New WebSphere MQ v6 End of Service Date

March 3, 2011 Roger Lacroix

The original WebSphere MQ v6 End of Service date was September 30th, 2011, as noted in my blog posting here:
https://www.capitalware.com/rl_blog/?p=98

Just recently, IBM has changed/updated the WebSphere MQ v6 End of Service date to be September 30th, 2012 (they added one more year).
http://www.ibm.com/software/websphere/support/lifecycle/

http://www.ibm.com/common/ssi/ShowDoc.jsp?docURL=/common/ssi/rep_ca/2/897/ENUS211-072/index.html&breadCrum=DET001PT288&url=buttonpressed=DET001PT008&page=0&user+type=EXT&submit.x=12&submit.y=6&lang=en_US

Regards,
Roger Lacroix
Capitalware Inc.

IBM i (OS/400), IBM MQ, Linux, Unix, Windows, z/OS Comments Off on New WebSphere MQ v6 End of Service Date

Flocking

March 3, 2011 Roger Lacroix

And now for something completely different: flocking (aka group behavior). If you ever had a need for an algorithm that handles flocking then have a look at this article (its really interesting):
http://harry.me/2011/02/17/neat-algorithms—flocking

Regards,
Roger Lacroix
Capitalware Inc.

C, Java, Open Source, Programming Comments Off on Flocking

New: MQ Channel Encryption v2.0.0

February 28, 2011 Roger Lacroix

Capitalware Inc. would like to announce the official release of MQ Channel Encryption (MQCE) v2.0.0.

MQCE provides encryption for WebSphere MQ (WMQ) message data over WMQ channels. MQCE operates with Sender, Receiver, Server, Requestor, Cluster-Sender, Cluster-Receiver, Server Connection and Client Connection channels of the WMQ queue managers. MQCE uses Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) to encrypt the data and SHA-2 to create a digital signature.

MQCE operates with WMQ v5.3, v6.0 and v7.0 on Windows, iSeries (OS/400), Unix and Linux environments.

For more information about MQCE go to:
https://www.capitalware.com/mqce_overview.html

Regards,
Roger Lacroix
Capitalware Inc.

Capitalware, IBM i (OS/400), IBM MQ, Linux, MQ Channel Encryption, Security, Unix, Windows Comments Off on New: MQ Channel Encryption v2.0.0

New: MQ Channel Encryption for z/OS v2.0.0

February 28, 2011 Roger Lacroix

Capitalware Inc. would like to announce the official release of MQ Channel Encryption for z/OS (z/MQCE) v2.0.0.

z/MQCE provides encryption for WebSphere MQ (WMQ) message data over WMQ channels. z/MQCE operates with Sender, Receiver, Server, Requestor, Cluster-Sender, Cluster-Receiver, Server Connection and Client Connection channels of the WMQ queue managers. z/MQCE uses Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) to encrypt the data and SHA-2 to create a digital signature.

z/MQCE operates with WebSphere MQ for z/OS v5.3.1, v6.0 and v7.0 on z/OS v1.4 or higher environments.

For more information about z/MQCE go to:
https://www.capitalware.com/mqce_zos_overview.html

Regards,
Roger Lacroix
Capitalware Inc.

Capitalware, IBM MQ, MQ Channel Encryption, Security, z/OS Comments Off on New: MQ Channel Encryption for z/OS v2.0.0

Capitalware releases MQRC2 v1.0.0

February 22, 2011 Roger Lacroix

Do you use IBM’s MQRC program? Do you wish it could display more information? I created an application called MQRC2 to fill this need.

MQRC2 application can interpret an MQ reason code number (i.e. 2035), MQ reason code symbol (i.e. MQRC_OBJECT_IN_USE) or AMQ message number (i.e. AMQ4005) and display the relevant information from the WebSphere MQ Messages manual.

Note: The information outputted belongs to IBM. Capitalware takes no responsibility for the content.

C:\Capitalware\MQRC2>mqrc2 2035

2035 (X'07F3') MQRC_NOT_AUTHORIZED

Explanation:
The user is not authorized to perform the operation attempted:
- On an MQCONN or MQCONNX call, the user is not authorized to connect to the queue manager.
* On z/OS, for CICS applications, MQRC_CONNECTION_NOT_AUTHORIZED is issued instead.
- On an MQOPEN or MQPUT1 call, the user is not authorized to open the object for the option(s) specified.
* On z/OS, if the object being opened is a model queue, this reason also arises if the user is not authorized to create a dynamic queue with the required name.
- On an MQCLOSE call, the user is not authorized to delete the object, which is a permanent dynamic queue, and the Hobj parameter specified on the MQCLOSE call is not the handle returned by the MQOPEN call that created the queue.
- On a command, the user is not authorized to issue the command, or to access the object it specifies. This reason code can also occur in the Feedback field in the message descriptor of a report message; in this case it indicates that the error was encountered by a message channel agent when it attempted to put the message on a remote queue.

