WebSphere MQ Fix Pack 8.0.0.2 Released

February 27, 2015 Roger Lacroix

IBM has just released FixPack 8.0.0.2 for WebSphere MQ
http://www.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?uid=swg21697959

Regards,
Roger Lacroix
Capitalware Inc.

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A Comparison of Capitalware’s MQAUSX to MQ V8 Authentication

February 26, 2015 Roger Lacroix

The following is a comparison of Capitalware’s MQ Authenticate User Security Exit (MQAUSX) to IBM’s MQ V8 new authentication feature. By authentication, I mean UserId and Password authentication against a target system (i.e. Local OS, LDAP, etc.).

Authentication IBM MQ V8 MQAUSX
& z/MQAUSX
Authentication against Local OS Yes Yes
Authentication against LDAP Server Yes Yes
Authentication against LDAP Server using SSL Yes Yes
Authentication against MS Active Directory from Windows No Yes
Number of LDAP calls to perform Authentication 2 1*
Authentication against Quest Authentication Services No Yes
Authentication against Centrify’s DirectControl No Yes
Authentication against RACF – z/OS only Yes Yes
Authentication against ACF2 – z/OS only Yes Yes
Authentication against TopSecret – z/OS only Yes Yes
Authentication against File Based Authentication No Yes
Ability to use more than 1 authentication type per Queue Manager No Yes
Ability to set authentication order No Yes
Group Functionality IBM MQ V8 MQAUSX
& z/MQAUSX
Only allow the connection if the UserId exists in a particular LDAP Group No Yes
Only allow the connection if the UserId exists in a particular Local OS Group No Yes
Only allow the connection if the UserId exists in a particular File-based Group No Yes
Control Functionality IBM MQ V8 MQAUSX
& z/MQAUSX
Allow/Reject by IP Address Yes Yes
Allow/Reject by Hostname (DNS) Yes Yes
Allow/Reject by Host by Name No Yes
Allow/Reject by SSL DN Yes Yes
Allow/Reject by UserId Yes Yes
Allow/Reject by MS Active Directory Name No Yes
Ability to Reject Self Signed Certificates No Yes
Limit the number of connections by Channel Yes Yes
Ability to secure cluster channels Yes Yes
Mapping Functionality IBM MQ V8 MQAUSX
& z/MQAUSX
Map incoming UserID to another UserId to be used as the connection MCAUSER value Yes Yes
Map SSL UserId to the connection MCAUSER value Yes Yes
Map the channel’s SSLCertUserID to the connection MCAUSER value – z/OS only No Yes
Logging Functionality IBM MQ V8 MQAUSX
& z/MQAUSX
Generate an alert when number of connections by Channel reaches a certain percentage No Yes
Logging of successful connections Partial Yes
Logging of failed connection attempts Yes Yes
Write event message for failed connection attempts Yes** Yes

* A single LDAP API call is used for a standard LDAP v3 server. MQAUSX will issue 2 LDAP API calls to Microsoft Active Directory as an LDAP server.

** Event messages must be abled first.

MQ V8 offers basic UserId and Password authentication and control over access granted to an incoming connection (CHLAUTH) whereas MQAUSX offers a robust solution that includes authentication to a variety of different targets and a wide variety of secondary features to control incoming connections.

I hope the above information is useful.

Regards,
Roger Lacroix
Capitalware Inc.

Capitalware, IBM i (OS/400), IBM MQ, Linux, MQ Authenticate User Security Exit, Security, Unix, Windows, z/OS 5 Comments

Mozilla Firefox 36.0 Released

February 24, 2015 Roger Lacroix

Mozilla Firefox has just released Mozilla Firefox v36.0.
http://www.mozilla.com/firefox/

Mozilla Firefox is a free and open source web browser descended from the Mozilla Application Suite and managed by Mozilla Corporation. To display web pages, Firefox uses the Gecko layout engine, which implements most current web standards in addition to several features that are intended to anticipate likely additions to the standards

Regards,
Roger Lacroix
Capitalware Inc.

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IBM releases IBM MQ Appliance M2000

February 17, 2015 Roger Lacroix

IBM has announced IBM MQ Appliance M2000 that provides an optimized version of IBM MQ V8 that runs in a hardware appliance. IBM MQ provides universal messaging that allows applications, systems, and services to connect and exchange information securely, reliably, rapidly, and simply. Offering MQ capability in hardware appliances, additional features are provided, as well as some appliance benefits.

    These features and benefits include:

  • Rapid time to deployment
  • Built-in high availability when paired to another
  • Single or multiple queue managers in a single appliance
  • Ease of maintenance through certified firmware updates
  • Browser-based user interface, IBM MQ Console, for monitoring and administration of MQ resources based on roles
  • High levels of performance and throughput with MQ optimized for appliance hardware

Regards,
Roger Lacroix
Capitalware Inc.

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MQTC v2.0.1.5 Silver Sponsor: IoPT Consulting

February 17, 2015 Roger Lacroix

Capitalware would like to announce that IoPT Consulting is a Silver Sponsor of MQ Technical Conference v2.0.1.5 (MQTC).

