IBM MQ and IIB HA Architectures Using GCP

Target audience: Mid to Highly skilled Linux, MQ/IIB and GCP admins.

IBM MQ and IIB have 2 distinct HA Architectures. MQ and IIB can be configured to have an Active Standby(2 live server) or an Active Passive(1 live server) HA configuration. Both MQ/IIB HA designs are publish documents. This article focuses on using just the IBM software and GCP components.

Since GCP only supports NFS v4 with a separate file server instance this article focuses on the active pass MQ/IIB HA configuration.

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Again, these are high-level design and the details will need to be worked out with a specific client. Internet domains, SSL/TLS and certs are not cover, these items will also need to be incorporated to the client’s specifications.

Create the MQ/IIB environment on GCP – Active Passive:

Other references for this design are listed below. Again, this article focuses on using just the IBM software and the tools available in GCP.

• Create a VPC for MQ/IIB that has a default network. Update Firewall rules as needed. These GCP components will be created and configure to a client’s specifications. The firewall rule should include MQ/IIB ports and should limit who can get to the MQ/IIB from the internet.
• Create an instance of one of the GCP public images that meets the client’s virtual machine specification. Make sure that delete boot drive is unchecked.
• Create cloud storage shares for MQ and IIB.
• Mount the shares using FUSE.
• Put the remount commands in /etc/fstab
• Upload the MQ/IIB software to the instance.
• Install MQ and IIB.
• Now create a QMgr configuration on the VM instance. Follow the IBM info center for these steps.
• Now create an IIB configuration on the VM instance. Follow the IBM info center for these steps. Now write a script.
  1. The script will execute at bootup. Call it ESB_startup.
  2. It will start the QMgr and Brkr.
  3. Put ESB_startup script in /etc/init.d
  4. chmod 755 /etc/init.d/ESB_startup
  5. chkconfig –add ESB_startup
  6. chkconfig ESB_startup on
  7. Check it: chkconfig –list ESB_startup
• Now stop the instance.
• Now reboot the Instance to see your script work. If both QMgr and Brkr startup, then continue. Otherwise go back and debug your script.
• Now delete the current instance.
• Now create and image from the boot disk of the instance.
• Now create a template and use the image you just created.
• Now create an instance group from the template. The auto scaling group will be a scaling group of 1. Setup a health check for port 1414. Default MQ port.
• Now create a load balancer and use the instance group.
• Test your configuration by shutting down the Qmgr. You should see the Auto Scaling destroy the current instance and spin up a new instance of the Qmgr and Brkr.

References:

https://www.ibm.com/developerworks/community/blogs/messaging/entry/mq_openstack_part1_packer?lang=en

https://www.ibm.com/developerworks/community/blogs/messaging/entry/mq_openstack_part2_heat?lang=en