Why can't I import definitions between Messages for RabbitMQ versions?

If you encounter errors while importing definitions between Messages for RabbitMQ versions, review these common causes and solutions.

You encounter errors while importing definitions between Messages for RabbitMQ versions.

RabbitMQ definitions are metadata that RabbitMQ stores about its cluster. This metadata includes information about users, vhosts, queues, exchanges, bindings, and runtime parameters. Definitions can be used to restore a cluster or migrate to a new cluster. An error while importing definitions can be because of invalid imported arguments being imported from Messages for RabbitMQ versions. Review the following information to troubleshoot and resolve common definition problems:

Look into your logs and search for this line:

Encountered an error when importing definitions

If this error is found, check which argument is causing the issue. When you have identified the argument causing the issue, correct it and try to import the definition again.

How can I restore the backup if my instances have temporary or server-named queues?

Users will encounter an error while restoring with temporary queues. RabbitMQ can create temporary queues if those are not declared. These queues start with prefix "amq.gen-". These temporary queues are exported in the definition of the backup, and RabbitMQ attempts to restore them. However, RabbitMQ does not allow temporary queue definitions to be imported, which will fail the restore when exchange binding is created.

For a successful restore (import) of the backup, users must remove the temporary queues from their instances before they create a backup (export).

RabbitMQ allows you to export and import definitions, which are configurations for exchanges, users, permissions, and non-transient queues.

Read more about temporary server-named queues.