MERVA

The IBM licensed program IBM Message Entry and Routing with Interfaces to Various Applications for ESA (hereafter abbreviated to MERVA ESA) provides routing and message handling for S.W.I.F.T. messages (defined by the Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication s.c.) or for user-defined messages. It interfaces to the IBM Websphere® Business Integration for Financial Networks for connection to the SWIFT network, via the Application Programming Interface (API) to the Telex network, and to other MERVA systems. Message processing and checking are provided for SWIFT messages, and data formats for other network connections can be added. User applications can access the services of the MERVA products via the API and sequential batch interfaces.

Message queuing and routing is the basic functionality of MERVA. Messages are stored in logical queues in a VSAM relative record data set (RRDS) and key-sequenced data set (KSDS) or in tables of a DB2® relational database. These messages are then routed from one queue to another queue based on predefined routing conditions. Queue definition is very flexible. There is no restriction in the number of queues on a specific implementation. Furthermore, queues can be on the same system or on distant MERVA systems, allowing users to establish a cross-system or even a cross-country messaging infrastructure. Routing definition is also extremely flexible. Messages can be routed from any queue to any other queue without restriction. Routing can be conditional or unconditional.

Message formatting allows users to adapt MERVA to the different message types used by the external networks and therefore keep the existing applications independent of external message types (which constantly change). Message processing functions provide users all the necessary tools to better manage and control the flow of messages:

• Audit logging

• Archiving

• Printing

• Security functions

• Monitoring

MERVA ESA Components provide features which run in different environments:

• The MERVA Message Processing Client provides message checking and message administration on local and remote personal computers running in a Windows environment. It allows you to create, verify, edit, and authorize S.W.I.F.T. messages.

• The MERVA Automatic Message Import/Export Facility allows a MERVA user to export MERVA messages of different types to message files of different formats and to import message files of different formats to MERVA messages of different types. This feature also runs in a Windows environment.

• MERVA ESA Traffic Reconciliation runs on the same system as MERVA ESA. Using this feature you can:

  
  - Create daily lists of SWIFT traffic activity
  - Process online customer inquiries on messages sent
  - Have a standard tool for message post-processing
  - Track all activities executed upon a message from creation to transmission
  - Monitor message exchange
  - Generate reports on message traffic to a specific correspondent