When SQL JMS is used, the database keeps track of all the topics and queues that were added to the system. The database also keeps track of any subscribers that are currently in the system so that it can know who should receive a message sent to a particular destination. The database stores messages that were sent through a particular destination to various subscribers, so that the next time a subscriber polls to see if there are any messages, those messages can be delivered at that time. After a message has been delivered to all of its recipients, that message is automatically removed from the database by the last polling recipient.

Because SQL JMS stores state in a database, it requires occasional administration and maintenance. This section explains how the database administrator can perform various tasks to manage SQL JMS: