SAP BASIS INTERVIEW QUESTIONS

What is private mode? When does user switch to user mode?

Private mode is a mode where the heap data is getting exclusively

allocated by the user and is no more shared across the system. This
happens when your extended memory is exhausted.

What is osp$ mean? What if user is given with this authorisation?

OPS$ is the mechanism the <SID>adm users uses to connect to the

database .

Why do you use DDIC user not SAP* for Support Packs and SPam?

Do _NOT_ use neither DDIC nor SAP* for applying support packages.
Copy DDIC to a separate user and use that user to apply them.

Can you kill a Job?

Yes - SM37 - select - kill

If you have a long running Job, how do you analyse?

Use transaction SE30.

How to uncar car/sar files in a single shot?

on Unix:
$ for i in *.SAR; do SAPCAR -xvf $i; done

When we should use Transactional RFC ?

A "transactional RFC" means, that either both parties agree that the
data was correctly transfered - or not. There is no "half data transfer".

What is the use of Trusted system. I know that there is no need of UID
and PWD to communicate with partner system. In what situation it is
good to go for Trusted system ?
E. g. if you have an R/3 system and a BW system and don't want to
maintain passwords. Same goes for CRM and a lot of other
systems/applications.

Let me know if my understanding below is correct:

1) By default the RFC destination is synchronous
2) Asynchronous RFC is used incase if the system initiated the RFC call
no need to wait for the response before it proceeds to something else.

Yes - that's right.

But keep in mind, that it's not only a technical issue whether to switch
to asynchronous. The application must also be able to handle that
correctly.

Which table contains the details related to Q defined in SPAM? Is there

a way to revert back the Q defined? If yes, How?

There is a "delete" button when you define the queue. If you already
started the import it's no more possible since the system will become
inconsistent.

What is a developer key? and how to generate a developer key?

The developer key is a combination of you installation number, your

license key (that you get from http://service.sap.com/licensekey) and
the user name. You need this for each person that will make changes
(Dictionary or programs) in the system.

What is XI3.0 ? EXPLAIN XI = Exchange Infrastructure - Part of

Netweaver 2004.

SAP Exchange Infrastructure (SAP XI) is SAP's enterprise application

integration (EAI) software, a component of the NetWeaver product
group used to facilitate the exchange of information among a
company's internal software and systems and those of external
parties. Like other NetWeaver components, SAP XI is compatible with
software products of other
companies.

SAP calls XI an integration broker because it mediates between

entities with varying requirements in terms of connectivity, format,
and protocols. According to SAP, XI reduces integration costs by
providing a common repository for interfaces. The central component
of SAP XI is the SAP Integration Server, which facilitates interaction
between diverse operating systems and applications across internal
and external networked computer systems.

How to see when were the optimizer stats last time run? We are using
win2k, oracle 9, sapr346c.

Assumed DB=Oracle

Select any table lets take MARA here but you should do the same for
MSEG and few others to see whether the dates match or not.Run the
following command on the command prompt:-

select last_analyzed from dba_tables where table_name like '%MARA

%';

This gives you a straight answer .Else you can always fish around in
DB14 for seeing when the optimzer stats were updated.

SAP Administration Questions Answers

What is the use of profile paramater ztta/roll_area?

The value specifies the size of the roll area in bytes. The roll area is
one of several memory areas, which satisfies the user requests of user
programs. For technical reasons, however, the first 250 KB or so of a
user context are always stored in the roll area, further data
- up to the roll area limit ztta/roll_first,
- in the extended memory, up to the limit ztta/roll_extension or if
extended memory is exhausted, then
- again in the roll area, until the roll area is full, then
- in the local process area, up to the limit abap/heap_area_dia or
abap/heap_area_total or until the address space or the
swap space is exhausted.

Followed by termination with errors like

STORAGE_PARAMETERS_WRONG_SET an error code, that points to
memory bottleneck Minimum data transfer with context change;
however, the increase helps to avoid problems (address space, swap
space, operating system paging). *-- Anupam Sharma

What is R/3? and what is basis version?

SAP Basis:
- Provides the runtime environment for all SAP applications
- Optimally embeds the application in the system environment
- Defines a stable architecture framework for system enhancements
- Contains the tools for administering the entire system
- Allows the distribution of resources and system components
- Provides interfaces for decentralized system parts and external
products.

An R/3 instance is a group of R/3 services that are started and stopped
as a unit (by an R/3 dispatcher) and have a common instance profile.
The name of an R/3 instance is composed of letters standing for the
relevant services, and an instance number which is unique for each
computer. The services may be D, V, E, B, M, G, or S, which
respectively stand for dialogue, update, enqueue, background,
message, gateway, and spool services.

Tips by : Suresh Babu

I would like to know the version or name of SAP that is implemented in

real time?

This is a very generic question and really depends on what you are
implementing (modules).

The history of the "R/3" is

3.0D Basis 300

3.0E Basis 300
3.0F Basis 300
3.1H Basis 310
3.1I Basis 310
4.0B Basis 400
4.5B Basis 450
4.6C Basis 460
4.71 Basis 6.20
4.72 Basis 6.20
5.00 Basis 6.40 (ECC 5.0 - Enterprise Core components)
6.00 Basis 7.00 (ECC 6.0) - actually in RampUp

All of those have increased business functionality and interfaces to

other systems (CRM, BW etc.)