IoT is the corporate persona of T.Rob Wyatt. Though known as “The MQ Security Guy,” T.Rob also provides deep expertise in MQ Architecture, clustering, high availability, performance tuning, outage resolution and all other administrative aspects of MQ, AMS, MFT (formerly FTE), and MQTT. T.Rob brings experience from 20 years working exclusively with MQ, a holistic systems approach, excellent communication skills, proven leadership, and aggressive risk management. He will quickly become your trusted advisor for all things MQ. Now through September, you can also get one free pass to MQTC for each 40 hours worked. Call today +1-704-443-8762 for more information.

For more information, please go to: http://www.mqtechconference.com

Regards,
Roger Lacroix
Capitalware Inc.

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MQTC v2.0.1.5 Platinum Sponsor: Avada Software

February 4, 2015 Roger Lacroix

Capitalware would like to announce that Avada Software is a Platinum Sponsor of MQ Technical Conference v2.0.1.5 (MQTC).

For more information, please go to: http://www.mqtechconference.com

Regards,
Roger Lacroix
Capitalware Inc.

Education, IBM MQ, MQ Technical Conference Comments Off on MQTC v2.0.1.5 Platinum Sponsor: Avada Software

Windows 10 for Raspberry Pi 2

February 2, 2015 Roger Lacroix

Microsoft has announced that Windows 10 will be supported on Raspberry Pi 2 Model B and it will be FREE. Yes, that is correct. Windows 10 will be free for Raspberry Pi 2 Model B.

I’m thinking that the new Raspberry Pi 2 Model B is going to be a hot commodity, so I decided I’d better order one ASAP. 🙂 (which I did this afternoon.)

Regards,
Roger Lacroix
Capitalware Inc.

Education, Operating Systems, Raspberry Pi, Windows Comments Off on Windows 10 for Raspberry Pi 2

New Raspberry Pi 2 Model B Released

February 2, 2015 Roger Lacroix

Raspberry Pi Foundation has just released a new Raspberry Pi 2 Model B.
http://www.raspberrypi.org/products/raspberry-pi-2-model-b/

    Specifications:

  • A 900MHz quad-core ARM Cortex-A7 CPU
  • 1GB RAM
  • 4 USB ports
  • 40 GPIO pins
  • Full HDMI port
  • Ethernet port
  • Combined 3.5mm audio jack and composite videov
  • Camera interface (CSI)
  • Display interface (DSI)
  • Micro SD card slot
  • VideoCore IV 3D graphics core

Regards,
Roger Lacroix
Capitalware Inc.

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LibreOffice 4.4 Released

January 30, 2015 Roger Lacroix

Document Foundation has just released LibreOffice v4.4.0.
http://blog.documentfoundation.org/2015/01/29/libreoffice-4-4-the-most-beautiful-libreoffice-ever/

LibreOffice is a comprehensive, professional-quality productivity suite that you can download and install for free. There is a large base of satisfied LibreOffice users worldwide, and it’s available in more than 30 languages and for all major operating systems, including Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X and Linux (Debian, Ubuntu, Fedora, Mandriva, Suse, …).

Regards,
Roger Lacroix
Capitalware Inc.

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What a Wonderful Day It Is!!!

January 21, 2015 Roger Lacroix

With the price of a barrel of oil taking a nose dive, so too has the Canadian dollar. For the last 2 months, the business reporters keep saying the “new lower dollar” is good for exporters. They always talk about exporters of steel, cars, hard goods, etc.. but they never talk about the “software exporters” which of course Capitalware is one of. Capitalware sells its software in US dollars, so when the Canadian dollar was above par (to the US dollar), I hated to go to the bank and do foreign exchange because I would get less Canadian dollars than US dollars (enough to make you cry).

I haven’t transferred any money (US to CAD) in a while and have been getting nervous thinking when it would be a good time. I always transfer at least $50,000 because the Bank of Montreal gives me a better exchange rate when I do (a secret I found out about a few years ago).

So, why is today a wonderful day, well, the Bank of Canada decided this morning to lower its interest rate to 0.75% (from 1.0%). This put the Canadian dollar into a nose dive of almost 2 cents. The Canadian dollar is now trading at 0.8095. (i.e. 1 CAN dollar buys 0.8095 US dollar).

I went to the Bank of Montreal early this afternoon and transfer almost every penny I had from US dollars to Canadian dollars and received an exchange rate of 1.2225. (i.e. 1 US dollar converted to $1.2225 CAN). OMG. Seriously. OMG. I haven’t gotten an exchange rate of 1.2225 in almost 10 years (although there was a brief period in early 2009, when the Canadian dollar took a dive).

Most people may think so what! Capitalware is a small company so every penny counts. Here’s a table of transferring $100,000 US dollars to Canadian dollars in all its pain and/or glory.

Date: Exchange Rate:
1 US -> CAN		 Canadian Dollars Received
2011/07 0.95577000 $95,577.00
2012/08 0.99270000 $99,270.00
2013/06 1.03154000 $103,154.00
2014/07 1.07404091 $107,404.09
2014/11 1.13315263 $113,315.26
2015/01/21 1.222500 $122,500.00

The difference in exchange from 2 months ago to today is mind blowing. This isn’t a few dollars, it is thousands of dollars. Like I said, it is a WONDERFUL day today.

Of course, there is a downside. If any Canadian is planning on taking a USA vacation in the near future, things just got a whole lot more expensive!!

Regards,
Roger Lacroix
Capitalware Inc.

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