SupportPac MO71 v7.5.0 Released

Paul Clarke of IBM has released version 7.5.0 of SupportPac MO71.
http://www-01.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?uid=swg24000142

    Changes:

  • Added MQ 7.5 Support
  • Attribute monitoring.
  • Graphing.
  • Predefined dialog groups.

SupportPac MO71 provides a simple, easy to configure GUI interface to administer WebSphere MQ (MQSeries) Queue Managers. It consists of a single program which sends PCF or MQSC messages to a local or remote Queue Manager and displays the output from the command server in dialogs. All Queue Managers that have a command server can be administered, including z/OS.

Regards,
Roger Lacroix
Capitalware Inc.

IBM MQ, Windows Comments Off on SupportPac MO71 v7.5.0 Released

How to Clear a MQ Queue from a Script or Program

Have you ever wanted to clear a MQ queue? A quick and easy way to do it is to use runmqsc’s CLEAR QLOCAL command. This method works very well as long as no application has the local queue opened for input.

Method #1:

If you need to clear a queue on Linux, Unix, Windows or IBM i (OS/400) then start runmqsc and issue the following MQSC command:

clear ql(TEST.Q.NAME)

Method #2:

On IBM i (OS/400), the user can also use the CLRMQMQ command. To issue the CLRMQMQ command, type the following on the 5250 terminal (use your queue manager and queue names):

CLRMQMQ QNAME(TEST.Q.NAME) MQMNAME(QMgrName)

Method #3:

For Unix / Linux, the following simple shell script will work to clear a queue of a local queue manager:

#!/bin/sh
#
# Clear a MQ queue (clearqueue.sh)
#
# Parameters:
#  $1=Queue manager
#  $2=Queue name
#

if [ $# -ne 2 ] ; then
#  Tell the user what they did wrong!
   echo "Usage:"
   echo "   clearqueue.sh QMgrName QueueName"
   exit;
fi

echo "clear qlocal($2)" | runmqsc $1

exit

To run the Unix/Linux script, open a shell prompt and type the following (use your queue manager and queue names):

clearqueue.sh QMgrName QueueName

Method #4:

For Windows, the following simple batch file will work to clear a queue of a local queue manager:

@echo off

REM Clear a MQ queue (clearqueue.bat)

REM Parameters:
REM  %1=Queue manager
REM  %2=Queue name

if %1. == .  goto help
if %2. == .  goto help

echo clear qlocal(%2) | runmqsc %1
goto theend

rem Tell the user what they did wrong!
:help
echo Usage:
echo    clearqueue.bat QMgrName QueueName
:theend

To run the Windows batch script, open a command prompt and type the following (use your queue manager and queue names):

clearqueue.bat QMgrName QueueName

Method #5:

You can also download and compile the ClearQ program that is listed on the following web page:
https://www.capitalware.com/mq_code_c.html

Again, this method works very well as long as no application has the queue opened for input.

To run the program on Linux, Unix, Windows, OS/400 or z/OS, open a prompt and type the following (use your queue manager and queue names):

clearq QueueName QMgrName

Method #6:

If you need to clear a queue when another application is reading from the queue (opened for input) then you can download and compile the EmptyQ program that is listed on the following web page:
https://www.capitalware.com/mq_code_java.html

To run the program on Linux, Unix, Windows, IBM i (OS/400) or z/OS, open a prompt and type the following (use your queue manager and queue names):

java EmptyQ -m QMgrName -h hostname -p port## -c ChannelName -q QueueName

Method #7:

If you need to clear a queue on z/OS then the following JCL will work (use your queue manager and queue names):

//STEP01   EXEC PGM=CSQUTIL,
//            PARM='QMGR',
//            COND=(0,LT)
//STEPLIB  DD DISP=SHR,DSN=HLQ.SCSQANLE
//         DD DISP=SHR,DSN=HLQ.SCSQAUTH
//SYSIN    DD *
COMMAND
//CSQUCMD  DD *
CLEAR QLOCAL(TEST.Q.NAME)
/*
//SYSPRINT DD SYSOUT=*

I hope this posting helps with your message management issues.

Regards,
Roger Lacroix
Capitalware Inc.

IBM i (OS/400), IBM MQ, Java, Linux, macOS (Mac OS X), Open Source, Programming, Unix, Windows, z/OS 6 Comments

Nokia and RIM – Who will be first?

Is it just me, or is Nokia and RIM in a race to be the first ones to be gone! You would think that each company has the Three Stooges running each company. Wouldn’t Helen Keller (if she were a live) do a better job understanding the mobile market and running either or both companies than the current management!