What is mysap?
It's a term for all the systems that in a contract (e. g. a MySAP
business suite consist of ERP2005, CRM2005, SRM2005).

What is the systems configuration required to implement SAP.. i.e for

production,development and QAS servers the hard disk space, RAM,
Processor

This also depends on what your are implementing, how many users
will work on the system, how many records in what area are created
etc.

We need a BIG database system and an even bigger application server

for ~ 900 users and 12 languages.

What is ASAP?

It's an old term for an implementation strategy. Blueprint -> prototype

-> goLive (if you want to say it in one sentence).

How should I set priority for Printing say like user, teamlead, project
manager?

There's nothing like "priority" settings for spool processes. Just define
more (profile parameter rdisp/wp_no_spool) processes so people don't
need to wait.

Using Tc SGEN I have generated 74% job and later I have terminated
the job. I wish to start generating from where it stopped I have
refreshed but to no chance nothing was done. How should I further
proceed so as to complete the remaining job..

Start SGEN again and select the same you have selected before. It will
popup and ask if you want to start from scratch or generate the just
the remaining.

1.What is the difference between System Trace, Developer

Trace and System Log?
System Trace:
If you want to record the internal SAP system activities, use the
function SAP System Trace. Recording the processes in your
application server enables you to monitor the system and facilitates
troubleshooting.
Developer Trace:
Developer traces contain technical information for use in the event of
problems with your system. Using the entries in the developer traces
requires a sophisticated knowledge of the host systems in which your
SAP system is running and of the SAP system itself.
System Log:
You can use the log to pinpoint and correct errors occurring in your
system and its environment.
To work with system logs, choose Tools ® Administration from the R/3
initial screen. When the System Administration initial screen appears,
choose Monitoring ® System log. Alternatively, you can choose Test ®
System log from the ABAP/4 Development Workbench initial screen.

2.Incase, My sap system was down (Users are unable to login to sap
system) How to analyze this problem?
Check if all the services of SAP, Database, SAPOSCOL are up and
running.
check the wp status using dpmon.
Try restarting the workprocess., if that does not work., than try to kill
some of the jobs. Else., restart the application Server.

3.How to import the transport request at operating system Level?

When importing a transport request, what are the common errors you
faced?
tp import client U123689
RC 8 & 12

4.For example, my sap system having patch number was 8.I want to
apply patch 9 and 10.Mistakenly I will apply the patch directly 11
without
applying 9 and 10.How sap system will recognize this problem?
Firstly, the dependencies are checked. And without performing a test
import no BASIS consultant would import a support pack. If you did
that., than clear the OCS queue by running OCS_RESET_QUEUE in
SE37 than import SP9 and SP10. If it is JAVA stack than no need to
make changes you can directly apply SP11.

5.One user unable to execute one t-code, that is authorization object

is missing, How to add this authorization object to user?
Take the SU53 screenshot., based on the output results., you can
search for authorizations that are existing in the system. If the
authorization is available and you receive an approval from the
concerned HOD or the concerned person., than you can directly attach
the authorization. If there is no authorization available., than the
functional lead or the HOD will revert back to you saying that you need
to create the Role or make modifications in an existing role. Than do
that in DEV, transport it to QAS and PRD.

6.for example, consider a client 800.This client having 75 users. But

15 users account was locked. I want to unlock this 15 users account at
a time. How to do?
Using T-code SU10.

7.what is the use of parameter tab, and personalization tab in user

master record? What is the use of account id in logon tab?

8.how to change the number of work process at OS level? How to

analyze the status of work process at OS level?
By editing the instance profile at the OS level, you can increase the no.
of work processes by adding or modifying the parameter
rdisp/wp_no_=
Status of a WP can be checked at the OS level by executing dpmon.

9.For example, my sap system having 4 application sersvers. How

many enqueue work process allowed for this sap system?
1 (you can increase them by making modifications in
rdisp/wp_no_enq)

10.What is the latest version of sap kernel? Can u give me the list of
kernel versions?
service.sap.com/swdc
710 (Demo version is available)
700
640
620
610 (WEB AS was introduced in this version)
4.6D
4.5
4.0
3.1
3.0

11.what are the prerequisite for before applying support packs? Shall I
apply sap basis patch to all the system, like BW, ABAP, HR, etc.
Dependency check.... check if the new SP to be installed has any
dependent coponents in any of the other SP's.
You must implement different SP's for different components in SAP.

12.For example, I want to transfer 50GB of data from DEV to Quality. I

am using client export and import method; can you tell me how many
hours take for client export and import? And also How many hours
take for remote client copy?
Data transfer rate depends on the H/W Configuration and N/w Speed
in Remote Client copy.

13.How to perform a client import and export at OS level?

using r3trans or tp

14.What is the use of reference and service user in sap?

15.For example, I scheduled one ABAP program as a background job,

But it was running 10 days and above. How to analyze this problem?
what is the selection criteria?

16.How to take a sap backup using BRTOOLS explain the procedure?

When using BRTOOLS, which backup device, you are used (Drive/tape)
?
refer inist.sap file.

17.When applying a support pack to sap system. Can you tell me what
are errors you are faced?

18.In CUA, I am unable to changes from DEV to QAS or PRD.How to

troubleshoot this problem?

19.In CUA, What is the use of distribution model, partener profile,

BAPI?

20.what is the user group and use in sap?

21.Example you have 6 sap application servers, I want to monitor all

the application servers. How to configure a CCMS?

