Have you ever tried to run the amqsput
command on a Linux system only to get the frustrating "command not found" error? As a key component on IBM MQ, not being able to use amqsput
can block testing queues and applications.
In this comprehensive guide, we‘ll cover all the common reasons why amqsput
may not be found on Linux along with fixes to get it working properly. Whether you‘re completely new to MQ or a seasoned admin, there are tips here that will help troubleshoot those elusive "command not found" errors.
Prerequisites for Using amqsput
Before diving into troubleshooting, let‘s quickly go over what needs to be in place for amqsput
to function properly on Linux:
MQ Installation
Obviously amqsput
isn‘t going to work if you don‘t have IBM MQ server or client installed on the machine. Confirm the MQ installation folder exists (usually under /opt/mqm
) and amqsput
binary is present.
Sample Programs RPM
The amqsput
executable comes from the MQ Sample Programs RPM package which may not be included by default during installation. Verify this RPM is installed or grab it from your MQ distribution media if needed.
Environment Variables
Essential variables like PATH
and LD_LIBRARY_PATH
need to include relevant MQ library and binary folders. Missing paths are the number one cause of ‘not found‘ errors.
Permissions
The MQ installation usually needs to run under the mqm
user account. Make sure folders and amqsput
program have proper ownership and execute access for mqm
.
Now we‘re ready to dive into diagnosing and fixing the root causes!
Troubleshooting amqsput Not Found Errors
Here is a systematic approach I recommend for troubleshooting amqsput
not found errors:
1. Verify Sample Programs RPM Installed
Double check if the MQSeriesSamples RPM is installed on your system. Without it, the amqsput
binary will be missing:
rpm -qa | grep MQSeriesSamples
Reinstall from your MQ media if output is empty.
2. Check MQ Installation Folder Exists
Validate that base MQ installation folder exists, usually /opt/mqm
:
ls -l /opt/mqm
Can‘t find MQ folders? May need to revisit server or client installation.
3. Check Environment Variables
Top culprit for command not found errors is missing PATH to MQ binaries.
View mqm
user variables with sudo su - mqm
then env | grep MQ
.
Also check LD_LIBRARY_PATH
for libraries.
4. Execute From Full Path
Attempt to run amqsput
via full path to isolate environment issues:
/opt/mqm/samp/bin/amqsput
Works? Likely a PATH or LD_LIBRARY_PATH misconfiguration.
5. Validate Permissions
The mqm
user requires execute permissions for MQ folders:
ls -l /opt/mqm | grep mqm
Fix with chown
and chmod
if required.
6. Check Error Logs
Enable MQ error logging and review logs after attempted amqsput
run for further clues.
Many times log will contain the actual error like library not found.
In-Depth Troubleshooting Case Studies
Let‘s dive into some real-world examples of tracking down "amqsput not found" errors with log file analysis and environmental debugging:
Library Path Issues
If LD_LIBRARY_PATH does not include MQ installed libraries, the below error can occur:
./amqsput: error while loading shared libraries:
libmqic.so: cannot open shared object file: No such file or directory
Fix by adding MQ library path to LD_LIBRARY_PATH variable.
SELinux Security Block
SELinux in Enforcing mode can block access to MQ library files:
./amqsput: error while loading shared libraries: libmqic.so:
cannot restore segment prot after reloc: Permission denied
Resolve by adjusting SELinux policy or rules.
Listener Authentication Failure
If unable to connect to queue manager listener:
AMQ9999: Channel program ended abnormally.
AMQ9777: Channel program stopped during TLS handshake
Troubleshoot security configs between client and Queue Manager.
Message Queue Error
A problem with target queue will fail message send:
AMQ9538: IBM MQ queue manager closed channel while sending
Requires diagnosis of server-side queue issue.
With careful analysis of the error text and context, the log messages provide clues to zero in on the root cause.
Configuring the MQ Environment
If you‘ve gone through the troubleshooting tips but amqsput
still won‘t work, a deeper look at the MQ environment configuration is warranted.
Follow these best practices for setting up MQ:
MQM User Account
- Runs MQ processes
- Home directory
/var/mqm
- Primary group
mqm
Environment Variables
- Define in
/etc/mqm/profile
- Include paths for MQ and MQ samples
Permissions
- MQ installation directory
/opt/mqm
owned bymqm
- All subfolders inherit
mqm
user and group - Executable flags set for binaries
Folder Structure
- Separate installation folder
/opt/mqm
- Defaults work but can customize
- Keeps environment self-contained
Tuning these areas helps minimize odd issues with commands not being found or failing to start processes.
Performance Optimization
Getting peak performance from amqsput
for high volume testing requires tuning several areas:
Message Size
Keep under max limit of 100 MB to improve throughput. Consider compression for large messages.
Persistence
For benchmarks, use non-persistent messages if possible to reduce writes.
Batching
Send messages in batches of 50-100 to optimize network packets.
Resources
Calculate required memory, storage (queues), and network bandwidth to prevent bottlenecks.
Compare Tools
While useful, amqsput
has less performance than enterprise tools like JMeter or LoadRunner.
Security Considerations
When working with amqsput
and MQ queues, security is a critical consideration:
Access Controls
Limit amqsput
to authorized admin users via filesystem permissions.
TLS Encryption
Encrypt connections with TLS 1.2+ using validated certificates.
Message Encryption
Sensitive business data may need encryption at the queue level.
Authentication
Validate connecting users with LDAP or OS accounts.
Implementing controls protects data flows and mitigates threats.
What‘s New in IBM MQ V9.3
Let‘s take a quick look at some of the latest enhancements with IBM MQ v9.3:
Native JSON/XML Support
Easily parse and transform message formats like JSON natively on the queue manager.
REST APIs
Manage MQ objects via REST API without needing client bindings.
Kubernetes Integration
Simplified deployment and management using Kubernetes YAML definitions.
Amazon MQ
Leverage managed queue service on AWS cloud.
Version 9.3 focuses on embracing latest technologies like containers, cloud, and modern APIs.
Industry Use Cases
While MQ can be used across all industries, here are some typical usage examples:
Financial Services
- Payment transactions
- Trading order flows
- Balance reporting
Retail
- Point of sale systems
- Inventory management
- Order fulfillment
Healthcare
- Medical record distribution
- Patient monitoring data
- Claims processing
Supply Chain/Manufacturing
- Inventory manifests
- Production scheduling
- Logistics coordination
The common themes center on transactional data flows and integration. MQ excels at guaranteed message delivery even for sensitive processes.
Summary
That wraps up our deep dive into troubleshooting and using the amqsput
command with IBM MQ on Linux systems.
We covered the prerequisites like having the samples RPM installed, environment variable requirements, and config best practices.
Then an extensive troubleshooting guide to fix those pesky "command not found" errors by methodically checking configurations.
Some real-world log analysis case studies were provided to help diagnose the root causes of issues.
Performance and security considerations give guidance on tuning amqsput
and protecting MQ environments.
Finally, a look at the latest capabilities in IBM MQ 9.3 and overview of industry use cases.
For further reference, take a look at the IBM Knowledge Center which has additional technical details around MQ environment setup and using sample programs.
I hope you found this guide helpful. amqsput
can definitely be tricky but methodically walking through these steps will smooth out issues and get it functioning properly. Let me know if have any other questions!