Blackberry 10 (QNX) is over 2 years delayed and then RIM make this announcement when they gave their dismal/horrible earning report:
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/29/technology/blackberry-maker-rim-posts-518-million-loss.html

This means that there will be 2 MORE disastrous quarterly earnings reports (September & December) from RIM before the new Blackberry 10 is released. They will completely miss both 2012 back-to-school and holiday seasons.

Now Nokia released their horrible quarterly earnings report:
http://online.wsj.com/article_email/SB10001424052702304388004577531002591315494-lMyQjAxMTAyMDEwODExNDgyWj.html

Nokia will have AT LEAST one more horrible earnings report (October) and if they do not launch a phone with Windows Phone 8 before Christmas then it will be 2 horrible earnings reports.

Both companies are burning cash to stay alive while their sales are falling off a cliff. This is the strangest “dual” death spiral that I have ever seen.

I am pretty sure that both Apple (iOS) and Android makers (i.e. Samsung, Motorola, etc.) are smiling with glee and rubbing their hands together for all the money they are making and will be making.

Regards,
Roger Lacroix
Capitalware Inc.

Mobile Comments Off on Nokia and RIM – Who will be first?

Raspbian-based SD card image released

The Raspberry Pi foundation has announced the release of the first SD card image based on the Raspbian distribution:
http://www.raspberrypi.org/archives/1605

Regards,
Roger Lacroix
Capitalware Inc.

Linux, Open Source, Raspberry Pi Comments Off on Raspbian-based SD card image released

WMQ v7 for z/OS and IMS/CICS

IBM has the following technical bulletin:
http://www.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?uid=swg21472819

Problem(Abstract)

An IMS Bridge (OTMA) or CICS Bridge application that worked with WebSphere MQ for z/OS V6.0.0 now fails with V7.0.0 or V7.0.1.

Symptom

Symptoms may include

MQRC 2148 MQRC_IIH_ERROR
MQRC 2142 MQRC_HEADER_ERROR
MQRC 2112 MQRC_SOURCE_INTEGER_ENC_ERROR

DFHMQ0745 E CKBP nnnnn Unable to put message to reply queue. MQRC=2112.

——————-

This is going to cause a lot of problems for a lot of people.

Regards,
Roger Lacroix
Capitalware Inc.

IBM MQ, z/OS Comments Off on WMQ v7 for z/OS and IMS/CICS

jgc.org: Some things I’ve learnt about programming

John Graham-Cumming has some interesting thoughts on programming that I really like:
http://blog.jgc.org/2012/07/some-things-ive-learnt-about.html

Regards,
Roger Lacroix
Capitalware Inc.

Education, Programming Comments Off on jgc.org: Some things I’ve learnt about programming

Hardkernel ODROID-X for $129

Did I miss the miniaturization memo? After waiting for months, last month I was finally able to order a Raspberry Pi for $35.00 USD. Now Hardkernel (Korean company) is offering a premium board called ODROID-X for $129.00 USD. Yes, it is more money but you get a quad-core ARM CPU and 4 times the amount of RAM!!!
Hardkernel ODROID-X
The Hardkernel ODROID-X has:
– 1.4 GHz Exynos 4412 quad-core ARM Cortex-A9 CPU
– 1GB of RAM
– Mali 400 graphics
– 6 USB 2.0 ports (Yes, 6 ports!!)
– 10/100Mbps Ethernet
– Microphone and headphone jacks
– Full-sized SDHC card slot

It can run both Ubuntu Linux and Android.

I am REALLY tempted to order one (even though I ordered a Raspberry Pi). I just need to come up with a reason. 🙂 Oh, I know: Canada has long cold winters. 🙂

Regards,
Roger Lacroix
Capitalware Inc.

Linux, Open Source Comments Off on Hardkernel ODROID-X for $129

Life After a PC

Robert X. Cringely has an interesting perspective of the PC era:
http://www.cringely.com/2012/06/30/life-personal-computer/

If you extrapolate Robert’s thoughts to other computing environments then you would say:

– The mainframe is dead – long gone buried. Oh wait, it lives and is doing very well.

– The super-computer is dead. Well, it almost died but with Linux transplanted as the OS of choice (over 90% of super computers use Linux), it is doing very well.

– The mid-range computer is dead. Oh wait, Unix is doing very well.

Mainframes, super computers and mid-range computers are not ‘every person’ computers, so they will not fit the standard consumer model that Robert is referencing.

