A message channel connects two queue MANAGERS via message channel agents (MCAs). Such a channel is UNIDIRECTIONAL. It comprises two message channel agents, a sender and a receiver, and a communication protocol. An MCA is a program that transfers messages from a TRANSMISSION queue to a communication link, and from a communication link into the target queue. For bidirectional communication you have to define two channel pairs CONSISTING of a sender and a receiver.

A Message Queue Interface (MQI) channel connects an MQSeries client to a queue manager in its server machine. Clients don’t have a queue manager of their own. An MQI channel is bidirectional.

A message channel connects two queue managers via message channel agents (MCAs). Such a channel is unidirectional. It comprises two message channel agents, a sender and a receiver, and a communication protocol. An MCA is a program that transfers messages from a transmission queue to a communication link, and from a communication link into the target queue. For bidirectional communication you have to define two channel pairs consisting of a sender and a receiver.

A Message Queue Interface (MQI) channel connects an MQSeries client to a queue manager in its server machine. Clients don’t have a queue manager of their own. An MQI channel is bidirectional.