New in Version 5.0

This topic introduces you to the main new function in WebSphere Business Integration Message Broker Version 5.0. See also New function added in Version 5.0 fix packs.
New graphical development environment based on Eclipse
The Message Brokers Toolkit is an integrated development environment and graphical user interface based on the Eclipse platform. The Message Brokers Toolkit consists of the Eclipse platform and a set of Java plug-ins that enable the creation, maintenance, and deployment of WebSphere Message Broker message flows (including publish/subscribe applications) and message models. See the Client environment topic, and the Eclipse web site.
The Message Brokers Toolkit includes, among other things, the following new features:
  • You can control multiple broker domains using a single Message Brokers Toolkit. See Client environment.
  • You can use Message Brokers Toolkit with external source repositories, for example with repositories that permit version control of message flow and message set source data. See Development repository.
  • Improved editors, such as Message Flow Mapping editor, Message Set editor, and ESQL editor, make it easier for you to build your solution. See Editors in the Message Brokers Toolkit.
  • The Mapping node allows you to create message transformations using a drag-and-drop method, without the need to write ESQL code. See Mapping node.
  • You can now reuse ESQL subroutines and functions. See Broker schemas.
  • The flow debugger allows you to add breakpoints to the connections of a message flow, and step through ESQL code statement by statement. See Flow debugger.
  • You can configure some message flow properties at deployment time rather than at development time. See Configurable properties of a broker archive.
Enhanced initial user experience

The pre-install LaunchPad is launched from the Windows CD prior to installation. It guides you through the process of checking for, and installing, any necessary prerequisite software before launching the product installation. The installation is now implemented using InstallShield for Multi-Platforms.

The Welcome page for the Message Brokers Toolkit, which appears after you launch the Message Brokers Toolkit, provides links to a number of basic tasks, enabling you to configure and exercise a working system as quickly as possible. Supported tasks include:

Web Services support

Several enhancements provide support for Web Services:

Enhanced message modeling
The following enhancements have been made to the message model:
XSLT transformation enhancements

The XML Transformation node allows you to integrate existing XSLT transformations into the broker environment. The style sheet used to define the transformation can be specified as an attribute of the node instance, or can be determined within the context of the flow and specified using a defined area of the Local Environment. This capability is delivered through repackaging and enhancement of the XALAN-based XSLT style sheet transformation engine derived from the WebSphere Transcoding Publisher product.

For more information, see XMLTransformation node.

Extended database user ID and password support

External database access from Compute, Database and Warehouse nodes has been extended so that you can associate a specific user ID and password with a given ODBC DSN in the broker run time. This user ID and password combination is then used for all connections made by the broker to the particular DSN, overriding the default use of the broker's user ID and password.

This addresses a key requirement to be able to specify different user ID and password combinations for different databases and to be able to set this on a broker-by-broker basis. The mqsisetdbparms command is provided for setting this information in the broker.

For more information, see Accessing databases from message flows.

Message flow accounting and statistics
You can now collect statistics on the behavior of message flows. For example, you can collect data about how many messages are processed and how large those messages are, or about CPU usage and elapsed processing times. For more information, see Message flow accounting and statistics data, and the developerWorks article on message flow performance.
Publish/subscribe enhancements
The following publish/subscribe changes have been made:
  • The set of protocols and distribution patterns supported by the broker has been extended to provide reliable, real-time IP multicast distribution of subscriptions over a Local Area Network. This is provided as an extension to the existing JMS IP support in WebSphere Event Broker. For more information, see WebSphere MQ Multicast Transport and Multicast publish/subscribe, and WebSphere MQ Real-time Transport.
  • Publish/subscribe capabilities have been consolidated within WebSphere Message Brokers. This rationalizes the product offerings and provides a clear upgrade path from WebSphere Event Broker to WebSphere Message Broker.
SSL authentication, QoS, and HTTP tunneling
The following Internet-related items have been added:
New object level security model
You can now control access to runtime resources by object as opposed to by group. See Authorization to access runtime resources.
Increased platform support
Supported operating environments now include Linux (x86 platform), Linux (zSeries platform), and Windows XP, giving you a wider choice of platforms on which to deploy your solution. For more information, see Operating system requirements.