This offering from IBM lets customers focus on what is best for them (solution, which solves their real-world problems) and tasks they are best at (developing solutions) while taking everything else away (managing operating systems, fine tuning, managing storage, upgrades, etc.) and putting it “in a box.” Wait a minute, to a extent, it is a magical box.
To put it in a metaphor, it would like be like this: You moved into a house, and you found that your lawn is cared for, and your major housekeeping is done automatically, leaving you with valuable time to spend with your family.
It comes with the cost, and although we may not agree with this metaphor all the time, there are four use-cases suggested, and there will be circumstances where it makes more sense than others.
I personally feel it will lower cost of ownership with better ROI and will add value to customers, who want to embrace this new offering from IBM.
Here are some nuggets on the topic and key points I got from an IBM webinar:
Key Points:
1. It is meant for quick and easy install. Kind of plug-in and play; after all, it is called an appliance for a reason.
(I believe IBM has positioned it similar to other appliances, i.e., it is pre-secure, pre-optimized, and highly available).
2. Feature-wise, it is similar to normal MQ installation except it will not have trigger and exits.
3. Apart from existing means of administration, MQ Console (browser interface) is provided.
4. HA is provided with two devices working together, connected via Ethernet cable (doesn’t support very long distance HA).
HA concept, (i.e. fail-over, active server and standby server) is similar to existing concept for standard installation but without need to maintain storage.
5. Will support external storage in future version.
6. They released two models M200A (for Enterprise) and M200B (Branch etc.).
These models are exactly similar to each other, except branch model has limited processor usage. (CPU is throttled)
7. IBM has proposed, four use cases for this appliance:
- Messaging Hub: Appliance as if sitting at center of wheel and in the middle of action, with applications connecting to it from different areas of company, even geographically dispersed.
- Messaging Outpost: A lone warrior, equipped with all needed skills, and perfect utility will be when help is needed at far-flung places where there is little help from out-side.
- Messaging Gateway: Appliance acting as if your official spokesperson to outside world, customers, and partners.
- Messaging Partner: Appliance onsite at your partner’s site (Vendor, customer..) to cater specific needs such as security, safe connectivity, dedicated service for high profile job.
8. It doesn’t come with virtual edition (installation on VMware), only hardware edition.
I think it has good selling points for remote location installation and for customers who do not have expertise to maintain MQ installations or customers who want quick, easy installs with low maintenance. Customers from broad range spectrum would fall in this criteria.
“Messaging in a box” would certainly add value to customers who have these requirements.
Reference:
http://www-03.ibm.com/software/products/en/mq-appliance-m2000
http://www-01.ibm.com/common/ssi/cgi-bin/ssialias?subtype=ca&infotype=an&supplier=877&letternum=ENUSZP15-0069
