Multiple installations of IBM WebSphere MQ, one at Version 7.0.1

IBM® WebSphere® MQ Version 7.1, or later, can coexist with IBM WebSphere MQ Version 7.0.1 with some limitations.

On UNIX and Linux® systems, Version 7.0.1 can be installed only in a fixed, default location, so you cannot install Version 7.1, or later, in that default location.
IBM WebSphere MQ Version 7.0.1 is automatically configured as the primary installation. On UNIX and Linux systems, symbolic links are automatically created to the appropriate IBM WebSphere MQ directories. On Windows, everything that the product provided is registered globally. IBM WebSphere MQ Version 7.0.1 must be installed in this way to work. So where IBM WebSphere MQ Version 7.0.1 is installed, a IBM WebSphere MQ Version 7.1, or later, installation cannot be made primary.

The libraries from IBM WebSphere MQ Version 7.1, or later, can work with any queue manager running under IBM WebSphere MQ Version 7.0.1, or later. If an application needs to connect to queue managers running under Version 7.0.1 as well as later versions, it can continue to operate normally if the following conditions are true:

It locates IBM WebSphere MQ Version 7.1, or later, libraries at run time.
It uses only functions available in Version 7.0.1.

For more information about connecting applications in a multiple installation environment, see Connecting applications in a multiple installation environment.

The primary installation is not automatically changed when you uninstall IBM WebSphere MQ Version 7.0.1. If you want another installation to be the primary installation, you must manually set the primary installation using the setmqinst command. For more information, see Uninstalling, upgrading, and maintaining the primary installation.