22.what are the configuration details of ECC6.0?

HDD, RAM, OS, DATABASE. 1.Server Configuration
HDD, RAM, OS, DATABASE. 2. System Configuration

23.What are things we have to monitor in ST02, ST06, ST04, and

ST03?
We can monitor many things in the above T-codes. What exact info do
u need?

24.what is the name of your output device, device type in printer?

25.Can you tell me the path in service market place for download
support packs and kernel?
service.sap.com/swdc

SAP R/3 INTERVIEW ARCHITECTURE QUESTIONS

1. What guarantees the integration of all application modules?

The R/3 basis system guarantees the integration of all application

modules. The R/3 basis s/w provides the run time environment for the
R/3 applications ensures optimal integration, defines a stable
architectural frame for system enhancements, and contains the
administration tools for the entire system.One of the main tasks of the
basis system is to guarantee the portability of the complete system.

2. What are the central interfaces of the R/3 system?

Presentation Interface.

Database Interface.

Operating system Interface.

3. Which interface controls what is shown on the p.c.?

Presentation Interface.

4. Which interface converts SQL requirements in the SAP development

system to those of the database?

Database Interface.

5. What is SAP dispatcher?

 SAP dispatcher is the control agent that manages the resources for
the R/3 applications.

6. What are the functions of dispatcher?

Equal distribution of transaction load to the work processes.

Management of buffer areas in main memory.

Integration of the presentation levels.

Organization of communication activities.

7. What is a work process?

A work process is where individual dialog steps are actually

processed and the work is done. Each work process handles one type
of request.

8. Name various work processes of R/3 system?

Dialog or Online (processes only one request at a time).

Background (Started at a specific time)

Update (primary or secondary)

Enque (Lock mechanism).

Spool (generated online or during back ground processing for

printing).

9. Explain about the two services that are used to deal with
communication.

Message Service: Used by the application servers to exchange short

internal messages, all system communications.

Gateway Service: Enables communication between R/3 and external

applications using CPI-C protocol.

10. Which work process triggers database changes?

Update work process.

11. Define service (within R/3)?

A service is a process or group of processes that perform a specific

system function and often provide an application-programming
interface for other processes to call.

12. What are the roll and page areas?

Roll and page areas are SAP R/3 buffers used to store user contexts
(process requests). The SAP dispatcher assigns process requests to
work processes as they are queued in the roll and page areas.

Paging area holds data from the application programs.

Roll area holds data from previous dialog steps and data that
characterize the user.

13. What are the different layers in R/3 system?

Presentation Layer.

Application Layer.

Database Layer.

14. What are the phases of background processing?

Job Scheduling.

Job Processing.

Job Overview.

15. What components of the R/e system initiate the start of

background jobs at the specified time?

The batch scheduler initiates the start of background job. The

dispatcher then sends this request to an available background work
process for processing.

16. Define Instance.

An instance is an administrative unit in which components of an R/3

systems providing one or more services are grouped together. The
services offered by an instance are started and stopped at random. All
components are parameterized using a joint instance profile. A central
R/3 system consists of a single instance in which all-necessary SAP
services are offered. Each instance uses separate buffer areas.

17. From hardware perspective, every information system can be

divided into three task areas Presentation, Application Logic and Data
Storage.

The R/3 Basis software is highly suitable for use in multi-level

client/server architectures.

18. What are R/3 Basis configurations?

A central system with centrally installed presentation software.

Two-level client/server system with rolled out presentation software.

Two-level client/server system. Presentation and Application run on

the same computer.

Three-level client/server system. Presentation, Application and

database each run on separate computers.

19. What is a Service in SAP terminology?

A service refers to something offered by a s/w component.

20. What is Server in SAP terminology?

A component can consist of one process or a group and is then called

the server for the respective service.

21. What is a client in SAP terminology?

A S/W component that uses the service (offered by a s/w component)

is called a Client. At the same time these clients may also be servers
for other services.

22.What is a SAP system?

The union of all s/w components that are assigned to the same
databases is called as a SAP system.

23. What is the means of communications between R/3 and external

applications?
The means of communication between R/2,R/3 and external
applications is via the CPI-C handler or SAP Gateway, using the CPI-C
Protocol.

24. What is the protocol used by SAP Gateway process?

The SAP Gateway process communicates with the clients based on the
TCP/IP Protocol.

25. Expand CPI-C.

Common Program Interface Communication.

26. What is a Spool request?

Spool requests are generated during dialog or background processing

and placed in the spool database with information about the printer
and print format. The actual data is places in the Tem Se (Temporary
Sequential objects).

27. What are different types of Log records?

V1 and V2. V1 must be processed before V2. But, we can have more
than one V2 logs.

28. What are the types of Update requests?

An update request can be divided into one primary (V1) and several
Secondary update components (V2). Time-critical operations are
placed in V1 component and those whose timing is less critical are
placed in V2 components. If a V1 update fails, V2 components will not
be processed.

29. Dialog work processes perform only one dialog step and then
available for the next request.

30. Explain what is a transaction in SAP terminology.

In SAP terminology, a transaction is series of logically connected dialog

steps.

