Date: 26-Nov-2009
URL: www.sun.com/software/products/message_queue/faqs.xml
Sun Java System Message Queue
FAQs for Sun Java System Message QueueGet answers to the questions most frequently asked about Sun Java System Message Queue.
General QuestionsQ: Are the Java Message Queue, iPlanet Message Queue for Java, Sun ONE Message Queue and Sun Java System Message Queue products related?
A:
They are related. Java Message Queue, iPlanet Message Queue for Java and Sun ONE Message Queue are all former names for the currently shipping Sun Java System Message Queue product. In addition to Sun Microsystems being one of the principle designers of the Java Message Service specification, Sun has been shipping a production implementation of JMS since 1999.
Q: What is Java System Message Queue (formerly Sun ONE Message Queue)?
A:
Java System Message Queue is a leading business integration enterprise message server. An affordable, standards-based messaging solution, it delivers superior return on IT assets by connecting business software together to form one efficient enterprise. It falls under the product category of middleware. Java System Message Queue was available in two editions -- Platform Edition and Enterprise Edition --
up until the January 2007 release of Sun Java System Message Queue 3.7 Update 1. Both product versions fell under the product category of middleware.
Q: What is Enterprise Application Integration (EAI)?
A:
Enterprise Application Integration(EAI) is a term applied to a complex set of integration processes and software, usually involving a broad set of features and skills. It is not software or even a technology. Rather, it is a service involving the application of a number of technologies designed to promote cooperation and communication among a wide variety of data and logic sources.
Those shopping for EAI solutions should keep in mind that messaging middleware is an important component of an overall EAI process, and one with great benefit to enterprises if it can remain a decoupled layer from stove-piped, "all-in-one" middleware solutions. Any time an implementation of software becomes proprietary, issues of scalability and compatibility become increasingly difficult in a fast-changing world of mergers, distributed computing, and interoperability.
Q: What is the difference between the Java System Message Queue Platform Edition and the Enterprise Edition?
A:
No difference today. The Platform and Enterprise Editions of Java System Message Queue were combined into one offering with the release of Sun Java System Message Queue 3.7 Update 1.
Java System Message Queue Platform Edition was designed for small-scale deployments and development environments. In addition, being an implementation of the Java Message Service specification, it was designed to meet your growing business needs by offering a zero-cost migration to the Enterprise Edition.
Java System Message Queue Enterprise Edition was designed for large-scale enterprise deployments and included key enterprise class features such as scalability, reliability, and advanced security necessary for large-scale deployments. The Enterprise Edition was a high-performance messaging system for integrating disparate applications.
Q: Is it possible to try the Enterprise Edition features if I have the Platform Edition of the product?
A:
Yes. Today, the Java System Message Queue Platform and Enterprise Editions are combined into one offering, with the release of Java System Message Queue 3.7 Update 1. The product remains free for download. We also offer Open Message Queue, a developer community. The free, downloadable Platform Edition came with a 90 day trial Enterprise Edition license. When the trial Enterprise Edition license was enabled, all Enterprise Edition features became available for evaluation. If the version of Java System Message Queue you are using came pre-installed on your system (Solaris 9 Update 2 and later), see question #8 below.
Q: Is there a knowledge base where I can find topics on Java System Message Queue?
A:
Yes. SunSolve has a collection of free articles. Go to the SunSolve advanced search and search for "Message Queue" in the "All Free Collections" area. You can also search the Message Queue Forum for answers to your questions.
Q: How do I submit comments or questions to the Java System Message Queue team?
A:
You can contact the Java System Message Queue product team. The public Sun Software Forum is also a place to ask questions and share comments with other Java System Message Queue users.
Q: Can I upgrade to the Java System Message Queue 4.3 version for free if I have a previous version of the Java Message Queue product?
A:
Customers who purchased prior versions of Java System Message Queue and also have a current maintenance contract for these products are entitled to a free upgrade. Sun customers should use their normal support channels to request the upgrade.
All corporate customers with Sun Software Support contracts should be automatically notified of the upgrade via the Online Support Center. If you haven't been notified, please contact Sun Customer Service by contacting your local support center. Parties interested in upgrading will be required to provide proof-of-purchase.
Customers of previous versions of the free Platform Editions or customers without a current maintenance contract on this product cannot upgrade for free. Q: How much does Java System Message Queue cost?
A:
The Java System Message Queue product is free for development and production use. It is recommended that customers who use the product in a production environment buy a maintenance contract to ensure they have access to Sun's product support and the latest patches to the product.
The Java System Message Queue product is priced at $4,000 per socket. The license limits the Message Service (the imqbrokerd) to one host and one CPU; If the host has more than one CPU or you wish to run additional instances of the Message Service on other hosts, additional licenses are needed for each additional host and CPU.
Message Queue-based clients can be run on any number of additional hosts or CPUs at no additional cost.
If you would like more information about licensing Java System Message Queue or wish to discuss volume discounts, feel free to contact us.
Technical QuestionsQ: What is middleware?
A:
Middleware is a broad term used to describe software designed to provide some level of abstraction from other software applications or databases, allowing the communication between processes to be handled separately from the development of the processes themselves. This category is very broad, and it is often hard to distinguish where the lines between middleware and "traditional" software applications begin and end due to functional overlap and the common practice of embedding a variety of middleware combinations within a productivity application.
Within the middleware space, there are a number of categories, and even those definitions are subjective. In a recent report, the research group IDC identified no less than 7 categories of middleware, including Data Access, Transaction, Businessware, Message-Oriented, Legacyware, Object, and Remote Procedure Call middleware. When taken as a whole, plus adding in some level of systems integration expertise, you have what is commonly referred to as Enterprise Application Integration.
Q: Into which category of middleware does Java System Message Queue software fit?
A:
By most definitions, Java System Message Queue software cleanly falls into the Message-Oriented middleware category, also referred to as MOM. MOM is a relatively low level of abstraction within the middleware ranks, often running underneath complementary layers such as database and application adapters, event processing, and business process automation.
By design, Java System Message Queue software attempts to focus on satisfying the primary characteristics of the MOM space, those being the actual message transfer functions, rather than adding functionality that overlaps with other layers of middleware. These MOM characteristics include functions such as message routing, persistence, guaranteed delivery, and transaction support.
Q: Is Java System Message Queue software a reference implementation or a product?
A:
It is both a reference implementation and a product. Java System Message Queue is included in the J2EE 1.4 Reference Implementation as well as bundled in the Solaris Operating Environment and included in the Java Enterprise System product. Java System Message Queue can also be downloaded as a standalone product for free use. It is a production implementation of the Java Message Service 1.1 specification.
Q: Is Java System Message Queue software considered JMS-compliant?
A:
JMS technology compatibility tests are part of the J2EE SDK version 1.3. J2EE technology licensees are the only vendors that can produce J2EE technology-compatible products. Sun is a J2EE licensee and therefore we have access to the compatibility tests. The Java System Message Queue product (version 3.0 and later) passes the JMS compatibility tests without error.
Q: Which platforms does Java System Message Queue software support?
A:
Java System Message Queue is supported on Solaris, Linux and Windows 2000/XP.
For complete details, see the Installation Guide.
Q: Does Java System Message Queue support the JMS 1.1 specification?
A:
Yes, Java System Message Queue supports the JMS 1.1 specification.
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