MQ File Mover Overview
The MQ File Mover v4.0.0 (MQFM) application is a managed file transfer solution that facilitates the transfer of files using IBM's WebSphere MQ (aka MQSeries). MQFM processes "Action" commands which are controlled through an MQFM Workflow XML file. The user combines a series of Action commands to create the MQFM Workflow XML file.
MQFM is more than a simple file transfer tool, it is a solution for combining business processes into a workflow. The Action commands of a MQFM Workflow XML file are set up by a user to define precisely what actions, aka business processes, are going to be executed, what order they will be executed in and what happens if an error occurs.
The Send and Watch Actions use Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) to encrypt the data and the actions can also compress the data before the data is sent via WebSphere MQ. The Receive Action can decrypt and decompress the incoming data before it is written to the target file.
MQFM supports End-To-End encryption when a KeySize and PassPhrase is used with Send (or Watch) and Receive Actions. MQFM uses Java's Cryptography to perform the encryption and decryption, hence the use of SSL and SSL certificates is not require.
The Send and Watch Actions can send the file to a single MQ queue or send the same message to multiple MQ queues at the same time.
A series of MQFM "How To" blog posting can be found here.
The MQFM Workflow XML Action framework currently contains 26 Action commands. The action commands are in 3 categories: WebSphere MQ Actions, File Actions and Other Actions.
- WebSphere MQ Actions:
- Send - Sends 1 or more files as individual messages via MQ. Each file can be encrypted and/or compressed before it is sent. Each file can be sent to a single queue or multiple queues at the same time.
- Watch - Monitors for a particular file or monitor a directory for files to appear and then send the file (can be run as a daemon or as a Windows service). Each file can be encrypted and/or compressed before it is sent. Each file can be sent to a single queue or multiple queues at the same time.
- Receive - Receives an incoming message and write it to a file (can be run as a daemon or as a Windows service). Receive Action will decrypt and/or decompress and encrypted and/or compressed messages.
- PutQuit - Puts a 'Quit' message on a queue
- File Actions:
- Append - Appends a file to another file
- Copy - Copies 1 or more files from a directory to another directory
- Delete - Deletes 1 or more files in a directory
- DecryptFile – Decrypt a file using AES 128, 192 or 256-bit decryption
- EncryptFile – Encrypt a file using AES 128, 192 or 256-bit encryption
- Merge - Merge 2 or more files to another file
- MergeSort - Merge 2 or more files and sort the data to another file
- Move - Moves 1 or more files from a directory to another directory
- Rename - Renames a file
- ReplaceText - Performs a search and replace of text in a file.
- Sort - Sorts the data of a file into another file
- Tar - Combine a file(s) or a directory of files into a tar archive
- Touch – Update a file's the modification time or create the file if it does not exist
- UnTar – Extract tar archive to a directory
- UnZip – Uncompress a zip archive to a directory
- Zip - Compresses a file(s) or a directory of files into a Zip archive
- Other Actions:
- Execute - Runs an external program / application
- If/Else - Performs a conditional test against an action's variable
- Launch - Invokes an MQFM Workflow XML file.
- Schedule - Invokes an MQFM Workflow XML file at a specific date and/or time.
- SendEmail – Sends an email to 1 or more recipients.
- Sleep – Pause the MQFM Workflow for a period of time.
- MQFM can connect to a queue manager in 3 possible ways:
- Locally in binding mode
- Remotely using a Client Channel Definition Table (CCDT)
- Remotely using a MQ XML file
- MQFM supports both forms of MQ security:
- SSL for connecting to remote queue managers
- 3rd party security exit for connecting to remote queue managers
MQ File Mover is licensed under Apache License 2. It is free to use but support is not included. A support license may be purchased.
- Prerequisite:
- WebSphere MQ v5.3 or higher
- Java Runtime Environment (JRE) 1.5 or higher
Optional Support Subscription for MQ File Mover
| Product | Price (USD) * | Ordering |
| MQ File Mover (Single Support Subscription license per year) | $15.00 | Order Now |
* Volume discounts available for as low as $12.00 USD per license per year.
** Each support subscription license is licensed on a per queue manager basis per year.
- Each support subscription license provides for:
- Product support and updates
- Free email/ Help Desk support
| Enterprise Support Subscription License for MQ File Mover: |
| The Yearly Enterprise Support Subscription License for MQ File Mover sells for $999.00 USD per year. The company is provided with support for an unlimited number end-users and/or applications using MQ File Mover at an unlimited number of locations. |