Migrating a multi-instance queue manager

Follow the steps listed to migrate a queue manager in a multi-instance queue manager configuration.

Before you begin

The following terms are relevant:
active queue manager instance
A queue manager instance that has been started permitting standby instances, and is running.
standby queue manager instance
A queue manager instance that has been started permitting standby instances, and is in standby. It is ready to take over from the active instance automatically.

Procedure

Base your migration procedure on the following steps:

  1. Before you start the migration process, create a different queue manager on a server, on which you have installed the upgrade.
  2. Test the upgrade by performing whatever verification checks that your organization requires.
  3. If you have a pool of servers that you pick from, when starting a queue manager instance, upgrade IBM® MQ on the servers that are in the pool and are neither active or acting as a standby.
  4. Stop the standby queue manager instance.
    Ensure that you have no system management procedure running that restarts the instance automatically.
  5. If you do not have a pool of servers, upgrade IBM MQ on the server that was running the standby instance
  6. Decide whether downtime or recoverability is more important in the migration.
  7. Optional: Follow this procedure if recoverability is more important, and you must take a backup:
    1. Stop the active queue manager instance, without switching to any standby.
    2. Back up the queue manager
    3. Start a queue manager instance, permitting standbys, on one of the upgraded servers.
    4. If you have a pool of upgraded servers, start another one, permitting standbys.
  8. Optional: Follow this procedure if availability is more important. You do not need to take a backup.
    1. Start a queue manager instance as a standby on one of the upgraded servers.
    2. Stop the active queue manager instance, switching to the standby.
    3. If you have a pool of upgraded servers, start another one, permitting standbys.
  9. Upgrade the IBM MQ code on the server that was the active queue manager instance.
  10. Start the server as the standby instance if you have not already started a standby.