SAP Hardware Solutions
Servers, Storage, and Networks for mySAP.com
Published on 17. April 2001
Book
Paperback/Softback
400 pages
978-0-13-028084-8 (ISBN)
Description
Most SAP books focus on software: this one focuses on the underlying hardware, offering practical, business-oriented recommendations for maximizing performance, availability, manageability, and cost-effectiveness. It covers every hardware component that impacts SAP application components in mySAP.com, including servers, storage, desktop clients, LAN and WAN infrastructure, backup systems, even printers. The authors begin by reviewing the server technologies commonly used today for SAP projects, covering support and certification requirements, the roles of the database, application server, and other servers typically found in the SAP environment; performance benchmarks, scalability, and server consolidation. They review server sizing in depth, presenting real-life examples. Next, they offer guidance on disk storage, including best practice tips for SAP database disk layout, and new technologies such as Storage Area Networks (SANs). The book includes detailed coverage of disaster recovery, including sophisticated zero-down-time backup and remote database mirror solutions; clustering and automated failover for high availability; and requirements for client PCs, printers, and output management systems. An extensive section on networking covers everything from network architectures and IP address structures to the physical components of a SAP network, including innovative high-availability approaches to cabling infrastructures. The mySAP.com Internet-based solutions are reviewed in the context of their impact on servers and networks.
More details
Persons
MICHAEL MISSBACH, Ph.D., is a senior consultant at the SAP-HP International Competence Center in Walldorf, Germany, specializing in IT infrastructure solutions. He holds a master's degree in mechanical engineering and a doctorate in material science from the University of Karlsruehe, Germany.
UWE M. HOFFMANN is a senior consultant at the SAP-HP International Competence Center in Walldorf, Germany, specializing in developing and delivering HP SAP training courses. He holds a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering and an MBA, with a decision science focus, from Santa Clara University, California.
UWE M. HOFFMANN is a senior consultant at the SAP-HP International Competence Center in Walldorf, Germany, specializing in developing and delivering HP SAP training courses. He holds a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering and an MBA, with a decision science focus, from Santa Clara University, California.
Content
Preface.
How This Book Is Organized.
Acknowledgments.
About the Authors.
1.SAP System Architecture Overview: What Is mySAP.com?
The mySAP.com World. SAP System Technology.
2. Server Platforms for mySAP.com: Server, OS, and Database Platforms.
Operating System and Database Support. OS Platforms. Database Platforms. SAP Software Support Matrix. Heterogeneous Platform Support. Server Technologies. Server (HW) Platform Vendors. Processors. Memory Architectures. System Bus Architectures. I/O Architectures. Memory Addressing. Total Cost of Ownership. Overall Project Costs. System Consolidation.
3. Sizing Systems for mySAP.com: The Science of Estimation.
The Business Processing Requirements. Sizing Process Overview. Methodology. Collecting the Data. Sizing Tools. Computing the Requirements. Other mySAP.com Business Applications. Determining the Server's Configuration. Determining the SAPS. Determining the Memory and Disk Configuration.
4. Data Storage for SAP: A Strategic Resource.
Disk and Storage Basics. Database Server Perspective. Storage System Perspective. Disk I/O Patterns: A Business Application Perspective. Disk Drive Mechanisms. Disk I/O Channels. Data Protection (Disk Availability). Basic Principles. Disk Redundancy-RAID Levels. Software RAID and File Systems. Hardware RAID. Data Replication. Scalability and Managing Growth. Sizing the Storage System. Disk Systems and Interconnectivity. The Need for Data Archiving. Disk Layout Terminology and Examples. Terminology. SAP R/3 Database Layout. Disk Layout Examples of SAP Systems.
5. High-Availability Solutions for mySAP.com: Backup, Recovery, and Failover.
High-Availability Introduction. Downtime. Costs of Downtime: Is HA Needed? Specifying Uptime. Backup and Recovery Solutions. Backup and Restore Con?gurations. Influences on Backup and Restore Time. Failover Solutions. Vulnerable mySAP.com Components. Clustering Basics for SAP. Hardware Notes for Clustering Configurations. Microsoft Cluster Server HA Configurations. Unix Clustering HA Configurations. Database Failover. Higher Levels of SAP Availability. High Availability Review for mySAP.com. Administration Philosophy for HA.
