. We're going to go to WAS v6 "Soon. Probably"
_________________
Honesty is the best policy.
Insanity is the best defence. |
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| jefflowrey |
| Posted: Wed Sep 26, 2007 6:21 am Post subject: |
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Grand Poobah
Joined: 16 Oct 2002
Posts: 19981
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| Vitor wrote: |
We apparently have WAS v4.3. We're going to go to WAS v6 "Soon. Probably"
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At least you're no longer on Broker 2.1...
That's an equivalent level of WAS to Broker 2.1, though.
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| Vitor |
| Posted: Wed Sep 26, 2007 6:31 am Post subject: |
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Grand High Poobah
Joined: 11 Nov 2005
Posts: 26093
Location: Texas, USA
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| jefflowrey wrote: |
| Vitor wrote: |
We apparently have WAS v4.3. We're going to go to WAS v6 "Soon. Probably"
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At least you're no longer on Broker 2.1...
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And that took long enough to agree with the powers that be!!
But I give thanks each morning that it's gone. Soon the Java monkeys will join us in the 20th Century, but that's their problem. My platform's upgraded and thank you for taking an interest. 
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Insanity is the best defence. |
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| Nigelg |
| Posted: Wed Sep 26, 2007 6:57 pm Post subject: |
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Grand Master
Joined: 02 Aug 2004
Posts: 1046
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| Quote: |
| I've finally found a Java monkey who will talk for a bunch of contact admin |
All you get is "jabber, jabber" though!
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| Vitor |
| Posted: Wed Sep 26, 2007 10:44 pm Post subject: |
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Grand High Poobah
Joined: 11 Nov 2005
Posts: 26093
Location: Texas, USA
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| Nigelg wrote: |
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| I've finally found a Java monkey who will talk for a bunch of contact admin |
All you get is "jabber, jabber" though! |
These ones pronouce the "bb" with "v" sound.
The effect is similar though.
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