SAP BW Performance Optimization Guide

1. Introduction and Overview ... 11
... 1.1. Structure of the Book ... 12
... 1.2. How to Use This Book ... 14
... 1.3. Acknowledgements ... 15

2. Data Warehousing and SAP BW ... 17
... 2.1. Introduction to Data Warehousing ... 17
... 2.2. Differences Between Operational and Decision Support Systems ... 20
... 2.3. Structure of Data Warehousing Systems ... 21
... 2.4. Overview of SAP BW ... 24

3. Basic Principles of the SAP BW Architecture ... 35
... 3.1. Software Components of an SAP BW System ... 35
... 3.2. Overview of the SAP BW Architecture ... 38

4. Basic Principles of SAP Memory Configuration ... 47
... 4.1. Terminology Definitions ... 47
... 4.2. Basic Principles of SAP Memory Management ... 48

5. SAP BW Sizing ... 61
... 5.1. The SAP Sizing Process ... 62
... 5.2. Size Categories of SAP BW Systems ... 63
... 5.3. Sizing Hard Disk Capacity ... 64
... 5.4. CPU Sizing ... 69
... 5.5. Memory Sizing ... 77
... 5.6. Operation Mode and Load Distribution ... 84
... 5.7. SAP Quick Sizer ... 86

6. The SAP BW Data Model ... 89
... 6.1. The Star Schema Data Model ... 89
... 6.2. The SAP BW Data Model ... 91
... 6.3. Performance-Relevant Modeling Aspects ... 112

7. Analyzing the Database, Memory, and Hardware ... 117
... 7.1. Analyzing the Database ... 118
... 7.2. Analyzing the SAP Memory Areas ... 137
... 7.3. Analyzing the Hardware ... 145
... 7.4. Analyzing the SAP Work Processes ... 148
... 7.5. Analyzing User Sessions ... 152
... 7.6. Analyzing the Memory Utilization of Users and Sessions ... 154

8. Analyzing the System Load ... 155
... 8.1. Basic Principles and Terms ... 156
... 8.2. The Workload Monitor ... 160
... 8.3. SAP System Load Analysis ... 163
... 8.4. Analysis of SAP BW System Load ... 164
... 8.5. Technical Content ... 181
... 8.6. Transferring Technical Content ... 183

9. Indices and Database Statistics ... 189
... 9.1. Principles ... 189
... 9.2. Structure Types of the Indices ... 194
... 9.3. Indexing Schema in SAP BW ... 199
... 9.4. Administration of Indices ... 216
... 9.5. Database Optimizer ... 227
... 9.6. Database Statistics ... 228
... 9.7. Administration of Database Statistics ... 231

10. Reporting Performance ... 243
... 10.1. OLAP Processor ... 243
... 10.2. OLAP Cache ... 245
... 10.3. OLAP Cache Monitor ... 247
... 10.4. Query Monitor ... 260
... 10.5. Query Trace ... 273
... 10.6. SAP BW Reporting Agent ... 277
... 10.8. Performance Aspects Relevant to SAP BEx Queries and Excel Workbooks ... 290

11. Aggregates ... 301
... 11.1. Basic Principles ... 303
... 11.2. Automatic Creation of Aggregates ... 319
... 11.3. Manual Creation of Aggregates ... 325
... 11.4. Maintaining Aggregates ... 332

12. Compression and Partitioning ... 357
... 12.1. Compressing InfoCubes ... 357
... 12.2. Partitioning InfoCubes ... 360

13. Extraction and Load Performance ... 371
... 13.1. Data Sources and Their Integration ... 372
... 13.2. Data Flow in SAP BW ... 374
... 13.3. Enabling the Communication Between SAP R/3 and SAP BW ... 376
... 13.4. Transfer Techniques ... 378
... 13.5. Transfer Methods ... 379
... 13.6. Persistent Staging Area ... 380
... 13.7. Monitoring the Load Processes ... 385
... 13.8. Performance Aspects for Data Extraction ... 393
... 13.9. Performance Aspects Relevant to Data Transformation ... 399
... 13.10. Performance Aspects Relevant to the Update of InfoCubes ... 406
... 13.11. Performance Aspects Relevant to the Update of Standard ODS Objects ... 411

14. Appendix ... 417
... 14.1. Transparent Tables of SAP BW Statistics ... 417
... 14.2. Job Prefixes in SAP BW ... 421
... 14.3. Transactions in the SAP BW System ... 422
... 14.4. Transactions Relevant to BW in the SAP R/3 System ... 426
... 14.5. Processing Steps and Calling Programs in the RSMO Monitor ... 426
... 14.6. SAP R/3 and BW System Tables ... 428
... 14.7. SAP Notes ... 430
... 14.8. SAP Online Resources ... 432
... 14.9. Optimizing the Performance of Workbooks Containing Excel Formulas ... 433

The Author ... 439
Index ... 441