Category: Integration

Integrating computer systems across Operating Systems, Runtimes, Programming Languages, and Location. Asynchronous messaging, Message Brokers, Services, SOA, Microservices and the software products and standards that support them.

IBM MQ, SSL/TLS, and Certificates

MQ Technical Conference.  September 2014.  Powerpoint presentation.
“IBM MQ – SSL & TLS – A User Perspective“  (58 slides).

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The presentation provides an overview of Secure Socket Layer (SSL) / Transport Layer Security (TLS) processing and the lifecycle of x.509 certificates within these protocols.  The presentation covers the following points:

  • Business challenge that SSL/TLS address
  • SSL/TLS History (what it was and was not designed for)
  • Overview of x.509 certificate contents
  • The x.509 certificate management lifecycle
  • The certificate lifecycle, illustrated using the IBM iKeyMan tool

By the end of the presentation, the viewer should have a conceptual understanding of both SSL/TLS encryption across MQ channels as well as the lifecycle and management of the certificates that support that encryption.

IBM Integration Bus – BAR File Management

TechDoc.  IBM Integration Bus.  BAR File Management.
February 2015. 23 pages.
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This TechDoc describes the creation, deployment, and management of Broker Archive (BAR) files.  The complete life-cycle of a BAR file is described and, in the absence of Source Code Management (SCM) software, a deployment and management process is proposed.  All of the commands necessary to manage BAR files are covered in detail.  These commands are:

  • mqsicreatebar    (Create a BAR file)
  • mqsiapplybaroverride    (Modify the properties of a BAR file)
  • mqsideploy    (Deploy are BAR file to an Integration Server)
  • mqsireadbar    (Display the properties of a BAR file)

This document should provide all of the information necessary to understand, build, deploy and manage Broker Archive (BAR) files.  In addition, enough command detail is provided to allow an IIB administrator to be able to automate this process through scripting.

 

IBM Integration Bus – Load Balancing

TechDoc.  IBM Integration Bus.  Load Balancing.
January 2016. 24 pages.
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This TechDoc describes HTTP/HTTPS traffic Load Balancing in regards to IIB Message Flows.  The capabilities of network level hardware are discussed and specific configuration documentation is provided for the following products:

  • A10 Networks AX series Load Balancers

This document should provide all of the information necessary to understand networking capabilities and concepts, their impacts upon both High Availability (HA) and Message Flow Load Balancing, and an overview of the configuration steps required for configuring the Load Balancer itself.  Finally, specific instructions are provided for configuring an A10 AX series Load Balancer.

IBM Integration Bus – Logging

TechDoc.  IBM Integration Bus.  Logging.
March 2015. 10 pages.  Download TechDoc

This TechDoc describes how to configure and access the IIB Logs.  Information regarding logging is provided for both the Windows and Unix platforms.   Three different IIB logs are covered:

  • System Logs (Standard Out and Standard Error; stdout and stderr)
  • Local Error Logs (System Log; syslog)
  • Message Broker Toolkit Logs

This document should provide all of the information necessary to enable an IIB administrator or developer to configure and access the various IIB logs.

IBM Integration Bus – Namespaces

TechDoc.  IBM Integration Bus.  Namespaces.
April 2015. 8 pages.  Download TechDoc

This TechDoc describes the use of Namespaces within IIB Message Flow development.  This document describes what Namespaces are, how they are used, how they are identified, URI syntax, and the the use of Namespaces in both ESQL and XPath within IIB nodes.

This document should provide all of the information necessary to enable an IIB developer to understand and use multiple Namespaces in the development and/or maintenance of IIB Message Flows.

IBM Integration Bus – Aggregation Nodes

TechDoc.  IBM Integration Bus.  Nodes – Aggregation.
February 2015. 15 pages.  Download TechDoc.

This TechDoc describes the nodes in the IIB Integration Toolkit “Routing” drawer used for “Aggregation”; or parallel processing, and how to use them in Message Flow development.  Concepts of parallel processing, the “forking” and “joining” of independent threads, are discussed as well as the use of the IIB Toolkit nodes in implementing those concepts.  The document covers the following Message Flow nodes:

  • AggregateControl Node
  • AggregateRequest Node
  • AggregateReply Node

This document should provide all of the information necessary to enable an IIB developer to understand and use these “Routing” nodes in the development and/or maintenance of IIB Message Flows.

IBM Integration Bus – Routing Nodes

TechDoc.  IBM Integration Bus.  Nodes – Routing.
February 2015. 13 pages.  Download TechDoc.

This TechDoc describes the nodes in the IIB Integration Toolkit “Routing” drawer and how to use them in Message Flow development.  The document covers the following Message Flow nodes:

  • Collector Node
  • Filter Node
  • Label Node
  • Publication Node
  • Resequence Node
  • Route Node
  • RouteToLabel Node
  • Sequence Node

This document should provide all of the information necessary to enable an IIB developer to understand and use these “Routing” nodes in the development and/or maintenance of IIB Message Flows.

IBM Integration Bus – SOAP Node Policy Sets

TechDoc.  IBM Integration Bus.  Policy Sets for SOAP Nodes.
March 2015.  8 pages.  Download TechDoc.

This TechDoc describes WS-Security and WS-RM (Reliable Messaging) Policy Sets for the SOAP Nodes.  The document covers the following Message Flow nodes:

  • SOAPInput Node
  • SOAPReply Node
  • SOAPRequest Node
  • SOAPAsyncRequest Node
  • SOAPAsyncResponse Node

This document should provide all of the information necessary to enable an IIB developer and/or administrator to define Web Service (WS) XML policy files, to create the necessary IIB Configurable Services, and to bind the Policy Files to the Configurable Services.

IBM Integration Bus – SubFlows.

TechDoc.  IBM Integration Bus.  Nodes – SubFlows.
June 2015. 7 pages.  Download TechDoc.

This TechDoc describes what IIB SubFlows are, how they work, and how to implement them.  The document covers the following Message Flow nodes:

  • Input Node
  • Output Node
  • Passthrough Node

This document should provide all of the information necessary to enable an IIB developer to understand and use SubFlows in the development and/or maintenance of IIB Message Flows.

IBM Integration Bus – Tracing

TechDoc.  IBM Integration Bus.  Traces.
March 2015.  9 pages.  Download TechDoc.

This TechDoc describes the IIB dynamic Tracing capabilities and the associated commands required to execute the traces.  If you’re either an IIB Administrator or Developer, this document will provide you with all of the necessary information to understand and execute all types of IIB Traces.