TxMQ provides technical newsletters, seminars and other marketing services at no charge in CICS, WebSphere MQ, OS/390-z/OS, DB2 and IMS to TxMQ-registered customers in the Unites States and Southern Ontario as part of IBM's S/390 Business Partner Program. TxMQ is also an approved reseller of IBM's mainframe One Time Charge software products.

For information on our consulting and education services, please contact chuck@txmq.com.

Website: http://www.txmq.com
Compiled by: Scott Meridew [ scott@txmq.com ]

===============
In this issue..
===============

The TxMQ WebSphere MQ Newsletter Mission Statement
TxMQ WebSphere MQ Education
MQ V5.3 expands platform coverage
New MQ support pacs
Top 10 Downloaded Support Pacs
News, Events and Announcements
Resources and References
WebSphere Family product News
Upcoming seminars and Toronto WMQ USers Group Meeting

The TxMQ WebSphere MQ Newsletter Mission Statement:
---------------------------------------------------
The TxMQ WebSphere MQ Newsletter exists to publish essential information about the IBM WebSphere MQ Family, help direct it's readers to the most useful and to-the-point WebSphere MQ resources, and provide simple and direct answers to the questions that inevitably arise when clients are involved in a WMQ or WMQI implementation.

WebSphere MQ Education
======================

TxMQ WebSphere MQ Training courses are conducted by our certified consultants. TxMQ has been providing instructors to many of the leading corporate training organizations over the past few years. During this time, we have developed extensive training materials in both WebSphere MQ and MQ Integrator. From 1-day introductions on MOM and WMQ, through 3-day courses on Architecture and Design of MQ applications, we have the right course to address your needs. We have also customized and combined courses to suit our clients specific needs. TxMQ trainers are experienced instructors with real-world experience in designing and creating MQ-based applications in many operating environments - OS/390, z/OS, WinNT/2000, UNIX, and AS/400. We offer the same quality of education service as IBM delivered courses, but at a more reasonable cost, usually 20%-30% lower.

Course List:
------------

10-day MQ quick-start program ........................................10 days   *NEW*
WebSphere MQ Introduction ............................................1 day
WMQ for Unix/NT System Administrators ........................4 days
WMQ System Administration for OS/390 and z/OS ..........3 days
WMQ System Administration for distributed systems .........3 days
WMQ for Application Architects and ................................3 days
WMQ Application Programming in C ................................5 days
WMQ Application Programming in VB ..............................5 days
WMQ Application Programming in C++ ............................5 days
WMQ Application Programming in COBOL ......................5 days
WMQ Application Programming in Java/JMS .....................5 days
WMQ Integrator V2.x Boot Camp .....................................5 days

Check out our web site at TxMQ Education for WebSphere MQ for detailed course outlines offered by TxMQ at www.txmq.com under the Education tab.

Also see TxMQ Education Services for information on our many excellent training courses in DB2, IMS, CICS, and z/OS.

WebSphere MQ Expands platform coverage
======================================

IBM WebSphere MQ V5.3 is now available on Linux platforms. Platforms covered by 5.3 now include:

Use the above links for details.

New MQ support Pacs
===================

Reader's Questions and Answers
==============================
This being the first issue of the new TxMQ WebSphere MQ Newsletter there are no questions or answers yet, but we're hoping that our readers will take advantage of this opportunity to submit their IBM WebSphere MQ related questions and have them answered in this section.

Submit any questions that you may have to: Scott Meridew [ scott@txmq.com ] and we'll do our best to provide a prompt and accurate answer in an upcoming issue.

Recent News
===========

----------------
October 31, 2002
----------------

IBM WebSphere MQ Integrator Broker for HP NonStop Kernel Extends Integrator's Platform Coverage. General Availability is scheduled for October 31, 2002. Further plug- in nodes and parsers can be downloaded. WebSphere MQ Integrator Broker for HP NonStop Kernel does not contain the rules and formatter support found in WebSphere MQ Integrator.