Now there are 3 operating systems (OS) that I think are getting boxed into a corner with few options: Windows, Solaris and HP-UX.

– HP-UX is running on a CPU (Intel Itanium) that is not leading edge technology and is outdated. Most companies are switching to Linux, so that they can run an OS on the latest CPUs from Intel and AMD.

– Solaris spent too long going nowhere when Sun was going down hill. Now Oracle has Solaris, but nobody seems to care – its not like the dot com days. Plus Oracle expects premium dollars for things they sell, so it makes the decision between Solaris and Linux very easy.

– Windows has 90% of the desktop market, a modest server market and next to nothing for the mobile market. A few years ago, the gurus said that the world was going to be ruled by ‘NetBooks’ and then along came the iPad and Android tablets and the switch was astonishing and fast. Consumers are using their smart-phones and tablets as computers and not bothering to get a desktop PC or laptop (or NetBook). This will have a dramatic effect on Microsoft.

So, what do I see for the future?

– HP-UX will need to switch to a new CPU sooner rather than later but even if they do switch, HP-UX days are numbered. Oracle has stopped supporting their DB on HP-UX and other companies are also stopping support of their products on HP-UX. So, HP-UX’s days are numbered.

– Solaris will eventually die because there is nothing compelling about it but because Oracle has deep pockets, it will take a long time. Plus Oracle is now doing the Microsoft bundling strategy of selling both Solaris and Oracle DB and/or WebLogic to try and keep Solaris relevant. It should work for a while but not forever.

– Windows will be the king of desktop PCs and laptops for a long time to come but the real gotcha is that consumers will stop buying desktops and laptops and instead buy newer, more powerful smart-phones and tablets. Also, Microsoft’s Windows 8 tablet strategy is just weird. There will be 2 different Windows 8 tablets: Intel and ARM. If you buy a Windows 8 ARM tablet, you cannot use ‘apps’ build for Windows 8 Intel tablet. This is going to drive people crazy (and developers too).

The winner is going to the kings of the smart-phone and/or tablet market and right now that is iOS (Apple) and Android (which is what Robert highlighted in his article). Both iOS and Android are ‘first-movers’ in the smart-phone and tablet markets and have established both themselves and what is expected of the device. Will Windows 8 or BlackBerry 10 make a difference in the smart-phone or tablet market, I don’t think so. They will be niche players as Microsoft does not understand (or does not want to understand) the mobile market and RIM is so late with BlackBerry 10 that it is totally irrelevant now.

I think there will be another surprise winner in years to come: Google’s ChromeBook. ChromeBook appears to be that holy-grail ‘thin-client’ that actually functions the way that consumers want. So, I am pretty sure that businesses will start to seriously think of replacing laptops (and possibly desktops) with ChromeBooks. If they do, Microsoft is in for a world of hurt.

That’s my 2 cents.

Regards,
Roger Lacroix
Capitalware Inc.

iPhone, iPad & iPod Touch, Linux, Operating Systems, Unix, Windows, z/OS 1 Comment

A Software Architect

Chris Eppstein has a great view of a Software Architect:
http://coderwall.com/p/lbda2q

Food for thought. 🙂

Regards,
Roger Lacroix
Capitalware Inc.

Education, Programming Comments Off on A Software Architect

WMQ v7.0.1.8 Java/JMS Application Leaks Connections

IBM has the following APAR IC79103 for the fix:
http://www.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?uid=swg1IV18624

Error Description:
Applications using the WebSphere MQ classes for Java Version 7.0.1.8 repeatedly reconnect and finally consume all the available connections of the queue manager.

Traces show repeated occurrences of completion code “2” and reason code “2009”, and internal exceptions are traced out containing the following callstack:

Throwing Exception: com.ibm.mq.jmqi.JmqiException: CC=2;RC=2009
com.ibm.mq.jmqi.remote.internal.RemoteHconn.getConnection (RemoteHconn.java:855)
com.ibm.mq.jmqi.remote.internal.RemoteHconn.isSPISupported (RemoteHconn.java:3608)
com.ibm.mq.jmqi.remote.internal.RemoteFAP.jmqiPutMessageWithProp s(RemoteFAP.java:7495)

Regards,
Roger Lacroix
Capitalware Inc.

IBM i (OS/400), IBM MQ, Java, JMS, Linux, Programming, Unix, Windows, z/OS Comments Off on WMQ v7.0.1.8 Java/JMS Application Leaks Connections