Moving a queue manager to MSCS storage

This procedure configures an existing queue manager to make it suitable for putting under MSCS control. To achieve this, you move the log files and data files to shared disks to make them available to the other computer in the event of a failure. For example, the existing queue manager might have paths such as C:\WebSphere MQ\log\<QMname> and C:\WebSphere MQ\qmgrs\<QMname>. Do not try to move the files by hand; use the utility program supplied as part of WebSphere MQ MSCS Support as described below.

The procedure is:

1. Shut down the queue manager, and check that there are no errors.
2. If the queue manager's log files or queue files are already stored on a shared disk, skip the rest of this procedure and proceed directly to Putting a queue manager under MSCS control.
3. Make a full media backup of the queue files and log files and store the backup in a safe place (see Queue manager log files for why this is important).
4. If you already have a suitable shared disk resource proceed to step 6. Otherwise, using the MSCS Cluster Administrator to create a resource of type shared disk with sufficient capacity to store the queue manager log files and data (queue) files.
5. Test the shared disk by using the MSCS Cluster Administrator to move it from one cluster node to the other and back again.
6. Make sure that the shared disk is online on the cluster node where the queue manager log and data files are stored locally.
7. Run the utility program to move the queue manager as follows:

    hamvmqm /m qmname /dd "e:\WebSphere MQ" /ld e:\WebSphere MQ\log"
   

   substituting your queue manager name for qmname, your shared disk drive letter for e, and your chosen directory for WebSphere MQ. The directories are created if they do not already exist.

8. Test the queue manager to ensure that it works, using the WebSphere MQ Explorer. For example:
   1. Expand the folder with the name of the queue manager.
   2. Right-click the queue manager folder and select Start.
   3. Right-click the queues folder, select New->Local, and give the queue a name.
   4. Right-click the queue in the results pane, and use Put test message to put several test messages.
   5. Double-click the queue to display the test messages.
   6. Right-click the queue and select Tasks->Clear messages.
   7. Right-click the queue and select Delete.
   8. Right-click the queue manager folder and select Stop.
9. As WebSphere MQ Administrator ensure that the startup attribute of the queue manager is set to manual. Use the WebSphere MQ Services administration interface.
10. Proceed to Putting a queue manager under MSCS control.