31. Explain how SAP GUI handles output screen for the user.

The SAP front-end s/w can either run on the same computer or on
different computers provided for that purpose. User terminal input is
accepted by the SAP terminal program SAP GUI, converted to SAP
proprietary format and sent to the SAP dispatcher. The dispatcher
coordinates the information exchange between the SAP GUIs and the
work processes. The dispatcher first places the processing request in
request queues, which it then processes. The dispatcher dispatches
the requests one after another, to the available work process. The
actual processing takes place in the work process. When processing is
complete, the result of a work process is returned via the dispatcher to
the SAP GUI. The SAP GUI interprets the received data and generates
the output screen for the user.

General questions

1. What is ERP? - ERP is a package with the techniques and

concepts for the integrated management of business as a whole,
for effective use of management resources, to improve the
efficiency of an enterprise. Initially, ERP was targeted for
manufacturing industry mainly for planning and managing core
business like production and financial market. As the growth and
merits of ERP package ERP software is designed for basic
process of a company from manufacturing to small shops with a
target of integrating information across the company.
2. Different types of ERP? - SAP, BAAN, JD Edwards, Oracle
Financials, Siebel, PeopleSoft. Among all the ERP’s most
of the companies implemented or trying to implement SAP
because of number of advantages aver other ERP packages.
3. What is SAP? - SAP is the name of the company founded in 1972
under the German name (Systems, Applications, and Products in
Data Processing) is the leading ERP (Enterprise Resource
Planning) software package.
4. Explain the concept of “Business Content” in SAP Business
Information Warehouse? - Business Content is a pre-configured
set of role and task-relevant information models based on
consistent Metadata in the SAP Business Information Warehouse.
Business Content provides selected roles within a company with
the information they need to carry out their tasks. These
information models essentially contain roles, workbooks, queries,
InfoSources, InfoCubes, key figures, characteristics, update rules
 and extractors for SAP R/3, mySAP.com Business Applications
and other selected applications.
5. Why do you usually choose to implement SAP? - There are
number of technical reasons numbers of companies are planning
to implement SAP. It’s highly configurable, highly secure data
handling, min data redundancy, max data consistency, you can
capitalize on economics of sales like purchasing, tight
integration-cross function.
6. Can BW run without a SAP R/3 implementation? - Certainly. You
can run BW without R/3 implementation. You can use pre-
defined business content in BW using your non-SAP data. Here
you simply need to map the transfer structures associated with
BW data sources (InfoCubes, ODS tables) to the inbound data
files or use 3rd part tool to connect your flat files and other data
sources and load data in BW. Several third party ETL products
such as Acta, Infomatica, DataStage and others will have been
certified to load data in BW.
7. What is IDES? - International Demonstration and Education
System. A sample application provided for faster learning and
implementation.
8. What is WF and its importance? - Business Work Flow: Tool for
automatic control and execution of cross-application processes.
This involves coordinating the persons involved, the work steps
required, the data, which needs to be processed (business
objects). The main advantage is reduction in throughput times
and the costs involved in managing business processes.
Transparency and quality are enhanced by its use.
9. What is SAP R/3? - A third generation set of highly integrated
software modules that performs common business function
based on multinational leading practice. Takes care of any
enterprise however diverse in operation, spread over the world.
In R/3 system all the three servers like presentation, application
server and database server are located at different system.
10. What are presentation, application and database servers in SAP
R/3? - The application layer of an R/3 System is made up of the
application servers and the message server. Application
programs in an R/3 System are run on application servers. The
application servers communicate with the presentation
components, the database, and also with each other, using the
message server. All the data are stored in a centralized server.
This server is called database server.
11. What should be the approach for writing a BDC program? -
Convert the legacy system data to a flat file and convert flat file
into internal table. Transfer the flat file into sap system called
 “sap data transfer”. Call transaction(Write the program
explicitly) or create sessions (sessions are created and processed
,if success data will transfer).
12. Explain open SQL vs native SQL? - ABAP Native SQL allows you
to include database-specific SQL statements in an ABAP
program. Most ABAP programs containing database-specific SQL
statements do not run with different databases. If different
databases are involved, use Open SQL. To execute ABAP Native
SQL in an ABAP program, use the statement EXEC. Open SQL
(Subset of standard SQL statements), allows you to access all
database tables available in the R/3 System, regardless of the
manufacturer. To avoid conflicts between database tables and to
keep ABAP programs independent from the database system
used, SAP has generated its own set of SQL statements known
as Open SQL.
13. What are datasets? - The sequential files (processed on
application server) are called datasets. They are used for file
handling in SAP.
14. What are internal tables check table, value table, and
transparent table? - Internal table: It is a standard data type
object, which exists only during the runtime of the program.
Check table: Check table will be at field level checking. Value
table: Value table will be at domain level checking ex: scarr table
is check table for carrid. Transparent table: - Exists with the
same structure both in dictionary as well as in database exactly
with the same data and fields.
15. What are the major benefits of reporting with BW over R/3?
Would it be sufficient just to Web-enable R/3 Reports? -
Performance — Heavy reporting along with regular OLTP
transactions can produce a lot of load both on the R/3 and the
database (cpu, memory, disks, etc). Just take a look at the load
put on your system during a month end, quarter end, or year-
end — now imagine that occurring even more frequently. Data
analysis — BW uses a Data Warehouse and OLAP concepts for
storing and analyzing data, where R/3 was designed for
transaction processing. With a lot of work you can get the same
analysis out of R/3 but most likely would be easier from a BW.
16. How can an ERP such as SAP help a business owner learn more
about how business operates? - In order to use an ERP system,
a
business person must understand the business processes and
how they work together from one functional area to the other.
This knowledge gives the student a much deeper understanding
of how a business operates. Using SAP as a tool to learn about
 ERP systems will require that the
people understand the business processes and how they
integrate.
17. What is the difference between OLAP and Data Mining? - OLAP -
On line Analytical processing is a reporting tool configured to
understand your database schema ,composition facts and
dimensions . By simple point-n-clicking, a user can run any
number of canned or user-designed reports without having to
know anything of SQL or the schema. Because of that prior
configuration, the OLAP engine “builds” and executes the
appropriate SQL. Mining is to build the application to specifically
look at detailed analyses, often algorithmic; even more often
misappropriate called “reporting.
18. What is “Extended Star Schema†ﾝ and how did it
emerge? - The Star Schema consists of the Dimension Tables
and the Fact Table. The Master Data related tables are kept in
separate tables, which has reference to the characteristics in the
dimension table(s). These separate tables for master data is
termed as the Extended Star Schema.
19. Define Meta data, Master data and Transaction data - Meta Data:
Data that describes the structure of data or MetaObjects is called
Metadata. In other words data about data is known as Meta
Data. Master Data: Master data is data that remains unchanged
over a long period of time. It contains information that is always
needed in the same way. Characteristics can bear master data in
BW. With master data you are dealing with attributes, texts or
hierarchies. Transaction data: Data relating to the day-to-day
transactions is the Transaction data.
20. Name some drawbacks of SAP - Interfaces are huge problem,
Determine where master data resides, Expensive, very complex,
demands highly trained staff, lengthy implementation time.
21. What is Bex? - Bex stands for Business Explorer. Bex enables
end user to locate reports, view reports, analyze information and
can execute queries. The queries in workbook can be saved to
there respective roles in the Bex browser. Bex has the following
components: Bex Browser, Bex analyzer, Bex Map, Bex Web.
22. What are variables? - Variables are parameters of a query that
are set in the parameter query definition and are not filled with
values until the queries are inserted into workbooks. There are
different types of variables which are used in different
application: Characteristics variables, Hierarchies and hierarchy
node, Texts, Formulas, Processing types, User entry/Default
type, Replacment Path.
 23. What is AWB?. What is its purpose? - AWB stands for
Administrator WorkBench. AWB is a tool for controlling,
monitoring and maintaining all the processes connected with
data staging and processing in the business information
whearhousing.
24. What is the significance of ODS in BIW? - An ODS Object serves
to store consolidated and debugged transaction data on a
document level (atomic level). It describes a consolidated
dataset from one or more InfoSources. This dataset can be
analyzed with a BEx Query or InfoSet Query. The data of an ODS
Object can be updated with a delta update into InfoCubes and/or
other ODS Objects in the same system or across systems. In
contrast to multi-dimensional data storage with InfoCubes, the
data in ODS Objects is stored in transparent, flat database
tables.
25. What are the different types of source system? - SAP R/3 Source
Systems, SAP BW, Flat Files and External Systems.
26. What is Extractor? - Extractors is a data retrieval mechanisms in
the SAP source system. Which can fill the extract structure of a
data source with the data from the SAP source system datasets.
The extractor may be able to supply data to more fields than
exist in the extract structure.