Hardware Requirements -
---------------------
Server Products
• IBM xSeries and Intel®-based systems (or equivalent), various manufacturers
• HP NonStop S-series server, with at least two processors (with 2 GB of RAM per processor) and 1 GB of disk space (for installation)
• Communications hardware that supports TCP/IP or SNA
• Personal computer with a CD-ROM drive and network connection to the S-series Server (required for both installation and supporting the WebSphere MQ Integrator Broker Control Center and Configuration Manager)

Software Requirements -
---------------------
Message Broker, User Name Server, Command Assistant, Control Center, and Configuration Manager

• Microsoft Windows NT, V4.0 (with SP6a)
• Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional Server and Advanced Server (with SP2) (Toleration Mode only)
• HP NonStop Kernel G06.14, or later, and OSS (for development)
• HP NonStop SQL/MX software V1.5 (at level AAB) and a compatible level of SQL/MP

Check the HP NonStop Kernel documentation for the latest patch level of the operating system and development subsystem.

IBM MQSeries for Compaq NonStop Kernel, V5.1 (not supplied, must be purchased separately)

Java Requirements -
-----------------

• Java Runtime Environment (JRE) 1.2.2 for Control Center
• JRE 1.3 for Configuration Manager
• NonStop Server for Java V2.1 at level AAL (for the Broker)

Databases -
---------

• DB2® V6.1 (Fix Pack 7 or Fix Pack 8), DB2 V7.1 (GA Level Fix Pack 3 or Fix Pack 4), or DB2 V7.2 (GA Level or Fix Pack 4) for the Control Center and Configuration Manager

Transactional support is available on HP NonStop SQL/MX for the Broker IBM Link

http://isource.ibm.com/cgi-bin/goto?it=usa_annred&on=202-239

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September 10, 2002
------------------

New York, NY, September 12 . . . IBM (NYSE: IBM) today announced it has acquired all the outstanding shares of Holosofx, Inc., a privately-held, California-based provider of business integration software.

The acquisition closed yesterday. Financial details were not disclosed. Holosofx's operations will be integrated immediately with IBM Software Group and Holosofx products are available today from IBM.

IBM acquired Holosofx to extend its portfolio of business integration infrastructure software. Industry analysts estimate that companies spend 40 percent of their information technology budgets on integration, including integrating their various business processes such as those for managing inventory, customer relations and supply chains. IDC reports that the opportunity for business integration technology will hit $4 billion by 2005. Holosofx's software complements IBM's WebSphere business integration software portfolio and expands the breadth of the IBM integration portfolio. Holosofx's business process modeling and monitoring tools, as part of IBM's WebSphere Business Integration platform, will help customers implement powerful business integration solutions. For example, global financial institutions have a requirement for straight through processing for settling payments and insurance companies need to create compliance programs under the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). With the addition of Holosofx products, IBM's WebSphere Business Integration platform will provide end-to-end capability for a customer to design, deploy, monitor and improve business processes across the enterprise and with its business partners.

To learn more visit:
http://www-3.ibm.com/software/info1/websphere/index.jsp?tab=news/ibmnews/pr091202

Resources and References
========================

WebSphere MQ Capacity Unit Calculator
-------------------------------------

Ever find yourself wondering how to calculate how many MQ capacity units you need? Try IBM's CU calculator at:
http://www-3.ibm.com/software/ts/mqseries/messaging/calculator/basecalc.html

*** WebSphere, JMS and MQSeries Integration Webcast with Alex Koutsoumbos ***

Tune into the webcast - http://webevents.broadcast.com/ibm/developer/091802/index.asp?loc=33

*** IBM's MQ Performance Clustering Webcast with Colin Devonport and Andrew Banks ***

Tune into the webcast - http://isource.ibm.com/cgi-bin/goto?on=usa5sw0843

*** You can have a resilient, flexible, highly available, and extensible infrastructure without redesigning your solutions. Presenters: Mark Simmonds, IBM; Philip Czachorowski, CSC; Tim Dunn, IBM ***

Tune into the webcast -
http://www-3.ibm.com/software/info1/websphere/index.jsp?tab=news/events/csc&S_TACT=102BBW01&S_CMP=campaign

Ford Motor Company Case Study
-----------------------------

Ford Motor Company. It's a detailed case study done by Patricia Seybold Group. A good value piece for WebSphere in general, Application Server and MQ specifically. Here's the url and title. Ford Launches the ePIM Initiative: Using WebSphere and MQSeries to Integrate Disparate Enterprise Applications:

ftp://ftp.software.ibm.com/software/solutions/pdfs/g325-1911-00.pdf

WebSphere MQ Integrator CSC Reports
-----------------------------------

Independent Performance reports on MQSeries Integrator Version 2

Read this CSC Consulting report to learn more about how IBM MQSeries® and MQSeries Integrator® make it technically feasible to integrate a wide variety of Straight Through Processing (STP) applications--both internal and external--by providing key messaging and integration services. (PDF file, 290KB)

