Shell Conversion for SAP BW/4HANA: A Step-by-Step 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 shell conversion. This option involves the installation of a new BW/4HANA system and the selective transfer of certain objects from the old BW system. These objects will be converted to BW/4HANA supported objects during the import into the new system. This option is suitable for customers who want a fresh start with a new system ID (SID) and a clean slate for their data warehouse.
In this blog post, we will provide you with a step-by-step guide on how to perform a shell conversion for SAP BW/4HANA, covering the following topics:
- The prerequisites and requirements for the shell conversion
- The tools and steps involved in the shell conversion
- The advantages and disadvantages of the shell conversion
- The tips and tricks to ensure a smooth and successful shell conversion
Prerequisites and Requirements for the Shell Conversion
Before you start the shell 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.x 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 the same transport directory and transport group.
- Your current SAP BW system and your target SAP BW/4HANA system must have compatible source systems and operational data provisioning (ODP) scenarios.
Tools and Steps Involved in the Shell Conversion
The shell conversion process consists of two main phases: the export phase and the import phase. The export phase involves selecting and exporting the objects that you want to transfer from your current SAP BW system. The import phase involves importing and activating the objects in your target SAP BW/4HANA system.
The following table summarizes the tools and steps involved in each phase of the shell conversion:
| Phase | Tool | Step | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Export | Shell Conversion Cockpit | Select Objects | Select the objects that you want to transfer from your current SAP BW system using filters or manual selection |
| Export | Shell Conversion Cockpit | Export Objects | Export the selected objects to a transport request using guided procedures |
| Import | Shell Conversion Cockpit | Import Objects | Import the transport request containing the exported objects into your target SAP BW/4HANA system using guided procedures |
| Import | Shell Conversion Cockpit | Activate Objects | Activate the imported objects in your target SAP BW/4HANA system using guided procedures |
Advantages and Disadvantages of the Shell Conversion
The shell conversion has some advantages and disadvantages compared to other migration options for SAP BW/4HANA. Here are some of them:
Advantages:
- You can start with a new SID, hostname, IP address, etc.
- You can choose which objects you want to transfer from your old system
- You can optimize your data models and flows during the conversion
- You can avoid data migration or replication from one system to another
- You can have minimal downtime for your production system during the conversion
Disadvantages:
- You need to install a new SAP BW/4HANA system before starting the conversion
- You need to reload your data from your original source systems after the conversion
- You need to adjust your source systems, ODP scenarios, authorizations, etc. after the conversion
- You need to perform additional testing and validation after the conversion
Tips and Tricks to Ensure a Smooth and Successful Shell Conversion
To ensure a smooth and successful shell 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.