what is SAP 5.0 ECC

Latest Answer: SAP 5.0 ECC (Enterprize Central Component) is a one
of the version of SAP releases. It is the extention of SAP 4.7 EE with
include of web as Java. i.e Java Engine .

SAP XD03 Screen

How can I Export the .Tif images from SAP XD03 screen to my Folder
on the desk top?

SAP GUI
Where can we find the 4
files(saplogon.ini,sapmsg.ini,saproute.ini,sapdoccd.ini) of GUI at os
level(I mean in which directory)?
Latest Answer: All the files you can find in the system in which the SAP
is installed. The path to find these files is as follows.C:WINDOWS ...
Can SAP Patches be installed when other users are online?
Latest Answer: No. During patch implementation, the patch
manager updates some tables and programmes. If any user use that
programme or table, it cann't update those table or programme. So it
is better to apply patches when there is no user logged in the .

TRANSPORT MANAGEMENT CONFIGURATION

Configuring TMS - Transport Management System - for the First Time
Note: if you already have a TMS configured, do not use this
section to add a new instance to the existing TMS configuration.
You could severely damage any pre-existing transports, making
them untransportable. Instead, use the following section Adding
New Instance to TMS Setup.
1. Log on to client 000 of the SAP instance to serve as the Domain
Controller.
2. Go to transaction SE06.
3. Click on the Perform Post Installation Actions button.
4. Go to transaction STMS.
5. You should see a popup box with the title TMS: Configure
Transport Domain. If the popup doesn't say that, press F6 to
change to the correct popup box.
6. Fill in the TMS: Configure Transport Domain popup with the
Description, Name of DOMAIN_<SID>, and the description of the
Transport Domain. Then click Save.
7. On the Transport Management System screen (if you aren’t
there, back out until you are), assuming that this is the first SAP
instance and there are no other installed SAP instances in your
landscape yet, and assuming that you want your transport
requests to be transportable and not local only, click on Overview
→ Systems.
8. On the System Overview – Domain Domain_<SID> screen,
click SAP System → Create → External System. Fill in QAS if you
are going to have a three system configuration or PRD if you are
going to have a two system configuration, or make up a <SID> if
you are never really going to have another SAP system. Fill in the
rest of the information including the Path which is assumed to
be \\<current server>:\usr\sap\trans for NT or /usr/sap/trans for
UNIX. Click Environment → Transport Routes.
9. On the Display Transport Routes screen, click the User Settings
button, turn “on” the Hiergraphical List Editor, and click the √
Continue button. Back out
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of the screen and then go back in – you should see the list in a
text mode which makes it easier to handle.
10. On the Display Transport Routes screen, click the
Display<>Change button to toggle into Change Mode.
11. On the Change Transport Routes screen, click Configuration →
Standard Configuration → Development and Production System.
12. Fill in the Development and Production System popup, using
your current SAP system SID as the Development system and the
SAP instance you created in step #8 as the Production system.
Click the √ mark to Continue.
13. Back on the Change Transport Routes screen, click the Save
icon and confirm all the popup questions.
14. On the Change Transport Routes screen, back out until you
can once more see the Transport Management System screen.
Click Overview → Systems.
15. On the Display TMS Configuration: System XXX screen,
double-click the TMS Domain domain controller SAP instance.
16. On the Display TMS Configuration: System XXX screen, click
the Display<>Change button to toggle into Change Mode. Click
the Communication tab and make sure that the Transport Group
Name is correct. It should contain of the Domain Controller in the
format of DOMAIN_<SID> where <SID> is the System ID of the
SAP Domain controller. Use the dropdown to find the correct entry
it the field is blank. Click the Transport Tool tab. Verify that the
information on the tab is correct and click the Insert Row button.
Add a Parameter of CTC and a Value of 1. Click the Save button.
17. Do step #16 for every system in your TMS Domain, making
sure to change all Transport Group Names are the same and the
CTC row is added to each with a value of 1.
18. Save your way back the the main STMS screen.
19. You may now leave STMS.
Return to Index...
Adding a New SAP Instance to an Existing TMS Domain Controller
1. Log on to client 000 in the SAP instance you want to add to the
existing TMS
Domain.
2. Go to transaction SE06.
3. Click on the Perform Post Installation Actions button.
4. Go to transaction STMS.
5. You should see a popup box with the title TMS: Configure
Transport Domain. Press F6 until you see a TMS: Include System
in Transport Domain popup.
6. Fill in the TMS: Include System in Transport Domain popup
with the Description, Target Host, and System number of the TMS
Domain Controller then click Save.
7. You should see a message that says SAP System waiting to be
included in the Transport Domain.
8. on to client 000 of the Transport Domain Controller and go to
transaction
Log STMS, keeping your original session in the other SAP instance
open.
9. On the Transport Management System screen, click Overview
→ Systems.
Highlight the System you just added and then click SAP System →
Approve.
