Naturally, enterprise integration systems are distributed. In fact, one of the defining qualities of an enterprise messaging system is to enable communication between disparate systems. Messaging systems allow information to be routed and transformed so that data can be exchanged between these systems. In most cases, these applications are spread across multiple networks, buildings, cities or continents.
How can we effectively administer a messaging system that is distributed across multiple platforms and a wide geographic area?
Use a Control Bus to manage an enterprise integration system. The Control Bus uses the same messaging mechanism used by the application data, but uses separate channels to transmit data that is relevant to the management of components involved in the message flow.
Each component in the system is now connected to two messaging subsystems:
- The Application Message Flow
- The Control Bus
... Read the entire pattern in the book Enterprise Integration Patterns
Related patterns:
Asynchronous Implementation with MSMQ, Content-Based Router, Loan Broker System Management, Test Message