Tools for migrating to SAP BW/4HANA (B4H)

Today I post a similar blog as I did for BW to HANA (BoH). It is with regards to Tools for migrating BW to HANA (BoH) but this time for tools to migrating to SAP BW/4HANA (B4H).

There are few differences with regards to SAP BW/4HANA comparing to “regular” BW systems as we know them. SAP BW/4HANA is not delivered via the SAP NetWeaver stack. The underlying platform is SAP HANA DB and components like DW4CORE, SAP_BASIS, SAP_ABA, SAP_UI, SAP_GWFND of ABAP application server.

Other differences include: (this is not a list of all differences just few important ones)

·         A new request management for all staging/loading processes is in place. It is called transaction sequence numbers (TSN). The request looks like DTPR__request – it contains not of request itself, timestamp, time zone etc.

·         Changes to official interfaces to BW objects (e.g. RSNDI, RSDRI)

·         All “old” things like customer exits (CMOD) and BAdI methods for e.g. BEx/BW exit variables are replaced by corresponding enhancement spots.

·         SAP claims that more than 5 million lines of SAP BW’s ABAP code have been deleted. There is an impact on custom code where non-released ABAP interfaces/code is used. This may be tricky if your development includes non-released objects. Check your custom code first!

First of all there is a bunch of prerequisites for SAP BW/4HANA (B4H). Major one is that it can only be installed on top of SAP BW version 7.5 systems. In particular SAP BW 7.5 SP 5 powered by SAP HANA is needed. In case cases staring point also can be SAP BW 7.0 or higher on AnyDB.

Another important point is with regards to version of HANA DB. Minimum HANA DB version must be Revision 122 or higher in case of HANA 1.0 SPS 12 and Revision 1 or higher in case HANA 2.0 SPS 0.

Now in case existing BW system is going to be converted to the SAP BW/4HANA system following tools can be leveraged for this purpose (tools are not sorted in a sequence of how they shall be executed always refer to particular migration scenario!):

SAP BW Note Analyzer - This tools analyses status of implementation of SAP Notes in particular system and also installs other tools (like Transfer Toolbox) that are needed for migration to B4H. It can be started by report Z_SAP_BW_NOTE_ANALYZER. The SAP BW Note Analyzer can be installed via SAP Note 2383530

SAP BW/4HANA Transfer Toolbox - it converts SID of the SAP BW system either to new one (new system) or existing one. This can be done either via in-place conversion (full system is converted) or remote conversion (selected arts of system like data model will be converted to new system). The tool can be started by a call of t-code “STC01” and executed by task list “SAP_BW4_TRANSFER_INPLACE”

Precheck Tool – so called SAP Readiness Check - Simplification Item Check. The tool analyses the impact on system to be converted based on simplification items. There are two types of check integrated into the tool. Relevancy/Consistency checks.  It can be started by report /SDF/RC_START_CHECK. See Note 2399707.

SAP BW/4HANA Starter Add-On - formerly known as SAP BW, edition for SAP HANA. It needs to be installed on top of SAP BW 7.5 system to enable the conversion to SAP BW/4HANA.

Transfer Toolbox for BPC – similar tool as SAP BW/4HANA Transfer Toolbox but crafted specially for BPC add-on in BW.

Report RS_B4HANA_CONVERSION_CONTROL - it executes and realizes the phase of system conversion to B4H.

Useful information:

SAP BW/4HANA online docu

The Road to SAPBW/4HANA presentation

2383530 - Conversion from SAP BW to SAP BW/4HANA

2591784 - SAP Readiness Check for SAP BW/4HANA - Preparation

2575059 - (pilot) SAP Readiness Check for SAP BW/4HANA       

2567324 - SAP Readiness Check for SAP BW/4HANA - Object Compatibility

2421930 - Simplification List for SAP BW/4HANA

2513088 - SAP BW/4HANA Conversion Cockpit - System Setup & Pre-requisite

2399707 - SAP Readiness Check - Simplification Item Check