User Name Server

The User Name Server is an optional runtime component that provides authentication of users and groups performing publish/subscribe operations.

If you have applications that use the publish/subscribe services of a broker, you can apply an additional level of security to the topics on which messages are published and subscribed. This additional security, known as topic-based security, is managed by the User Name Server. It provides administrative control over who can publish and who can subscribe. For example, if a client application publishes messages containing sensitive company finance information, or personnel details, the User Name Server can be used to restrict access to those messages.

The User Name Server interfaces with operating system facilities to provide information about valid users and groups in a broker domain.

You install, create, and start a User Name Server in any supported operating environment. These are listed in Supported processors and Operating system requirements.

The User Name Server can share a host queue manager with the Configuration Manager and one broker in the broker domain. To communicate with other brokers in the broker domain, the User Name Server requires sender and receiver channels.

Resources associated with a User Name Server

When you create a User Name Server, the following resources are also created:
  • A WebSphere MQ queue manager unless one exists already. The queue manager is created on the same physical system as the User Name Server. A queue manager can be shared with the Configuration Manager, a single broker, or both.
  • A set of fixed-name queues, defined to the WebSphere MQ queue manager that hosts the User Name Server.