Then confirm all the messages.
10. Back on the Transport Management System screen, click
Environment →
Transport Routes.
11. On the Display Transport Routes screen, click the
Display<>Change button
to toggle into Change Mode. Click on Edit → Transport Route →
Create.
11. On the Create Transport Route popup, use the Consolidation
boxes to enter
the SID of the transport domain, create a Z* transport layer, and
the SID
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of the system you are adding. Click Save and confirm. Back out to
the main
Transport Management Screen.
12. Back on the Transport Management System screen, click
Overview → Systems.
Double-click on the new system, and click on the Communications
tab. Make
sure that the Transport Group name is the name of the original
transport
domain. If not, change it. Click the Transport Tool tab. Verify that
the
information on the tab is correct and click the Insert Row button.
Add a
Parameter of CTC and a Value of 1. Click the Save button.
13. You can switch back to the new instance, and confirm that the
SAP System
waiting to be included in the Transport Domain has disappeard.
14. You may now log out of both SAP instances.
Return to Index...
Make a Local Transport into a Transportable Transport
Sometimes, mistakes just happen. For this example, we will use a
transport
SM1K00047 as the erroneous change request. Make sure to
release SM1K00047 before
beginning this procedure.
1. Log on to the client who is the owner of the local transports
that needs fixed.
2. Go to SE03.
3. On the Transport Organizer List screen, click on Merge Object
Lists which is
in the Requests/Tasks section.
3. On the Merge Objects List screen, put SM1K00046 in the first
Request/Task
field. Make sure that the Released check box is "on" in the
Request Status
section and click the Execute icon.
4. On the Merge Objects List screen, click on the Merge icon. 5.
On the Enter Transport Request popup, click the Create Request
icon. 6. On the Select Request Type popup, click "on" radio
buttion Workbench Request. 7. On the Create Request popup, fill
in the necessary information and make sure
that the fill in the Target field so that the transport request is NOT
local. Click the Save, OK, √ icon, etc. until everything is done.
You will
get a new transport request number, in our case SM1K00050.
This new request
can be released using one of the transport organizer Transactions
like SE10,
etc. Once it is released, you can go to /usr/sap/trans on the OS
level and in
directory cofiles copy K00050.SM1 to K00046.SM1, and in
directory data copy
R00050.SM1 to R00046.SM1.
8. You may now leave SE03.
Once you have control of your session again, the transports are
done. Verify their return code in the Import Queue list. It shoud
have been updated automatically.
Return to Index...
Transporting Change Requests
To manually transport change requests from DEV/QAS to PRD:
1. Make sure the change request(s) has been released via Se10
or one of the other Transport Organizer Transactions.
2. Go to transaction STMS and click Overview → Imports. Double-
click the PRD queue.
3. Click the refresh button to make sure you have the most
current view of the PRD queue. Make sure the change request(s)
you want to transport shows in the queue.
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not be edited without permission.
4. Using the F9 button, highlight all the transactions you want to
manually transport.
5. Click on Extras → Activate Inactive Requests. Confirm the
popup. This bypasses the STMS_QA process.
6. Leave the change requests highlighted. Click Request →
Import. On the popup, make sure that the target is client 300.
Make sure that Synchronous radio button is "on" in the Execution
tab. Make sure that the first three options are checked "on" in the
Options tab. When you are done, click on the green √ and confirm
the next popup.
Once you have control of your session again, the transports are
done. Verify their return code in the Import Queue list. It shoud
have been updated automatically.
Return to Index...
Adding a Change Request to a Transport Queue
1. Make sure the change request(s) has been released via Se10
or one of the other Transport Organizer Transactions.
2. Go to transaction STMS and click Overview → Imports. Double-
click the PRD queue.
3. Click on Extras → Other Requests → Add. Fill in the Number of
the Transport Request to be added to the queue and then press
Enter.
4. Confirm the Add Transport Request popup. The transport
request should now appear at the bottom of the queue list.
Return to Index...
Viewing the Transport Queue History
1. Go to transaction STMS and click Overview → Imports. Double-
click the queue for which you want to view the history.
2. Click on the Import History button or press Ctrl+F7. The
resulting list can be sorted and filtered to produce a more
exacting report if needed.
Return to Index...
Re-Transport Several Change Requests at Once
1. Go to transaction STMS and click Overview → Imports.
Highlight the queue into which the transport(s) to be moved again
were originally transported – the “FROM” queue - and click the
Import History button or press Ctrl+F7.
2. If your SAP instance is older, you may have a very long Import
History list in the next screen. Use some of the available filters
and sort options to create a more controllable list of transports.
Use the F9 to select and/or unselect as many as you need to
transport.
3. Once all choices have been made, click Request → Forward →
System. Fill in the “TO” system and click on the Execute green √
