Definition of SAP NetWeaver

SAP NetWeaver is a comprehensive technology platform, which can be integrated smoothly into existing systems. Because of the minimum amount of expenses of internal company integration, the operating costs of your entire IT landscape are reduced. With SAP NetWeaver, you can flexibly implement, execute and improve business processes. In this way, you can pursue growth strategies and, at the same time, react quickly to changes.

SAP NetWeaver is the technical basis of the solutions from mySAP Business Suite and the Composite Applications, the SAP xApps. Furthermore, SAP NetWeaver is the core of the Enterprise Services Architecture, SAP’s basic concept for Web Service solutions.

SAP NetWeaver is therefore an extensive, strategic integration and application platform that allows you to reduce the Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) of your SAP landscape. SAP NetWeaver helps you to bring together and organize people, information, and business processes across system and organization boundaries.

All mySAP solutions will be based on SAP NetWeaver in the future. At the same time, SAP NetWeaver supports the execution of cross-application software, so-called xApps. xApps are the new class of integrative standard software. xApps enhance existing (heterogeneous) IT landscapes with new business processes. SAP NetWeaver therefore provides the technical foundation for an Enterprise Services Architecture. Different software interfaces ensure full interoperability of applications that are running on Microsoft .NET and IBM WebSphere.

The Basic Elements of SAP Solutions

The basic elements of SAP solutions are listed below:

SAP NetWeaver

SAP NetWeaver is the technological infrastructure for all SAP solutions. For more information, see http://www.sap.com/netweaver.

mySAP Business Suite

mySAP Business Suite bundles all cross-industry, SAP NetWeaver-based SAP solutions. For more information, see http://www.sap.com/solutions.

SAP Smart Business Solutions

SAP solutions for small and midsize businesses. The mySAP All-in-One solution is an SAP R/3-based system that has been extended with business functions from other SAP solutions. This

means that each combination of functions results in a different “mySAP All-in-One package”. This product is suitable for customers with a few dozen to a few hundred end users.

SAP xApps (SAP Collaborative Cross Applications)

allow you to integrate existing applications with each other by accessing existing datasets and

functions using open interfaces. This means that you can implement new applications based on an existing infrastructure. For more information, see http://www.sap.com/xapps.

Industry Solutions

Industry Solutions provide business functions for selected industries. These functions are implemented in an SAP R/3 (Enterprise) System and are available as Add-Ons. For more information, see http://www.sap.com/industry.

SAP R/3 Basis Software

The R/3 basis software is the set of programs and tools which interfaces with the computer operating system, the underlying database, the communication protocols, and the presentation interfaces. This software enables the R/3 applications (FI, CO, SD, etc.) to have the same functionality and work exactly the same way no matter what operating system or database the system is installed on. The R/3 basis software is an independent layer that guarantees the integration of all application modules. When referring to the basis software in this sense, it is generally known as the R/3 common kernel or R/3 middleware. Kernel and middleware have become generic computing terms which are widely used: kernel usually refers to the core or nucleus of a system; middleware means a set of programs which allows an independent interface between an upper layer and a lower layer (it stands in the middle).

Note Although applications functionality is the same on all platforms, there are some differences, for instance in the transactions that deal with the management of the database or the operating system. Additionally, adjustments in the ABAP code must sometimes be made on the AS/400 platform, since it runs on the EBCDIC character code, instead of ASCII−for example, some SELECT statements might differ from those used in other platforms. Often these terms are also referred to as the R/3 basis system or simply R/3 basis, both of which have a broader meaning. Besides the interfaces with the other system elements such as the operating system, database, network, and user interface, the tools and components of the R/3 basis provide the following:

The environment for the R/3 applications, built on the ABAP development workbench and the ABAP repository, which includes the ABAP data dictionary (centralized logical repository with all the business and system data).

1. This environment also has the work−bench organizer and the transport system to facilitate the modification and enhancement of the system and the integration of new developments across systems.

2. System administration and monitoring tools, including a common printing system and a complex and comprehensive set of management transactions within the CCMS (computer center management system), which is used to monitor, tune, and control the R/3 system.

3. Architectural software client/server design, which permits system growth and allows the distribution of available resources.

4. Authorization and profile management tools, which take care of user management and internal access control to system and business objects.
5. Database monitoring and administration utilities.

These R/3 basis topics are covered in greater detail in the following chapters. This chapter discusses the central interfaces and the client/server architecture. As shown in Fig. 2−1, the R/3 middleware uses common APIs (application program interfaces) and has the function of interfacing with the underlying operating system, the database, the communication protocols, and
the GUIs. The features of the R/3 basis system which enable these types of interfaces are as follows:

1. The client/server architecture and configuration
2. The use of relational database management systems
3. Graphical user interface design for presentation

The R/3 basis system is based on standards: ANSI−C and C++ for the programming of the runtime environment, Open SQL for embedded SQL calls inside ABAP for interfacing with the database, communication standards such as TCP/IP, and standard graphical interfaces such as Microsoft Windows, Motif, or Macintosh.

History of SAP

In an overview

After the Internet, SAP R/3 is one of the hottest topics in the computer industry, and the company that developed it, SAP AG, has become one of the most successful in the software market.

The SAP R/3 system is targeted to most industries: manufacturing, retail, oil and gas, electricity, health care, pharmaceutical, banking, insurance, telecommunications, transport, automotive, chemical, and so on. The customer list includes most of the U.S. Fortune 100 companies, 97 percent of the most profitable German companies, and other impressive figures from companies around the world.

All major hardware vendors, without exception, are fully engaged to partner with SAP: in 1999, ACER, Amdahl, Bull, Compaq, Comparex, Data General, Dell, Fujitsu, Hewlett−Packard, Hitachi, IBM, Intergraph, NCR, Sequent, Siemens, SUN, Unisys, and others have supported and certified SAP R/3 platforms.

The biggest international consulting firms, numerous smaller ones, and most of the hardware vendors system integration departments have built an impressive army of experts around SAP−related business: Andersen Consulting, Arthur Andersen, Price Waterhouse Coopers, Ernst & Young, KPMG, Deloitte Consulting, Cap Gemini, Origin, CSC−Ploenzke, EDS, Sema Group, and others. Additionally, SAP has a growing group of first−order technological partners including Microsoft, Informix, Oracle, Apple, Next, Adobe, iXOS, Software AG, and many others that have participated in the Complementary Software Certification program.

With this presentation card, it is well assumed that SAP R/3 is not something that can be learned at home or in universities with the aid of a PC and standard PC software.

SAP AG: The Company Behind R/3

SAP AG was founded in 1972 by four former IBM employees. The company headquarters are based in Walldorf, a small German town close to Heidelberg, where the university is a continuous source of employees at SAP. Many of the gurus behind this phenomenal system known as R/3 come from this university.

Since its foundation, SAP has made significant development and marketing efforts on standard application software, being a global market player with its R/2 system for mainframe applications and its R/3 system for open client/server technologies.

The company name, SAP, stands for Systems, Applications and Products in Data Processing. After the introduction of SAP R/3 in 1992, SAP AG has become the world's leading vendor of standard application software. One of the reasons for SAP's success is that since it is a standard package, it can be configured in multiple areas and adapted to the specific needs of a company. To support those needs, SAP includes a large number of business functions, leaving room for further functionality and enhancements or adaptability to business practice changes. More and more, corporations are deciding to use standard software systems that are highly flexible and configurable and able to support most of their business practices and information needs.

This kind of package leaves the development of custom software only for exceptional cases. The maturity and solid experience of SAP in solving the information management problems of businesses around the globe have made its R/3 system the clear market leader in the development of standard applications.