RabbitMQ Helper FAQ

Here are some answers to frequently asked questions about RabbitMQ Helper.

What Is RabbitMQ Helper?

RabbitMQ Helper is a message brochure orchestration application that simplifies the RabbitMQ processes. For details, see About RabbitMQ and RabbitMQ Helper.

How Do I Check if RabbitMQ Is Running Using RabbitMQ Helper?

Run the Assert-RabbitMqIsRunning command.

For details, see Assert-RabbitMQIsRunning.

What Is the Purpose of a Particular Command?

This section explains some of the common RabbitMQ Helper commands.

Assert-RabbitMqConnectivity

The Assert-RabbitMqConnectivity command helps to check the RabbitMQ connectivity on the system.

Install-RabbitMq

The Install-RabbitMq command installs RabbitMQ.

Grant-RabbitMqUserPermission

The Grant-RabbitMqUserPermission command grants permissions to RabbitMQ users to access Queues and Policies of the node.

Set-RabbitMqUserAdmin

The Set-RabbitMqUserAdmin command sets a Normal RabbitMQ user as an admin in RabbitMQ Management.

Test-RabbitMqPort

The Test-RabbitMqPort command checks the connection between the Port and the Hostname.

Set-ErlangHomeEnvironmentalVariable

The Set-ErlangHomeEnvironmentalVariable command sets Erlang_Home as a system environment variable.

How Can I Install Erlang Using RabbitMQ Helper?

See Install-Erlang.

How Do I Join a RabbitMQ Cluster Using RabbitMQ Helper?

See Joining a Cluster Using the RabbitMQ Helper.

How Can I Remove RabbitMQ Queues Using RabbitMQ Helper?

Run the Remove-RabbitMqQueues command. It will remove all non-autodelete and non-exclusive queues in the RabbitMq cluster.

How Do I Perform a Health Check on RabbitMQ with RabbitMQ Helper?

Use the Request-RabbitMqHealthCheck command to run basic health checks in the current node. It checks that the Rabbit application is running, channels and queues can be listed successfully, and that no alarms are in effect.

How Can I Update Erlang or RabbitMQ with RabbitMQ Helper?

By using the Enable-RabbitMqManagement command.

How Do I Enable RabbitMQ Management Features with RabbitMQ Helper?

By using the Enable-RabbitMqManagement command.

Who Can Log In to the RabbitMQ Management UI?

User tags control access to the Management UI. For RabbitMQ Helper, Admin has access to RabbitMQ Management UI. Newly created users do not have any tags set on them by default. To view the list of other tags, see the RabbitMQ official documentation.

How Can I Uninstall Erlang, RabbitMQ, or Both with RabbitMQ Helper?

You can uninstall by using the Uninstall-Erlang, Uninstall-RabbitMq, and Uninstall-Connector commands. For more details, see Uninstalling RabbitMQ and Erlang.

Can I View RabbitMQ Logs Using RabbitMQ Helper?

Yes, you can view RabbitMQ logs using the Get-RabbitMqLog command.

How Can I Update an Existing Connector Using RabbitMQ Helper?

You can update the existing installation of Erlang and RabbitMQ by using the Update-Connector command. The command itself will download the required installers and execute the processes themselves.

Please create a backup of all your data, including queues and messages, before updating RabbitMQ. This is crucial to ensure that you have a recent backup compatible with the new version and to prevent any loss of messages or queues during the upgrade. For more information about backing up your messages, see RabbitMQ official documentation. If your queues were marked as "durable" and messages were marked as "persistent," they should have been stored in RabbitMQ before being confirmed. Therefore, your messages should still be available and ready to use after the upgrade.

Will Updating an Existing Connector with the RabbitMQ Helper Impact the Existing Data?

Updating the existing installation of Erlang and RabbitMQ can impact the data. Therefore, creating a backup of all your data, including queues and messages, is recommended before updating.

Will My Queues and Messages Get Affected on Update?

If your queues were set as "durable" (meaning they survive server restarts) and messages were marked as "persistent," they should have been stored in RabbitMQ before being confirmed. If so, the messages will still be there and ready for usage after the upgrade.

Does the Install-Connector Command Create a Default Admin Account ('guest') During the Process?

The RabbitMQ helper does not create an administrative account as it is not required for normal operation. If desired, you can create user accounts to manage and monitor the RMQ server(s).

What Are the Direct Exchanges?

Direct exchanges are a fundamental building block for routing messages in RabbitMQ. They provide a mechanism for targeted message delivery based on a specific routing key.

The main elements of the routing mechanism are the following:

  • Queues: In RabbitMQ, messages are stored in queues and consumed by applications

  • Exchanges: Exchanges act as message routers. Producers publish messages to exchanges, and the exchange determines which queues receive the message

  • Routing Key: Direct exchanges rely on a routing key associated with each message

The routing mechanism works as following:

  • Producer Publishes Message: An application (producer) publishes a message to a specific exchange. The message includes a routing key

  • Exchange Matches Routing Key: The exchange looks at the message's routing key

  • Queues with Matching Bindings: The exchange checks its bindings. A binding specifies a queue and a routing key

  • Message Delivery: If a queue is bound to the exchange with a routing key that exactly matches the message's routing key, the message is delivered to that queue

What Is a Feature Flag?

In the context of RabbitMQ, a feature flag is a mechanism that controls the availability of specific functionalities within the RabbitMQ server. These flags act like switches, allowing you to turn on or off certain features independent of the core RabbitMQ version. This provides flexibility during upgrades, enables testing new features in a controlled environment, and helps manage functionalities that might still require fixing.