Completion Code:
MQCC_FAILED

Programmer Response:
Ensure that the correct queue manager or object was specified, and that appropriate authority exists.

MQRC2 is licensed under Apache License 2.

Regards,
Roger Lacroix
Capitalware Inc.

C, Capitalware, IBM MQ, Open Source Comments Off on Capitalware releases MQRC2 v1.0.0

MiGLayout v3.7.4 Released

February 19, 2011 Roger Lacroix

MiG InfoCom has just released MiGLayout v3.7.4.
http://www.miglayout.com

For Java developers writing GUI layouts by hand that wants simplicity, power and automatic per platform fidelity, that are dissatisfied with the current layout managers in Swing, JavaFX and SWT, MigLayout solves your layout problems. User interfaces created with MigLayout is easy to maintain, you will understand how the layout will look like just by looking at the source code.

Regards,
Roger Lacroix
Capitalware Inc.

Java, Open Source Comments Off on MiGLayout v3.7.4 Released

MQAUSX Security Bulletin

February 18, 2011 Roger Lacroix

Yesterday, it was discovered that MQAUSX has a security issue of a high priority. If your IniFile is using UseAuthOrder and AuthOrder keywords and if the any of the parameters of AuthOrder keyword are disabled then all incoming connections are allowed.
i.e.

UseAuthOrder = Y
AuthOrder = ldap files mqausx
UseLDAP = N

A fix is available for this bug. Please contact Capitalware Support immediately for the fix. For an interim fix, either disable UseAuthOrder or make sure none of the authentication components listed in AuthOrder are disabled.

Regards,
Roger Lacroix
Capitalware Inc.

Capitalware, IBM i (OS/400), Linux, MQ Authenticate User Security Exit, Security, Unix, Windows, z/OS Comments Off on MQAUSX Security Bulletin

MQ queue managers should not be allowed to create CCDT files

February 17, 2011 Roger Lacroix

In my opinion, IBM should drop the feature that allows a user to create a CCDT (Client Channel Definition Table) via a queue manager. Here is my logic to my idea:

  • The queue manager stores the CCDT information in 2 places that sometimes becomes out of sync. This desynchronization makes the CCDT file useless
  • CCDT files hold the CLNTCONN channel information which is not by the queue manager itself. The CCDT file is used by client applications (running on another server)
  • In order to be used by the client applications, the CCDT file(s) must be copied from the server where the queue manager is running and transferred to another server where the CCDT file(s) are actually required

What should IBM do? Include Paul Clarke’s SupportPac MO72 into the base MQ product.
http://www.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?uid=swg24007769

  • SupportPac MO72 is a great product that allows a user to create a CCDT file without requiring MQ to be installed on that server
  • SupportPac MO72 can create CCDT files for different versions of MQ (i.e. v5.3, v6.0, v7.0, etc..)
  • SupportPac MO72 can be installed and used on application servers where the CCDT file will be used. Hence, no need to copy CCDT file(s) between servers

Food for thought. 🙂

Regards,
Roger Lacroix
Capitalware Inc.

IBM MQ 1 Comment

ProGuard v4.6 Released

February 17, 2011 Roger Lacroix

Eric Lafortune has just released ProGuard v4.6.
http://proguard.sourceforge.net/

ProGuard is a free Java class file shrinker, optimizer, obfuscator, and preverifier. It detects and removes unused classes, fields, methods, and attributes. It optimizes bytecode and removes unused instructions. It renames the remaining classes, fields, and methods using short meaningless names. Finally, it preverifies the processed code for Java 6 or for Java Micro Edition.

Regards,
Roger Lacroix
Capitalware Inc.

Java, Open Source, Programming Comments Off on ProGuard v4.6 Released

OpenOffice v3.3 Released

February 17, 2011 Roger Lacroix

OpenOffice has just released OpenOffice v3.3.
http://www.openoffice.org

OpenOffice.org 3 is the leading open-source office software suite for word processing, spreadsheets, presentations, graphics, databases and more. It is available in many languages and works on all common computers. It stores all your data in an international open standard format and can also read and write files from other common office software packages. It can be downloaded and used completely free of charge for any purpose.

Regards,
Roger Lacroix
Capitalware Inc.

Linux, macOS (Mac OS X), Open Source, Windows Comments Off on OpenOffice v3.3 Released