Remote Conversion for SAP BW/4HANA: A Practical 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, advanced analytics and cloud readiness. If you are an existing SAP BW customer, you might be wondering how to migrate your current system to SAP BW/4HANA and what are the best practices and tools to do so.
One of the migration options for SAP BW/4HANA is the remote conversion. This option involves the installation of a new BW/4HANA system and the transfer of entire data flows or selected data flows along with the data from your old BW system. The objects and data are converted to BW/4HANA supported objects and formats during the transfer. This option is suitable for customers who want to migrate from SAP BW 7.4 or lower system, regardless of the database.
In this blog post, we will provide you with a practical guide on how to perform a remote conversion for SAP BW/4HANA, covering the following topics:
- The prerequisites and requirements for the remote conversion
- The tools and steps involved in the remote conversion
- The advantages and disadvantages of the remote conversion
- The tips and tricks to ensure a smooth and successful remote conversion
Prerequisites and Requirements for the Remote Conversion
Before you start the remote conversion, you need to make sure that your current SAP BW system and your target SAP BW/4HANA system meet the following prerequisites and requirements:
- Your current SAP BW system can be on any release from 7.0 onwards, regardless of the database.
- Your target SAP BW/4HANA system must be on release 2.0 SP04 or higher.
- Your current SAP BW system and your target SAP BW/4HANA system must have a valid maintenance contract and license for SAP BW/4HANA.
- Your current SAP BW system and your target SAP BW/4HANA system must have compatible source systems and operational data provisioning (ODP) scenarios.
- Your current SAP BW system must have the Remote Conversion Add-on installed. This add-on provides the tools and functionalities for the remote conversion.
Tools and Steps Involved in the Remote Conversion
The remote conversion process consists of two main phases: the export phase and the import phase. The export phase involves selecting and exporting the data flows that you want to transfer from your current SAP BW system. The import phase involves importing and converting the data flows in your target SAP BW/4HANA system.
The following table summarizes the tools and steps involved in each phase of the remote conversion:
| Phase | Tool | Step | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Export | Remote Conversion Cockpit | Select Data Flows | Select the data flows that you want to transfer from your current SAP BW system using filters or manual selection |
| Export | Remote Conversion Cockpit | Export Data Flows | Export the selected data flows to a transport request using guided procedures |
| Import | Remote Conversion Cockpit | Import Data Flows | Import the transport request containing the exported data flows into your target SAP BW/4HANA system using guided procedures |
| Import | Remote Conversion Cockpit | Convert Data Flows | Convert the imported data flows to BW/4HANA supported objects and formats using guided procedures |
Advantages and Disadvantages of the Remote Conversion
The remote conversion has some advantages and disadvantages compared to other migration options for SAP BW/4HANA. Here are some of them:
Advantages:
- You can migrate from any release of SAP BW 7.x or lower, regardless of the database
- You can choose which data flows you want to transfer from your old system
- You can leverage your existing knowledge and experience with SAP BW
- You can use standard tools provided by SAP for the conversion
Disadvantages:
- You need to install a new SAP BW/4HANA system before starting the conversion
- You need to install the Remote Conversion Add-on which might introduce some changes or restrictions to your current system
- You need to handle the delta records and missing records during the data transfer
- You need to have a significant downtime for your production system during the conversion
Tips and Tricks to Ensure a Smooth and Successful Remote Conversion
To ensure a smooth and successful remote conversion, here are some tips and tricks that you can follow:
- Perform a thorough analysis of your current system using the Simplification Item Check and the Custom Code Analyzer
- Plan your conversion project carefully using the Project Plan Template and the Conversion Guide
- Perform a test conversion in a sandbox or development system before converting your production system
- Follow the best practices and recommendations provided by SAP in the Conversion Guide and the Post Conversion Guide
- Seek help from SAP experts or partners if you encounter any issues or challenges during the conversion
Disclaimer: This content is generated by AI.