Report on the scalability of WebSphere MQ Integrator:

http://www-3.ibm.com/software/ts/mqseries/library/scalablesolution.PDF

This CSC Consulting report describes how IBM MQSeries® Integrator®--used with IBM MQSeries-- demonstrated the high-performance and scalability objectives by successfully processing the industry-specific workload for the Global Straight Through Processing (GSTP) Concentrator. (PDF file, 20KB)

http://www-3.ibm.com/software/ts/mqseries/integrator/v21/cscperformancereport.pdf

Editorial Comments
==================

If you're looking at building out an e-Business solution based on WebSphere, make sure you look at all the alternatives. Developing in-house staff in this area can be risky and time consuming. TxMQ has key outsourcing and hosting partners to assist with either extending your legacy assets to a middle tier, or completely migrating legacy assets to alternative environments. When deploying a new infrastructure that supports message brokering, be careful to select a technology that will grow with your business. WebSphere MQ Integrator is built on the market-leading WebSphere MQ - available on over 39 platforms.

WebSphere Family Product news
=============================

IBM WebSphere Host Publisher V4 for zSeries provides the WebSphere Server Solution for Web-to-Host Integration.
IBM Link - http://isource.ibm.com/cgi-bin/goto?it=can_announ&on=A02-1239

IBM WebSphere Business Integration for Retail Distribution Portfolio Streamlines product information Management Processes for Retail.
IBM Link - http://isource.ibm.com/cgi-bin/goto?it=can_announ&on=A02-1224

IBM WebSphere Commerce Business Edition for Linux for IBM eServer zSeries and S/390, V5.4: A Complete E-commerce Solution for your Web Site.
IBM Link - http://isource.ibm.com/cgi-bin/goto?it=can_announ&on=A02-1227

IBM WebSphere Portal for z/OS and OS/390 Provides Support for Large Processors.
IBM Link - http://isource.ibm.com/cgi-bin/goto?it=can_announ&on=A02-1228

IBM WebSphere Studio Workload Simulator for z/OS and OS/390 -- An Automated Test Tool for Load-Testing Web Servers
IBM Link - http://isource.ibm.com/cgi-bin/goto?it=usa_annred&on=202-236

IBM Enterprise Developer Server for z/OS V5.0 Provides z/OS Runtime Libraries for WebSphere Studio Enterprise Developer
IBM Link - http://isource.ibm.com/cgi-bin/goto?it=usa_annred&on=202-237

IBM WebSphere Business Integrator for Telecom Solutions
IBM Link - http://isource.ibm.com/cgi-bin/goto?on=naa5aa0841a

Upcoming Seminars
=================

IBM's Transaction and Messaging (T and M - formerly the CICS/MQ, or "Tech") conference will be in Las Vegas, NV February 10th to the 14th. It's not too late to register! Join TxMQ for an open house on Wednesday evening, February 12th from 4:30 to 7:00 at the Las Vegas Hilton. For details and an invitation, email chuck@txmq.com.

We are planning a new WebSPhere MQ Seminar for February/March timeframe and will be visiting your city again at that time.

The topic has been determined as
"WebSphere Application Server V5.0 and Message Queuing Integration".

In addition, TxMQ will be co-hosting with IBM, a resurrected "Toronto WebSphere MQ Users Group" in the new year. Our first meeting will be scheduled for February 6th at IBM Markham (3600 Steeles Avenue, Auditorium). The speaker will be Sandra Feist, a Senior IT Specialist with IBM Canada. The topic will also be on WAS V5 and MQ integration:

1. Intro to J2EE and JMS - key terminology - 10 mins 2. WebSphere V4.0 Messaging - 10 mins 3. WebSphere V5.0 Messaging - 30 mins MDB's WebSphere JMS provider (embedded) WebSphere Generic JMS provider WebSphere MQSeries JMS provider 4. WebSphere Enterprise - Extended Messaging Support. - 10 mins 5. A WebSphere V5.0 messaging demo. - 20 mins. 6. Q&A - 10 mins.