Universal Messaging 9.0/9.1 is the successor of webMethods Nirvana Messaging 7.0.

Universal Messaging 9.0/9.1 includes new features, enhancements, and changes as described in the following topics.

Universal Messaging includes support for priority messaging, where higher priority messages are processed before lower priority messages in the client and server queues. For example, if a client queue contains five messages with priorities 0-4, and another message with priority 9 is added to the queue, the next message pulled from the queue is the message with priority 9. This functionality is also used within the client APIs, such that the client APIs also attempt to deliver messages to the client applications based on their priority.

Universal Messaging introduces the concept of shared durable subscriptions. Durable subscriptions are topic based, which means all events on a topic are delivered to all consumers; however, only one active consumer is typically permitted to bind itself to a durable subscription name. Multiple active subscribers, such as a cluster of Integration Servers, can now bind to a subscription name, and each message is delivered to only one of these consumers.

Security groups have been introduced in Universal Messaging. Security groups provide the ability to create groups of users and then assign permissions to those groups for Universal Messaging resources, such as realm ACLs and channel or queue ACLs. Using security groups reduces resource usage and simplifies the setup required by applications that use Universal Messaging to create their user permissions.

For example, if a user requires access to the realm and 100 channels, the user must typically add a realm ACL entry and 100 separate ACL entries, one per channel, using the administration API. Using security groups, applications can instead add a security group or groups to the realm API, as well as the 100 channels, and simply make one administration API call to add a user to the security group. Membership of the security groups then implies permission on all resources authorized for the security group.

Universal Messaging can be installed using the Software AG Installer, which greatly simplifies the installation and initial configuration of Universal Messaging in combination with other webMethods products. This enhancement brings Universal Messaging in line with the proven Software AG installation framework.

Universal Messaging uses the standard Software AG license key for authorizing the use of the product. A license key can be provided during installation or added later. If a license key is not provided during installation, a trial license key is installed that allows unrestricted use of Universal Messaging for 90 days. Existing Universal Messaging customers can request a license key by email from keymaster@softwareag.com.