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Using Message Queuing

Applies To: Windows Server 2003, Windows Server 2003 R2, Windows Server 2003 with SP1, Windows Server 2003 with SP2

Using Message Queuing

Message Queuing (also known as MSMQ) is a messaging infrastructure and environment for building and running distributed, loosely coupled, messaging applications. As part of the application server role, Message Queuing provides features for developing and managing Web-based applications. Message Queuing applications running on source computers send messages to queues, and applications running on target computers retrieve messages from queues. Such applications communicate across the Internet and other heterogeneous networks, and with computers that might be temporarily offline.

Message Queuing can be installed in various configurations. Computers configured as Message Queuing independent clients run the Message Queuing service, host queues, send and receive messages, and do not require synchronous access to a Message Queuing server. Message Queuing servers provide additional functionality, including:

  • Directory access for client computers running earlier versions of Message Queuing on Windows NT 4.0, Windows 98, or Windows 95 computers.

  • Support for dependent clients, which are a limited Message Queuing client configuration that requires synchronous access to a server for all messaging functions.

  • Routing capabilities that enable you to route messages within a site or between different sites when there is no direct connectivity between client computers.

When you install Message Queuing you choose the subcomponents for your required configuration. The Message Queuing component is not installed by default during Windows Setup. For more information about Message Queuing, see Message Queuing Help.

To install Message Queuing with independent client functionality

  1. Open the Windows Components Wizard.

  2. In the Windows Components Wizard, select the Application Server check box, and then click Details.

  3. Select the Message Queuing check box.

  4. If you want to change the default set of optional subcomponents that will be installed, click Details, and then:

    • If the computer belongs to a domain and you want it to operate in workgroup mode, clear the Active Directory Integration check box.

Notes

  • To open the Windows Components Wizard, click Start, click Control Panel, double-click Add or Remove programs, and then click Add/Remove Windows Components.

  • Use the following administrative tools to manage Message Queuing:

    • Computer Management, which provides access to local queue and message information. To open Computer Management, click Start, click Control Panel, double-click Administrative Tools, and then double-click Computer Management.

    • Active Directory Users and Computers, and Active Directory Sites and Services, which provide access to information in Active Directory for routing configurations, computers, public queues, and other Message Queuing objects. To open Active Directory Users and Computers, click Start, click Control Panel, double-click Administrative Tools, and then double-click Active Directory Users and Computers. To open Active Directory Sites and Services, click Start, click Control Panel, double-click Administrative Tools, and then double-click Active Directory Sites and Services.

Information about functional differences

  • Your server might function differently based on the version and edition of the operating system that is installed, your account permissions, and your menu settings. For more information, see Viewing Help on the Web.