mark.
4. Now you can go to the “TO” queue and refresh the list. Your
imports should all be there.
Return to Index...
Transport Tool System Confirmation
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not be edited without permission.
1. Go to transaction STMS and click Overview → Imports.
2. On the Import Overview screen, click Import Queue → Check →
Transport Tool. You may get a message asking if you want to
check the the transport tool for all systems. If only want to check
a limited subset of the SAP instances, use F9 to select and/or
deselect those systems before you click Transport Tool.
3. On the TMS: Check Transport Tool screen, a list of all selected
SAP instances to be checked will appear.
If you see any thing but red green Oks, expand all the lines with
the non-OK marks and look for more information. Correct these
problems and then run this report again until it comes back clean.
Return to Index...
Use Target Groups to Transport to Mulitple Clients in Two
Different Instances
1. Log on to client 000 of your TMS Domain Controller SAP
Instance.
2. Go to transaction STMS.
3. On the Transport System Management screen, click Overview
-> Transport
Routes.
4. On the Display Transport Routes screen, click the
Display<>Change button to
toggle into Change mode. Click on the Target Groups line and
click the
Create button.
5. In the Create Transport Group popup, fill in the Target Group
as /XXXCLNTS/,
give a Short Description and click the Client Assignment button.
Be aware
that the Target Group name must start and end with a “/”.
6. Enter each Target system and Target client you need. For our
example, we will
DEV 100, QAS 200, and QAS 210. Click the green check mark to
Transfer. You
now have a target group. Now you must create a Consolidation
Layer.
7. Back on the Change Transport Routes screen, click on
Transport Routes and
click Create.
8. In the Create Transport Route popup, click the Extended
Transport Control
button at the bottom of the popup. Make sure Consolidation is
"on" and fill
in the information using our Target Group as the Consolidation
Target.
9. Click the green check button to Save the change.
10. You now have a Transport Group. Confirm the Disturbution of
it to the other
SAP Instances.
Return to Index...
Configure TMS to Use SAP's Quality Assurance Functionality
A Quality Assurance system must have a) a delivery route leading
from it to
another instance, and b) be the target of a consolidation route.
See topic
Using Target Groups to Transport to Mulitple Clients in Two
Different Instances
to fulfill the a) requirement.
1. Log on to client 000 of your TMS Domain Controller SAP
Instance.
2. Go to transaction STMS.
3. On the Transport System Management screen, click Overview
-> Transport
Routes.
4. On the Display Transport Routes screen, click
Display<>Change button to
toggle into change mode. Click on the instance in which you want
to control
QA. Normally, this is QAS and the instance to be controlled is
PRD. Under
Transport Routes, click on the QAS instance and click Create.
5. On the Create Transport Route screen, make sure Delivery is
"on" and fill in
Source and Delivery systems with QAS and PRD. Click the green
check mark to
save. Now you have met condition a. 6. Back on the Change
Transport Routes screen, click on the QAS instance and
click the single pencil Change button. You will see a Change
System
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not be edited without permission.
Attributes popup. Click "on" Quality Assurance - Delvery After
Confirmation.
If you want to change the people who OK the transports, click the
Procedure button and make your changes. Then back out. Click
the green check
to Transfer your changes.
7. Back on the Change Transport Routes screen, click on the
Target Groups line
and click the Create button.
8. In the Create Transport Group popup, fill in the Target Group
as /XXXCLNTS/,
give a Short Description and click the Client Assignment button.
Be aware
that the Target Group name must start and end with a “/”. Enter
each Target
system and Target client you need. Click the green check mark to
Transfer.
You now have a target group. Now you must create a
Consolidation Layer.
9. Back on the Change Transport Routes screen, click on
Transport Routes and
click Create.
10. In the Create Transport Route popup, click the Extended
Transport Control
button at the bottom of the popup. Make sure Consolidation is
"on" and fill
in the information using our Target Group as the Consolidation
Target. Click
the green check button to Save the change.
11. You now have a Transport Group. Confirm the Disturbution of
it to the other
SAP Instances.
12. You may now leave the STMS transactions.
Return to Index...
Automate the Transport Process
1. Log on to client 000 of your TMS Domain Controller SAP
Instance.
2. Go to transaction STMS.
3. On the Transport System Management screen, click Overview
-> Imports.
Double-click on the queue for the SAP instance are in.
4. On the Import Queue screen, click the Refresh button. Click on
the Import
All Requests button.
5. On the Start Import popup, fill in the information for the job.
Make sure "At
 Start Time" is on. Although Period appears grayed out, you can
still change
it to the periodic value you need. I recommend every hour in
DEV, 4 times a
day in QAS, and once an evening in PRD. Click on the green check
mark to
Continue.
6. You may now leave tSTMS transaction. If you ever need to
change this job,
he you must do it via STMS and not SE37.

