Copying needs to be done skillfully
Food for thought for another productive system: until when must the system be identical, keyword: transaction log
The third-party providers have adapted their tools to various special areas. For example, the "Clone & Test" tool from Pecaso, which is now part of Accenture, specializes in transferring data from SAP's HR module. In addition to HR data, the "Data Sync Manager" from the provider Epi-Use makes it possible to select additional objects from the areas of accounting and logistics. As with TDMS, "Infoshuttle" from Gamma Enterprise Technologies gives users the option of selecting any data from the SAP system. For transport, the tool uses Idocs, which, however, can only be used to transfer small amounts of test data. SNP's "Data Distillery" can either write extracted data directly into the tables of the target system via RFC or generate an export file that can be imported into target systems multiple times. In the source system, users can select by objects, processes and transactions. Further selection options, for example by organizational units or fiscal year, allow a percentage of the data to be filtered out of the system as consistent test data.
As a rule, the SAP basis has to fulfill: to provide SAP system copies as quickly as possible for the increased usage purposes. The performance of modern tools has developed rapidly. An assessment of the current situation.
Automation tool reduces time required to create test environments
For companies, however, professional test data management is not only interesting for optimizing existing systems and processes particularly securely and quickly. With such a solution, they are also able to simulate the effects of serious changes even before the actual transformation. This can be extremely profitable, for example, for the conversion of existing ERP systems to the new SAP Business Suite S/4HANA. Decision-makers are thus able to successfully circumvent any transformation risks and define a roadmap for a smooth process.
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.
"Shortcut for SAP Systems" offers the possibility to backup and restore any tables. Not only those that are considered in the PCA tool (Post Copy Automation) but also self-developed tables. Thanks to the simple and clear interface, backup and restore of self-developed tables can be integrated quickly and easily. The command line interface can also be used to automate the process: for example, a simple line command can be used to perform a complete backup of table contents before the system copy, and a simple line command can also be used to restore these tables after the system copy. This means that the complete backup or restore process can be integrated into any automation software.
Some useful tips about SAP basis can be found on www.sap-corner.de.
Similar to the simple system copy, the landscape copy also offers potential for automation, but this cannot be implemented by every tool on the market.
Heterogeneous system copy (migration): During the copy, either - the operating system (OS migration) or - the database system (DB migration) or - the operating system and database system (OS/DB migration) are changed.