Scenario with system copies for updating
Hybrid: for example, the source systems on-premises and the target systems on cloud
Users do not have to deal with individual tables, but can access a database of business entities. This means that they do not select tables, but business objects such as employees or documents. To do this, however, the tools must contain the object dependencies for SAP's complex data model. Even companies that offer the setup of test systems as a service rarely do this for any SAP dataset. In addition, users can define objects themselves to accommodate customizing and in-house developments.
Even if the target system is not used for production in an update scenario based on a system copy, it is of central importance for developers and thus also the software lifecycle of the production system. That's why you should avoid upgrade downtime in both the production source system and the non-production target system. Production system downtime depends primarily on the method you use to create the image of the production data to be used in the target system. This image must be a transferable database image - for example, a database export, a backup copy, or an array-based reconciliation. To eliminate downtime in the production system and minimize the impact on application performance-regardless of the size of the production data reconciliation-you can use, for example, HP StorageWorks System Copy for SAP (HP System Copy), which has a disk array-based replication capability. Downtime in the target system depends on the following factors, among others: The time required to restore production data reconciliation in the target system The amount of pre- and post-processing in the target system With HP System Copy, images of production data can be created in minutes, with each step between shutdown and reboot of the target system occurring automatically. However, after the reboot, the target system is not immediately ready for use, as additional steps must first be performed (see description below).
Update more efficiently
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.
As mentioned above, an SAP system copy created for updates is a special use case of homogeneous system copy. Here, a production system represents the source and a non-production system with a specific long-term task in the SAP system landscape represents the target. The most common update scenario involves updating a QA system in the SAP transport system.
Tools such as "Shortcut for SAP Systems" supplement missing functions in the area of SAP system copy.
In order to have up-to-date data and exactly the same software versions on an SAP test system for meaningful tests as are active on the production system, the production systems are regularly copied completely to the test system.
The website www.sap-corner.de offers many useful information about SAP basis.
The Migration Monitor stores the state of the export or import process in the {ex|im}port_state.properties file.