Managing channels

In IBM WebSphere MQ, communication between queue managers occurs through two different types of channels:

A message channel, which is a unidirectional communications link between two queue managers. WebSphere MQ uses message channels to transfer messages between the queue managers. To send messages in both directions, you must define a channel for each direction.
An MQI channel, which is bidirectional and connects an application (MQI client) to a queue manager on a server machine. WebSphere MQ uses MQI channels to transfer MQI calls and responses between MQI clients and queue managers.

For more information, refer to the IBM WebSphere MQ documentation.

Select the Channels option from the Navigation Panel to display the Summary View:

To access the selected channel's Properties Editor, click on the channel name.

Adding a channel

You can add a channel of any type using the Channels view functionality.

To add a channel:

From the Channels view, click the Operations arrow icon to display a dropdown menu including several "New ___ channel" options for the various channel types; select the required channel type from the list.
View the Properties for New Channel pane that is displayed.
Set all required parameters to define the new channel.
Use the Schedule Tasks option in the View menu bar to schedule channel creation in the future.
Alternately, create the channel immediately by selecting Save. The channel is immediately added to the Channels view.

Channel categories and operations

Summary view operations available from the Operations drop-down menu include:

Copy As New Channel: Copies the channel object.
Delete: Deletes the channel.
Permissions: Displays user/group permissions.
Start: Starts channel transmission.
Stop: Stops channel.
Ping: Sends data packet to check channel status (active or not).
Reset: Resets channel.
Resolve (see below): Requests commit or rejection of messages in doubt.
Test Channel Authentication: Enables you to test channels to verify whether channel authentication records are preventing access to channels. See also Channel Authentication Records.
Audit: Shows audit log for channel within specified parameters.
Tag Channel: Associate channel with tag.

To access the selected channel's Properties Editor, click on the channel name.

Resolving a channel

Resolving a channel means requesting the channel to commit or reject questionable messages. It is typically only used if the second end of a link fails during confirmation and the connection cannot be reestablished. Because the failed node does not know whether messages sent were actually resolved, Resolve sets up a resend or cancels transmission. When you choose this operation, you are prompted to commit or backout messages:

Select Commit to retry messages or Backout to restore messages to the transmission queue
Click Resolve to request the operation