Approaches are disclosed for distributing messages across multiple data centers where the data centers do not store messages using a same message queue protocol. In some embodiment, a network element translates messages from a message queue protocol (e.g., Kestrel, RABBITMQ, APACHE Kafka, and ACTIVEMQ) to an application layer messaging protocol (e.g., XMPP, MQTT, WebSocket protocol, or other application layer messaging protocols). In other embodiments, a network element translates messages from an application layer messaging protocol to a message queue protocol. Using the new approaches disclosed herein, data centers communicate using, at least in part, application layer messaging protocols to disconnect the message queue protocols used by the data centers and enable sharing messages between messages queues in the data centers. Consequently, the data centers can share messages regardless of whether the underlying message queue protocols used by the data centers (and the network devices therein) are compatible with one another.