SAP BASIS Backup Interview Questions

Your Company’s Take on Backups

Backup and recovery for a SAP instance is best handled along with the
other
backup and recovery needs of your company’s computer systems. But
for those company’s who do not yet possess a solid backup and
recovery solution, or who simply want to segragate the SAP landscape
from all other internal IT solutions, here are a few things you need to
know.
Online versus offline, high availability, frequency, are all decisions your
IT staff need to make based on their history with similar procedures at
your company, the recommendations of SAP, and the guidance of your
implementation Basis consultant. Enforced backups, and detailed and
tested recovery procedures should be part of any Disaster Recovery
plan, and a documented part of any SAP implementation project.
If your company falls into the latter category, SAP does supply tools
for your uses which can be used in either line command form or from
within the SAP instance. If you SAP server contains a tape drive or has
access to the network tape unit, transaction DB13 can be used to
schedule periodic backups. This is the same transaction where weekly
statistics, log cleanup, and database verification jobs are scheduled in
the post-installation work after installation of a new SAP instance.
DB13 scheduled BRCONNECT runs which can also be CRONed in
command line form by the IT staff.
For more information, please see the SAP Online Documentation for
DB13 by going to the DB13 transaction and clicking Help ->
Application Help or referring to the section Creating Database
Statistics, Index Rebuilds, and Log Backup Jobs – Oracle. More
information regarding BRCONNECT can be found in the SAP
BRCONNECT Guide which can be found at
http://service.sap.com/instguides.

BACKUP QUESTIONS

What Needs to Be Backed Up?

The PRD Instance
Daily backup should be made for these SAP specific directories:
/usr/sap/<SID>
/sapmnt/<SID>
/usr/sap/trans on the TMS Domain Controller Server
Any directories containing flat files that are used by the SAP instance
Daily backups should be made for these Oracle specific directories:

/oracle
Directory holding redo logs if not in the /oracle structure
Weekly backup should be made for these OS specific directories:
Root
/etc
/dev
For Oracle, the entire /oracle directory should be backed up daily if
there is only one Oracle Instance on the server, and each separate
/oracle/<SID> directory if there is more than one instance on the
server.
It is also recommended that a full offline image of the entire server be
made before the monthly closing cycle.
The DEV and QAS Instances
Weekly backup should be made for these SAP specific directories:
/usr/sap/<SID>
/sapmnt/<SID>
Any directories containing flat files that are used by the SAP instance
Weekly backups should be made for these Oracle specific directories:
/oracle
Directory holding redo logs if not in the /oracle structure
Monthly backup should be made for these OS specific directories:
Root
/etc
/dev
For Oracle, the entire /oracle directory should be backed up daily if
there is only one Oracle Instance on the server, and each separate
/oracle/<SID> directory if there is more than one instance on the
server.
It is also recommended that a full offline image of the entire server be
made at the same time every month.

Working with saprouter

Starting saprouter (OSS Link)
1. Log on to the appropriate server as <sid>adm.
2. Click Start → Administrative Tools → Services to open a Services
window.
3. Right-click on the SAPROUTER service and click Start.
4. You may now log off the server.

Verifying the Status of saprouter

If you have previously successfully established SAPNet (OSS)

communications with SAP via saprouter in the past, there can only be
three reasons for a “broken” SAPNet connection to SAP: the SAP VPN
is down (which rarely happens); your saprouter configuration has been
incorrectly changed (also very rare); or your saprouter is not running
(happens all the time).
1. Log on to the appropriate server as <sid>adm.
2. Click Start → Administrative Tools → Services to open a Services
window.
3. Look at the SAPROUTER service. If is not started, right-click to start
the service. If it is started, right-click & Stop the service and then
right-click & Start the service. This should “bounce” your saprouter
instance.
4. You may now log off the server.
Return to Index...
Stopping saprouter
1. Log on to the appropriate server as <sid>adm.
2. Click Start → Administrative Tools → Services to open a Services
window.
3. Right-click on the SAPROUTER service and click Stop.
4. You may now log off the server.