How to Migrate to SAP BW/4HANA: A Comprehensive Guide
SAP BW/4HANA is SAP’s next generation data warehouse solution that is entirely built on SAP HANA database. It offers many benefits such as simplified data models, faster performance, real-time analytics, and cloud readiness. If you are a SAP BW customer who wants to upgrade to SAP BW/4HANA, you might be wondering how to do it and what are the best practices. In this blog post, we will provide you with a comprehensive guide on how to migrate to SAP BW/4HANA, covering the following topics:
- Migration options
- Migration paths
- Migration tools
- Migration steps
- Migration tips
Migration Options
There are three main migration options for SAP BW/4HANA:
- In-place conversion: This option involves a step-by-step transfer of classical BW objects to HANA optimized objects and then a system conversion to BW/4HANA. This option is suitable for customers who want to keep their existing BW system and SID, and who are already on an up-to-date release (preferably 7.5 powered by HANA). This option requires the SAP BW/4HANA Starter Add-on to be installed.
- Remote conversion: This option starts with the installation of a new BW/4HANA system. Then, selected BW objects (metadata) and data (master and transactional data) are transferred from the original BW system using the SAP BW/4HANA Transfer Cockpit. This option is suitable for customers who want to build a new BW/4HANA system with a new SID, and who are on older releases or not on SAP HANA. This option allows more flexibility and less downtime.
- Shell conversion: This option is similar to remote conversion, but without data transfer. Only selected BW objects are transferred from the original BW system to the new BW/4HANA system. Data has to be reloaded from the original source systems. This option is suitable for customers who want a fresh start with a new SID, and who want to reduce data volume and complexity.
The following table summarizes the main characteristics of each migration option:
| Option | System | SID | Data | Release | Downtime |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| In-place conversion | Existing | Same | Preserved | 7.5 SP05 powered by HANA | Significant |
| Remote conversion | New | New | Transferred | 7.x (any database) | Minimal |
| Shell conversion | New | New | Reloaded | 7.x (any database) | Minimal |
Migration Paths
Depending on your current BW release and database, there are different migration paths for SAP BW/4HANA. The following diagram shows the possible migration paths:
Source: https://blogs.sap.com/2018/09/04/sap-bw4hana-migration-explorerealization-phase-part-1/
As you can see, there are two main steps for migrating to SAP BW/4HANA:
- Upgrade to SAP BW 7.5 SP05 powered by HANA: This step is required for customers who are not on this release or not on SAP HANA. This step involves upgrading the BW application server, installing the SAP HANA database, and migrating the data using DMO (Database Migration Option).
- Convert to SAP BW/4HANA: This step is required for all customers who want to migrate to SAP BW/4HANA. This step involves converting the classical BW objects to HANA optimized objects using RS_BW_POST_MIGRATION or Transfer Cockpit, and converting the system using SUM (Software Update Manager).
Migration Tools
SAP provides various tools to support the migration process. The main tools are:
- Maintenance Planner: This tool is used to plan and prepare the upgrade and conversion activities. It checks the system requirements, generates the stack XML file, and downloads the required software packages.
- SUM (Software Update Manager): This tool is used to perform the upgrade and conversion activities. It executes the technical steps such as installing or updating software components, adjusting custom code, and converting the system.
- DMO (Database Migration Option): This tool is part of SUM and is used to migrate the data from any database to SAP HANA in one step.
- RS_BW_POST_MIGRATION: This tool is used to convert classical BW objects to HANA optimized objects in an in-place conversion scenario. It provides various simplification checks and conversion methods.
- Transfer Cockpit: This tool is used to transfer selected BW objects and data from the original BW system to the new BW/4HANA system in a remote or shell conversion scenario. It provides various transfer options and validations.
Migration Steps
The migration steps vary depending on the migration option and path chosen. However, a general overview of the migration steps is as follows:
- Prepare Phase: This phase involves checking the system for BW/4HANA compliance, estimating the effort for the conversion project, reducing the data volume, performing the sizing check, and using the Maintenance Planner to plan and prepare the upgrade and conversion activities.
- Realize Phase: This phase involves performing the upgrade and conversion activities using SUM and DMO, converting the classical BW objects to HANA optimized objects using RS_BW_POST_MIGRATION or Transfer Cockpit, and testing and validating the converted system.
- Deploy Phase: This phase involves rolling out the converted system to the end users, performing post-conversion activities such as adjusting authorizations and process chains, and monitoring and optimizing the system performance.
Migration Tips
Here are some tips to help you with a successful migration to SAP BW/4HANA:
- Start with a thorough analysis of your current BW system using tools such as Readiness Check, Simplification Item Catalog, ABAP Test Cockpit, and Custom Code Analyzer. These tools will help you identify the objects and code that need to be transferred or changed, and the potential issues and risks.
- Choose the migration option and path that best suit your business needs and technical requirements. Consider factors such as system landscape, data volume, downtime, flexibility, and complexity.
- Follow the best practices and recommendations from SAP regarding the migration process. Refer to the official documentation and SAP Notes for the conversion guide, checklists, prerequisites, and troubleshooting tips.
- Use the available tools from SAP to support the migration process. Make sure you have the latest versions of the tools and apply the relevant patches and corrections.
- Test and validate the converted system thoroughly before going live. Perform functional tests, performance tests, regression tests, and integration tests. Compare the results with the original system and resolve any issues or discrepancies.
We hope this blog post has given you a comprehensive guide on how to migrate to SAP BW/4HANA. If you need any help or guidance with your migration project, feel free to contact us. We have a team of experts who can assist you with every aspect of your migration journey.