MQ Channel Auto Creation Manager for z/OS Overview
The MQ Channel Auto Creation Manager for z/OS v1.0.6 (z/MQCACM) is an MQ Channel Auto-Definition (MQ CHAD) exit that allows a company to control and restrict incoming connection requests to auto-create a channel. z/MQCACM is invoked when a request is received to start an undefined Cluster-Receiver or Cluster-Sender channel. z/MQCACM can modify or clear the supplied default channel definition values for an instance of the channel, so that there is no exit incompatibility (cross-platform or otherwise).
z/MQCACM will operate with IBM MQ v7.1, v8.0, v9.0, v9.1, v9.2, v9.3 and v9.4 for z/OS environments. It works with Cluster-Receiver and Cluster-Sender channels of IBM MQ queue manager.
z/MQCACM has the ability to allow or restrict the incoming IP address from auto-creating a channel. z/MQCACM compares the incoming IP address against a regular expression pattern using a regular expression parser. If a match is found, the channel auto-creation is allowed; otherwise, the connection request is denied.
z/MQCACM has the ability to allow or restrict the incoming auto-create channel request based on the company's naming standard. z/MQCACM compares the incoming channel name against a regular expression pattern (Naming Standard) using a regular expression parser. If a match is found, the channel auto-creation is allowed; otherwise, the connection request is denied.
z/MQCACM has the ability to define, override or clear the supplied default channel definition values related to Message, Security, Receive and Send Exits. Hence, the appropriate platform specific values can be set for the given exit.
Cluster-Sender and Cluster-Receiver channels do not require the queue manager's CHAD parameter to be enabled for the channel auto-creation to happen. For 3rd party security exits to work with MQ clustering, an MQ CHAD exit is required to override the supplied default channel definition values. Hence, z/MQCACM can be used with 3rd party security exits to explicitly set or clear the supplied default channel definition values.
z/MQCACM can be used to prevent a 'Denial-Of-Service' (DOS) attack against a queue manager by setting all 2 'Allow” keywords (AllowClusRcvr and AllowClusSdr) to 'N'.
Note: IBM MQ for z/OS does not support Channel Auto-Definition for Receiver and Server-Connection channel types.
z/MQCACM Summary
- z/MQCACM is available as:
- z/OS load-module
- z/MQCACM features are:
- Prevent Denial-Of-Service (DOS) attacks
- Allows or restricts the incoming IP address against a regular expression pattern
- Allows or restricts the auto-create channel based on company's naming standards
- Ability to define, override or clear fields related Message, Security, Receive and Send Exits
- Ability to work with 3rd party security exits to explicitly set or clear supplied default channel values for Cluster-Sender channels.
- Provides logging capability for all successful and unsuccessful attempts to auto-create channels
- Provides logging capability via Write To Operator (WTO) facility.
z/MQCACM is licensed as a free product. (i.e. Same as how IBM licenses MQ Client software.) z/MQCACM is free to use but support is not included. A support license may be purchased.
Enterprise Support Subscription for MQ Channel Auto Creation Manager for z/OS
The Yearly Enterprise Support Subscription License for MQ Channel Auto Creation Manager for z/OS sells for $999.00 USD per year. The company is provided with support for an unlimited number end-users and/or applications using MQ Channel Auto Creation Manager for z/OS at an unlimited number of locations.
| Product | Price (USD) | Ordering |
| Support Subscription for MQ Channel Auto Creation Manager for z/OS | $999.00 |
- Each support subscription license provides for:
- Product support and updates
- Email/ Help Desk support