Ways of SAP system copy: export / import
Automation tool reduces time required to create test environments
Against the background of constantly changing business processes, the SAP production systems that serve as the basis for these processes must also be continuously adapted and further developed. To ensure that these processes run smoothly at all times, adaptations and further developments must be comprehensively tested in a non-production SAP system using current production data. Only then can changes be incorporated into the production system. However, updating the databases of non-production SAP systems for testing, quality assurance and development with new production data is usually a time-consuming and error-prone process that involves lengthy interruptions to the SAP software lifecycle. By automating and accelerating SAP data, the workload of IT administrators can be significantly reduced and interruptions to the SAP software lifecycle can be kept to a minimum. This white paper presents a solution that helps shorten SAP refresh cycles based on UC4 process automation integration with HP infrastructure software. This solution can reduce the total cost of ownership (TCO) and the length of the SAP software lifecycle. As a result, business processes can be made more agile, risks can be reduced, and the workload of IT administrators can be reduced. Target audience: SAP technical consultants and IT decision makers who are familiar with commonly used procedures for homogeneous SAP system copies.
The guideline that integrated job logic is preferable to customizing has also proven its worth. The key point here is that each step of a copy job knows the overall context, including the steps that preceded and follow it.
SAP system update and database update
Internationally active companies that operate systems with several terabytes of data and hundreds of users in different time zones depend on high system availability. If necessary, the system is copied incrementally, table by table, on weekends and at night. Complete shutdown of the production system is best avoided altogether.
Table splitting reduces the risk of losing a lot of time during export in case of an error. When restarting, the complete table does not have to be exported again, but only a subset. Simultaneous processing of a table by several R3load processes can reduce the total runtime for this table.
SAP system copy is made much easier by the "Shortcut for SAP Systems" application.
Given their particular importance, this document focuses on scenarios with system copies created for updates.
Some useful tips about SAP basis can be found on www.sap-corner.de.
Basically, a distinction is made between the initial setup and refresh of a non-productive SAP system.