SAP SYSTEM COPY - in a nutshell
Critical factor: Availability
Until now, there has been no functional tool for System i to automate and optimize this task. The enormous resource requirements that arise during a refresh of the SAP QA system really cry out for an optimizing software tool. System Copy from Libelle (LSC) reduces the effort required for these work steps. Although a one-time effort is still required, the system landscape is examined so well that the system copy and any subsequent ones are performed literally at the push of a button. The work that is automated by LSC is in the preparation and post-processing of the files as well as the actual system copy.
With Automated System Copy for SAP, an SAP system copy can be scheduled and executed in a parallel mode, which has the advantage of reducing manual intervention to a minimum. In addition, daily work can continue as normal. Rehau had already been using the software provider's Business Automation platform for cross-platform scheduling of complex job chains since 2004. The existing installation was expanded to include the module for creating SAP system copies.
Conclusion
Fact: BDLS is a kind of "time eater" for system copies (except when using Hana). An important first step is to integrate the BDLS run into the system copy. Once the copy is effectively through, the BDLS is automatically started.
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.
Tools such as "Shortcut for SAP Systems" are extremely useful in SAP system copy.
Understanding the structure and functioning of the system is especially important for IT administration. It is not for nothing that "SAP Basis Administrator" is a separate professional field. On the page www.sap-corner.de you will find useful information on this topic.
Preparation before system copy - All information about transport requests that should be re-imported on the target system of the system copy is evaluated and collected: Already released transport requests that have not yet landed on production.
After the above requirements are met, the target SAP and database instances can be shut down to create the technical system copy for the upgrade.