WebSphere MQ File Transfer Edition introduction
WebSphere® MQ File Transfer Edition transfers files between systems in a managed and auditable way, regardless of file size or the operating systems used.
You can use WebSphere MQ File Transfer Edition to build a customized, scalable, and automated solution that enables you to manage, trust, and secure file transfers. WebSphere MQ File Transfer Edition eliminates costly redundancies, lowers maintenance costs, and maximizes your existing IT investments.

The diagram shows a simple WebSphere MQ File Transfer Edition topology. There are two agents, each connect to their own agent queue manager in a WebSphere MQ network. A file is transferred from the agent on the left side of the diagram, through the WebSphere MQ network, to the agent on the right side of the diagram. Also in the WebSphere MQ network are the coordination queue manager and a command queue manager. Applications and tools connect to these queue managers to configure, administer, operate, and log WebSphere MQ File Transfer Edition activity in the WebSphere MQ network.
WebSphere MQ File Transfer Edition can be installed as three different options, depending on your operating system and overall setup. These options are WebSphere MQ File Transfer Edition Server, WebSphere MQ File Transfer Edition Client, and WebSphere MQ File Transfer Edition for z/OS®. For information, see WebSphere MQ File Transfer Edition product options.
- Create managed file transfers
- Create new file transfers from WebSphere MQ Explorer on Linux or Windows platforms.
- Create new file transfers from the command line on all supported platforms.
- Integrate file transfer function into the Apache Ant tool.
- Write applications that control WebSphere MQ File Transfer Edition by putting messages on agent command queues.
- Schedule file transfers to take place at a later time. You can also trigger scheduled file transfers based on a range of file system events, for example a new file being created.
- Continually monitor a resource, for example a directory, and when the contents of that resource meet some predefined condition, start a task. This task can be a file transfer, an Ant script, or a JCL job.
- Use the RESTful API provided by the WebSphere MQ File Transfer Edition Web Gateway to transfer files.
- Transfer files to and from WebSphere MQ queues.
- Transfer files to and from FTP and SFTP servers.
- Transfer files to and from FTPS servers (if you enable the Version 7.0.4.1 function).
- Transfer files to and from Connect:Direct® nodes.
- Transfer both text and binary files. Text files are automatically converted between the code pages and end-of-line conventions of the source and destination systems.
- Transfers can be secured, using the industry standards for Secure Socket Layer (SSL) based connections.
- View transfers in progress and log information about all transfers
in your network
- View the status of transfers in progress from WebSphere MQ Explorer on Linux or Windows platforms.
- Check the status of completed transfers by using the WebSphere MQ Explorer on Linux or Windows platforms.
- Use the WebSphere MQ File Transfer Edition database logger feature to save log messages to a DB2® or Oracle database.
- Use the RESTful API provided by the WebSphere MQ File Transfer Edition Web Gateway to see information about all transfers in your network.
By consolidating file transfer with your existing WebSphere MQ network, you can avoid spending the resources required to maintain two separate infrastructures. If you are not already a WebSphere MQ customer, by creating a WebSphere MQ network to support WebSphere MQ File Transfer Edition you are building the backbone for a future SOA implementation. If you are already a WebSphere MQ customer, WebSphere MQ File Transfer Edition can take advantage of your existing WebSphere MQ infrastructure including WebSphere MQ internet pass-thru and WebSphere Message Broker.
- WebSphere MQ Advanced Message Security
Use WebSphere MQ Advanced Message Security to provide enhanced security for message traffic in WebSphere MQ File Transfer Edition, in particular for data on queues. For more information, see Using IBM WebSphere MQ Advanced Message Security with IBM WebSphere MQ File Transfer Edition.
- WebSphere Message Broker
Process files that have been transferred by WebSphere MQ File Transfer Edition as part of a WebSphere Message Broker flow. For more information, see Working with WebSphere Message Broker.
- WebSphere DataPower® B2B Appliance XB60
Create a solution for a B2B scenario by using WebSphere MQ File Transfer Edition and WebSphere DataPower B2B Appliance XB60. A sample solution is provided in WebSphere MQ File Transfer Edition Remote Tools and Documentation. For more information, see WebSphere DataPower B2B Appliance XB60 sample.
- IBM Sterling Connect:Direct
Transfer files to and from an existing Connect:Direct network by using the WebSphere MQ File Transfer Edition Connect:Direct bridge. For more information, see The Connect:Direct bridge.
- IBM Tivoli® License Compliance Manager
If you have set up IBM Tivoli License Compliance Manager to monitor the system that you install WebSphere MQ File Transfer Edition on, your WebSphere MQ File Transfer Edition license information is stored in the IBM Tivoli License Compliance Manager database.
- IBM Tivoli Composite Application Manager
IBM Tivoli Composite Application Manager provides an agent that you can use to monitor information that is published to the coordination queue manager.