6. PCs, NCs, and Printers: User Interfaces and Output Management.
The Front-End-Interface to the User. Windows-Based Front-Ends. Java-Based Front-Ends. Browser-Based Front-Ends. From GUI to Workplace. Printer-Hardcopy Output for mySAP.com. Spool Management. Forms Management. Output Management.
7. Network Requirements for SAP: Building the Link Between Servers and Clients.
The Influence of the Network on Performance. The Influence of the Network on Cost. Bandwidth Demand for SAP Server Communication. Bandwidth Demand for SAP Front-End Communication. Bandwidth Demand for Print Output. Bandwidth Demand for CPI-C Connections. Bandwidth Demand for RFC Data Transmission. The Influence of Network on Availability.
8. Logical Network Architectures: A Question of Protocol.
IP Networks-Mission Pathfinder. Flat versus Hierarchical Networks. IP Address Design Considerations. Host Names and Address Resolution. Naming Resolution Mechanisms. SAP Servers with Multiple Network Cards. Separate Server Network. SAP Front-Ends and DHCP. Identifying SAP Traffic.
9. Cables and Cabinets: Passive But Essential for Reliability.
Wires and Fibers. Copper Cabling. Fiber Optic Cabling. Wireless LAN Technologies. Cabling Cabinets. Installation Guidelines for Cables. Topologies. Bus Topology. Star Topology. Hierarchical Star Topology-The Structural Standard. High-Availability Cabling Topologies. Ring Topology. Meshed Topology. Cable Cluster-A High-Availability Cable Concept.
10. Local Network Solutions: SAP on the Internal Information Superhighway.
Applications Compete for Bandwidth! Bandwidth Requirements of Network Segments. Network Technologies-Lord of the Rings versus the Ether. Fast, Giga, and more Ethernet. Broadcasts-The Hidden Performance Killer. Mono-Protocol Networks. Domain Segmentation by VLANs. Automatic Broadcast Control. High Availability for Local Area Networks. Redundant Network Links? Beware of Loops! Spanning Tree. Link Aggregation. Network Clustering. Switch Meshing.
11. Wide Area Connectivity: SAP Services Beyond the Property Borders.
Which Wide Area Service Is Appropriate? Technical Characteristics of WAN Services. Cost Characteristics of WAN Services. Deploying Routers to Preserve WAN Bandwidth. Filtering, Spoofing, Proxy, and Compression. Bandwidth on Demand. Data Prioritization. Security Aspects of WAN Communication. Fault-Tolerant WAN Concepts. Hardware Redundancy. Connection Redundancy.
12, SAP Internet Integration: Secure SAP Services for E-Commerce.
Performance and Reliability Aspects. ITS Architecture. Internet Communication Manager. SAP Business Connector. DCOM Connector. Security Aspects of Internet Communication. Secure Network Infrastructure. Trusted Gateways-HP VirtualVault.
How This Book Is Organized.
Acknowledgments.
About the Authors.
1.SAP System Architecture Overview: What Is mySAP.com?
The mySAP.com World. SAP System Technology.
2. Server Platforms for mySAP.com: Server, OS, and Database Platforms.
Operating System and Database Support. OS Platforms. Database Platforms. SAP Software Support Matrix. Heterogeneous Platform Support. Server Technologies. Server (HW) Platform Vendors. Processors. Memory Architectures. System Bus Architectures. I/O Architectures. Memory Addressing. Total Cost of Ownership. Overall Project Costs. System Consolidation.
3. Sizing Systems for mySAP.com: The Science of Estimation.
The Business Processing Requirements. Sizing Process Overview. Methodology. Collecting the Data. Sizing Tools. Computing the Requirements. Other mySAP.com Business Applications. Determining the Server's Configuration. Determining the SAPS. Determining the Memory and Disk Configuration.
