System Kernel
The SAP kernel is the core component of
any SAP system. It consists of the
executable files that run on the server to
handle connections to the system and
execute the SAP programs.
SAP System Architecture
SAP System Architecture Processes
• SAP instance (or application server) is a unit that groups system components providing one or more services,
these services start and stop together, controlled by a common instance profile that defines their parameters.
An application server is identified by a SID and Instance number
• The SAP runtime system consists of a large number of parallel processes that work together.
AS ABAP Architecture- PAS and ASCS
The Central Instance coordinates backend functions, while the Primary Instance supports the
execution of business transactions
The CI hosts essential services that are critical for the operation of
the SAP system as a whole (/usr/sap/SID/ASCSinstanceNumber)
The PAS /AAS execute the business transactions and processing
user requests (/usr/sap/SID/DInstanceNumber)
Note:
You cannot log on to the central services instance as a
dialog user. The central services instance is not called
an application server
AS ABAP Architecture- Process Management
The ABAP dispatcher manages user requests by distributing them to WP. The WP interact with the ABAP schema directly. Once
processing is complete, results are sent back to the SAP GUI.
The WP execute the process logic, the task handler
coordinates the actions within wp, software and DB.
The Dynpro processor manages the screen flow logic
and transfers user input to the program's processing
logic.
Work Process Types:
Dialog WP : Executing dialog steps in user transactions
( SM21, ST11 and ST12)
Background WP : Execute programs that run without
interacting with the user
Update WP : Execute database update requests
Spool WP : Managing print requests and spool data
Enqueue WP : Managing locks on database records
SM12/SMENQ
AS ABAP Architecture- Communication
RFC Gateway is used for the communication between work processes of different application server or within SAP systems
as well as work processes and external programs
The Internet Communication Manager (ICM) enables SAP systems to communicate using the
AS ABAP Architecture- Communication(RFC)
If you want to start external programs remotely, you need an RFC interface outside the SAP system.
• To call an RFC module from an SAP system:
o There must be a technical connection between the
two systems (RFC Destination)
o You need to know the import and export
parameters (defined in the Function Builder) to
perform the Remote Function Call
• If a calling (sending) SAP system is known to the called
(receiving) system as a trusted system and the user who
initiated the RFC call is defined in both of the systems,
no password is supplied (Trusted RFC).
• RFC Types:
o Synchronous RFC
o Asynchronous RFC
o Queued RFC (smqs and smqr transactions manage
the queue)
AS ABAP Architecture- Communication(BAPI)
Some special RFC modules, which follow certain conventions, are known as BAPIs (Business Application Programming
Interfaces).
• A Business Application Programming Interface (BAPI) is a
standardized programming interface that facilitates internal
and external access to business processes and data in SAP
systems. BAPIs are defined in the Business Object
Repository as methods of SAP business objects and enable
an object-oriented view of business data in an SAP system.
• BAPIs are only supposed to be used by third-party or
customer developers if they have been released, meaning
SAP has designated them as ready for use and guaranteed
to remain stable in the future. The release status can be
checked by looking at the Released On date in the
attributes section of the function module BAPI. If that field
is blank, then the BAPI hasn't been released by SAP and
should not be used
BAPIs are created and tested in exactly the same way as
other function modules, using the Function Builder,
transaction SE37, and are then defined as method of an object
type in the BOR
AS ABAP Architecture- Computing Center Management System (CCMS)
The Computing Center Management System (CCMS) is a collection of integrated tools for managing, running, and
monitoring SAP systems.
• The functions of the CCMS include:
o Background processing and job monitoring (SM37)
o Configuration of the printer landscape (SPAD)
o Tuning of the main memory areas of the SAP system (ST02)
o Database management (such as backup) (DBACOCKPIT)
o Configuration of SAP system profiles (RZ10)
o Dynamic load balancing (SMLG)
o SAP System Monitoring (RZ20)
The previous list shows only a few of the available functions
AS JAVA Architecture
AS Java does not have a dispatcher in the same way; instead,
ICM handles request distribution
Internet Communication Manager (ICM): Distributes
incoming requests to the server processes
Server Process: Executes Java applications
The Central Services Instance (SCS) in AS Java plays a
similar role to the Central Instance (CI) in AS ABAP
