IBM MQ OpenTelemetry Tracing and Instana Integration
In this blog, we will learn how to trace IBM MQ Open Telemetry and Instana Integration.
Overview
OpenTelemetry tracing in IBM MQ enables monitoring of end-to-end message behaviour across integrated applications.
The IBM MQ Appliance now includes a built-in tracing service aligned with OpenTelemetry standards, which provides the following capabilities:
- Tracking message movement as they are received, queued, and processed.
- Capturing key metadata (span data) for each operation.
- Forwarding trace data in OpenTelemetry or Instana format to observability platforms.
Key Highlights
- Centralised Observability: OpenTelemetry integration allows MQ to become a first-class data source in enterprise monitoring setups. Each transaction or message is traced from source to destination, giving real-time insights into system health and dependencies.
- IBM Instana Integration: Instana delivers AI-driven application performance management (APM) that automatically discovers and maps MQ components.
By consuming span data from MQ, Instana can:
- Display complete message flow topology.
- Highlight latency contributors.
- Detect and alert on anomalies within MQ-driven applications.
- Standardised Tracing Format:
IBM MQ supports both Instana and OpenTelemetry trace formats.
This flexibility ensures interoperability with multiple APM and observability tools while maintaining IBM’s reliability and security standards.
Technical Advancements
With the introduction of IBM MQ 9.4.3, the MQ Appliance now includes a native OpenTelemetry Tracing Service.
This enhancement eliminates the need for custom exits or middleware, allowing tracing data to be generated directly from the appliance and seamlessly integrated into enterprise observability platforms.
Key improvements include:
- Native tracing capabilities without external components.
- Format-preserving trace generation (no message conversion required).
- Compatibility with both on-premises and hybrid deployments.
Benefits
- Gain comprehensive insights into message flows across hybrid environments.
- Quickly identify and resolve latency or throughput issues.
- Use open tracing formats for compatibility across monitoring tools.
- Native MQ integration eliminates the need for custom connectors.
- Combine trace data with Instana’s analytics for predictive performance management.