4. Data Storage for SAP: A Strategic Resource.
Disk and Storage Basics. Database Server Perspective. Storage System Perspective. Disk I/O Patterns: A Business Application Perspective. Disk Drive Mechanisms. Disk I/O Channels. Data Protection (Disk Availability). Basic Principles. Disk Redundancy-RAID Levels. Software RAID and File Systems. Hardware RAID. Data Replication. Scalability and Managing Growth. Sizing the Storage System. Disk Systems and Interconnectivity. The Need for Data Archiving. Disk Layout Terminology and Examples. Terminology. SAP R/3 Database Layout. Disk Layout Examples of SAP Systems.
5. High-Availability Solutions for mySAP.com: Backup, Recovery, and Failover.
High-Availability Introduction. Downtime. Costs of Downtime: Is HA Needed? Specifying Uptime. Backup and Recovery Solutions. Backup and Restore Con?gurations. Influences on Backup and Restore Time. Failover Solutions. Vulnerable mySAP.com Components. Clustering Basics for SAP. Hardware Notes for Clustering Configurations. Microsoft Cluster Server HA Configurations. Unix Clustering HA Configurations. Database Failover. Higher Levels of SAP Availability. High Availability Review for mySAP.com. Administration Philosophy for HA.
6. PCs, NCs, and Printers: User Interfaces and Output Management.
The Front-End-Interface to the User. Windows-Based Front-Ends. Java-Based Front-Ends. Browser-Based Front-Ends. From GUI to Workplace. Printer-Hardcopy Output for mySAP.com. Spool Management. Forms Management. Output Management.
7. Network Requirements for SAP: Building the Link Between Servers and Clients.
The Influence of the Network on Performance. The Influence of the Network on Cost. Bandwidth Demand for SAP Server Communication. Bandwidth Demand for SAP Front-End Communication. Bandwidth Demand for Print Output. Bandwidth Demand for CPI-C Connections. Bandwidth Demand for RFC Data Transmission. The Influence of Network on Availability.
8. Logical Network Architectures: A Question of Protocol.
IP Networks-Mission Pathfinder. Flat versus Hierarchical Networks. IP Address Design Considerations. Host Names and Address Resolution. Naming Resolution Mechanisms. SAP Servers with Multiple Network Cards. Separate Server Network. SAP Front-Ends and DHCP. Identifying SAP Traffic.
9. Cables and Cabinets: Passive But Essential for Reliability.
Wires and Fibers. Copper Cabling. Fiber Optic Cabling. Wireless LAN Technologies. Cabling Cabinets. Installation Guidelines for Cables. Topologies. Bus Topology. Star Topology. Hierarchical Star Topology-The Structural Standard. High-Availability Cabling Topologies. Ring Topology. Meshed Topology. Cable Cluster-A High-Availability Cable Concept.
10. Local Network Solutions: SAP on the Internal Information Superhighway.
Applications Compete for Bandwidth! Bandwidth Requirements of Network Segments. Network Technologies-Lord of the Rings versus the Ether. Fast, Giga, and more Ethernet. Broadcasts-The Hidden Performance Killer. Mono-Protocol Networks. Domain Segmentation by VLANs. Automatic Broadcast Control. High Availability for Local Area Networks. Redundant Network Links? Beware of Loops! Spanning Tree. Link Aggregation. Network Clustering. Switch Meshing.
11. Wide Area Connectivity: SAP Services Beyond the Property Borders.
Which Wide Area Service Is Appropriate? Technical Characteristics of WAN Services. Cost Characteristics of WAN Services. Deploying Routers to Preserve WAN Bandwidth. Filtering, Spoofing, Proxy, and Compression. Bandwidth on Demand. Data Prioritization. Security Aspects of WAN Communication. Fault-Tolerant WAN Concepts. Hardware Redundancy. Connection Redundancy.
12, SAP Internet Integration: Secure SAP Services for E-Commerce.
Performance and Reliability Aspects. ITS Architecture. Internet Communication Manager. SAP Business Connector. DCOM Connector. Security Aspects of Internet Communication. Secure Network Infrastructure. Trusted Gateways-HP VirtualVault.