IS 466 ADVANCED TOPICS IN INFORMATION SYSTEMS

LECTURER : NOUF ALMUJALLY

3 – 10 – 2011

College Of Computer Science and Information, Information Systems Department

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Objectives SAP AG SAP R\3 Architecture SAP R\3 Basics SAP Modules

SAP3

• Systems, Applications, and Products in Data Processing (SAP)

• Name of the company• SAP AG• SAP America• SAP America is a subsidiary of SAP AG

• Name of the software• SAP R/2 – Mainframe version• SAP R/3 – Client/Server version

SAP AG4

• Founded in Germany (1972)• World’s fourth largest software provider• World’s largest provider of Integrated

Business Solutions software

SAP R/35

• World-wide usage• Designed to satisfy the information needs for

business sizes (small local to large all international)• Multi-lingual• Multi-currency

• Designed to satisfy the information needs for all industries (industry solutions) Hospital Manufacturing Chemical Government

SAP R/36

• Enables a company to link it’s business processes

• Ties together different business functions (integrated business solution)

• Helps the organization run smoothly• Real-time environment

Architecture 7

• Central relational database (e.g., Oracle, Microsoft SQL and many others)

• Client/Server – (three-tiered)• ERP business modules (FI, MM, SD, CO, PP,

HR)• Add-ons:

• Customer Relationship Mgmt (CRM)• Supply Chain Mgmt (SCM)• Product Lifecycle Mgmt (PLM)

SAP Overview

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Relational Database• Tables: Defines and links thousands of

tables of information• Advantages

• Consistent and accurate data• Common definitions for terms• Shared, but restricted usage• Eliminates data redundancy

Client/Server Environment • Client

• Software/hardware combination that can make a request for services from a central repository of resources

• Server• Software/hardware combination that can

provide services to a group of clients in a controlled environment

Client Process• The client is a process (program) that sends a

message to a server process (program), requesting that the server perform a task (service).

• Client programs usually manage the user-interface portion of the application, validate data entered by the user, dispatch requests to server programs, and sometimes execute business logic.

• The client-based process is the front- end of the application that the user sees and interacts with.

• The client process also manages the local resources that the user interacts with such as the monitor, keyboard, workstation CPU and peripherals.

Server Process• A server process (program) fulfills the

client request by performing the task requested.

• Server programs generally receive requests from client programs, execute database retrieval and updates, manage data integrity and dispatch responses to client requests.

• Sometimes server programs execute common or complex business logic.

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Three-tier Client/Server Architecture

USER PCsUSER PCs

ApplicationServer

ApplicationServer

ApplicationServer

ApplicationServer

DatabaseServer

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Two Tier Client/Server System

User PCs

Database andApplication

Server

Basis System: Three-Tier Computer Hierarchy

Input / Outputof data to users

Access to Database:(Read / Write data)

Central Database(Storage of all data)

Database

Application

Presentation

Processing of datausing application logic

Presentation of theprocessed data to

the user

SAP Enterprise System

Database

Application

Presentation

Browser ClientPCs, Laptops, etc.

Network

Application Servers

Database

Internet Transaction

Server

Web Server

Three-Tier SAP Structure• In a three‑tier configuration, you use

your own host for the three tiers. Using data from the database server, several different application servers can operate at the same time.

• To ensure that the load on individual servers is as even as possible and to achieve optimal performance, you can use special application servers for individual application areas such as sales planning, distribution or financial accounting.

Three-Tier SAP Structure• To web‑enable the SAP Applications, a

Web Server and an ITS (Internet Transaction Server) are needed.

• The web‑service and the services for the ITS can run on one server or on two dedicated servers.

• The presentation in this configuration is provided by an Internet Browser.

• The new SAP Web platform is NetWeaver.

SAP R/3 Basics

SAP R/3 Basics • Instance – each install of the SAP R/3

software on an individual application server

• Configurable – each instance can be particularly configured to fit the needs and desires of the customer (within limits)

• Most of the infrastructure decisions, including configuration decisions, occur during project implementation

Configuration • The process of tailoring SAP software by

selecting specific functionality from a list of those supported by the software, very much like setting defaults (e.g., Word, Access)

• DOES NOT involve changes to the underlying software code

Programming Code Modifications

• Changes to the delivered code

• ABAP/4 – Advanced Business Application Programming (ABAP)

• If you change the code, SAP will no longer support you.

• This should be done carefully as it can make

migration to new versions of the software much more difficult

SAP R/3 Document Principle • Each business transaction that writes

data to the database creates a uniquely numbered electronic document

• Each document contains information such as• Responsible person• Date and time of the transaction• Commercial content

• Once created, a document can not be deleted from the database

SAP Organizational elements and Modules

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SAP ERP Modules

R/3FI

FinancialAccounting

COControlling

PSProjectSystemWF

WorkflowISIndustrySolutions

MMMaterials

Mgmt.

HRHuman

Resources

SDSales and

Distribution

PPProductionPlanning

QMQualityMgmt. PM

Plant Maintenance

SMServiceMgmt.

Client / ServerIntegrated Business

Solution

ECEnterpriseControlling

AMFixed Assets

Mgmt.

Business Modules25

• Collections of logically related transactions within identifiable business functions• MM (“Buy”)• PP (“Make”)• SD (“Sell”)• FI and CO (“Track”)• HR

Business Process Integration

FI

MM

SD

Org

Dat

a

RulesFI

MM

SD

M

aster Data

FI

MM

SD

FI SDMM

Logistics• Materials Management (MM)• Sales and Distribution (SD)• Production Planning (PP)• Quality Management (QM)• Plant Maintenance (PM)• Service Management (SM)

Accounting and Finance• Financial Accounting (FI)• Controlling (CO)• Enterprise Controlling (EC)• Fixed Asset Management (AM)• Project Systems (PS)

Human Resources• Human Resources (HR)

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Questions ??