Food for thought for another productive system: until when must the system be identical, keyword: transaction log
Copy only specific data
SAP upgrade: Before a very extensive SAP upgrade, you may want to test the run and analyze any errors that occur, especially if the development and test systems are not allowed to be down for too long. In that case, it's best to do this on a system copy.
SAP software plays a central role in the IT landscape of Rehau, a provider of polymer-based solutions for construction, automotive and industry. Currently, the IT department provides over 120 SAP systems centrally in the sense of "shared service hosting". The IT team must regularly copy the SAP productive environment in order to be able to carry out testing and development work on the "real" system without manipulating the productive systems. Rehau recently opted for the 'Automated System Copy for SAP' solution. The tool from Automic, a specialist in business automation, allows SAP system copies to be created almost fully automatically.
Pre- and post-processing
After restarting the target system The SAP target instance has been started with a database that has been updated with content copied from the production database using fast and scalable disk array replication. The status of the target system now allows it to run without severe internal errors and disruption to the SAP landscape. However, the system does not have the same identity in the SAP landscape as it had before the update. That's why post-processing is required. UC4 Automated System Copy can handle most of the post-processing by restoring specific database content customizations (such as security settings, RFC targets, and operating modes) that were downloaded before the upgrade. Another goal in post-processing is to change the production system's logical system names to those used by the target system. Since these names usually need to be passed to numerous tables in a given system that have not yet been customized, SAP has the BDLS transaction that can be used to safely analyze and change logical system names. UC4 Automated System Copy can automate and accelerate this transaction by analyzing the underlying processes and executing them in parallel. It can also automate tasks such as reorganizing spools and instructing transport managers to process the delta transport list.
Administrators and SAP maintainers in the x86 world under Windows and various Unix derivatives can nowadays choose from a wealth of software solutions for system support. In contrast, administrators in the System i world and SAP support staff in this environment are often left to their own devices. Nevertheless, the special system architecture and the peculiarities of the DB2 database integrated in the operating system, as well as the specific applications, also pose challenges for system tool developers.
With "Shortcut for SAP Systems" you can sustainably relieve your administrators of time-consuming routine activities of an SAP system copy.
Software development can also be accelerated.
On www.sap-corner.de you will also find useful information about SAP basis.
This means that you have all production data available on your test system in a short time.