Introduction to SAP NetWeaver - An Overview

What is SAP NetWeaver exactly ?

SAP NetWeaver currently consists of the following products:

SAP Web Application Server ( WAS ) SAP Enterprise Portal SAP Business Information Warehouse ( BIW ) SAP Exchange Infrastructure SAP Knowledge Management ( KM ) SAP Mobile Infrastructure Not yet fully released SAP Master Data Management ( MDM ) SAP Composite Application Framework SAP Life Cycle Management

The fragrance/essence of integration of all of the above in a unified development platform is called SAP NetWeaver. So, the name Integrated Development Environment ( IDE ) inherited for SAP NetWeaver.

SAP NetWeaver
Purpose: SAP NetWeaver provides, 1. an open integration Ex: Platform independent, 2. an extended application platform Ex: xApps, 3. permits the integration of the Enterprise Services Architecture (ESA), 4. an unified business processes across technological boundaries, 5. integration of applications as needed, and 6. access and edit simple information easily and in a structured manner.

ESA Enterprise Services Architecture

Definition:
ESA is a service oriented architecture for adaptive business solutions

Basic building block of adaptive enterprise Open technology standards Component oriented Web services based Flexibility (if any changes in business processes )

Contd.,

Let us break the definition of ESA for clear understanding

ESA is a service-oriented - Openness through Web services & other standards Architecture The way to build new and to integrate existing solutions. But it doesnt mean that it is a product by itself.

For adaptive Ease of exchange, ease of use and ease of innovation

Business Secure, reliable, scalable, manageable, highly available, performant. Solutions The blueprint for mySAP business suite, SAP Net Weaver and SAP xAPPs etc.,

Integration

SAP NetWeaver is the basis for all SAP solutions on a given hardware. The business applications and the SAP xApps use the key areas of SAP NetWeaver as shown in the following graphic. SAP NetWeaver is designed to support the Microsoft .NET and IBM WebSphere standards

SAP xApps
xApps are a new breed of xApp
New, snap-on cross-functional business process

packaged composite applications

that snap-on to an existing (heterogeneous) IT environment to orchestrate new, cross-functional business processes.

Existing applications and data sources

Features
SAP NetWeaver covers the following topics and components:

Security People Integration: Multi-channel access Portal Collaboration Information Integration: Business Intelligence BI Content Knowledge Management Master Data Management Process Integration: Integration Broker Business Process Management Application Platform: Java ABAP Business Services Connectivity DB and OS abstraction SAP Knowledge Warehouse Conclusion

1. Security
Purpose:

In todays world of collaborative business processes and open system environments, security no longer means just adding a firewall and using passwords to log on. It requires a complete approach that not only applies to your own IT landscape, but also to issues that arise beyond your own borders, in which even simple organizational measures can have a significant impact. The infrastructure of the SAP NetWeaver technology platform supports you by delivering comprehensive security features for heterogeneous environments
contd.,

Features
Section
SAP NetWeaver security guide

Description
The SAP NetWeaver Security Guide provides an overview of the security aspects involved with the SAP NetWeaver platform and its products. It includes a overview of the mechanisms available as well as our recommendations and security measures to take to increase the security of your overall SAP system landscape

User authentication and Single Sign-On

This section describes the user authentication and Single Sign-On mechanisms available with the SAP NetWeaver platform, for example the use of logon tickets or X.509 client certificates for Single Sign-On or the use of Pluggable Authentication Services (PAS) for using external authentication mechanisms.

Contd.,

Identity Management

This section describes the mechanisms available for user and role management on the SAP Web Application Server ABAP, the use of the User Management Engine (UME) for user management on the SAP J2EE Engine, and the integration of user accounts on SAP systems with user accounts maintained on a directory server. This section describes the mechanisms available for transport layer security, for example, the use of the Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) protocol to secure Internet connections and the use of Secure Network Communications (SNC) to secure connections that use SAP-specific protocols.

Network and transport layer security

Contd.,

System security

This section describes topics that apply to system security, for example: key, key pair and trust management, logging of securityrelated events using the Security Audit Log, and virus detection using the virus scan interface.

Digital signatures and encryptions

This section describes the use of public-key technology for digital signatures and encryption with SAP systems.

2. People integration

Purpose

People Integration brings together the right functionality and the right information to the right people. On the people level, end users will settle for nothing less than a seamless user experience (in spite of the growing system diversity), boundless collaboration functionality, and pervasive access.
Contd.,

How does the Integration takes place ?

People Integration is one of the three integration layers of SAP NetWeaver

Contd.,

Features
Key capability Portal Collaboration Description
This capability provides industry-leading portal technology that delivers unified, personalized, and role-based user access to your heterogeneous IT environment. Collaboration promotes cooperation in enterprises using virtual team rooms (Collaboration Rooms), real-time communication (chat and application sharing) and the use of third-party groupware and synchronous collaboration (for example, Microsoft Exchange, Lotus Notes, and WebEx). Because of the close integration with Portal and Knowledge Management, it is easy to reuse their content. With Multi-Channel Access, you can connect to enterprise systems through web-based, voice, mobile, messaging, or radio-frequency technology. Multi-channel Access includes an universal and secure Mobile Infrastructure to enable mobile business applications

Multi channel access

3. Information Integration

Purpose
Information integration provides your company with both structured and unstructured information that is consistent and accessible: Users have constant access to consistent information, no matter where it is stored

Contd.,

How does integration takes place ?

Information integration is one of the three integration layers of SAP NetWeaver

Contd.,

Features
Key areas Description
Analyzes, integrates and distributes timely information that supports your decision-making at all times. It provides you with reliable tools for creating individual and interactive reports and applications.
These are the repositories which includes Search, Classification, Constructions of taxonomies, Subscription, Versioning and discussion forums. Supports unified data storage across company branches in a heterogeneous IT landscape. It permits common use of master data from systems that were originally different, and ensures that the data is consistent across system boundaries, irrespective of the system location or vendor.

SAP Business Intelligence ( BI )

SAP Knowledge Management ( KM ) SAP Master Data Management ( MDM )

4. Process Integration

Purpose

SAP Exchange Infrastructure (SAP XI) forms the basis for the integration of business processes. SAP XI provides a technical infrastructure for XML-based message exchange to enable the integration of SAP systems with each other on the one hand, and SAP and non-SAP systems on the other. In SAP XI, integration knowledge is shipped in the form of predefined integration scenarios. Furthermore, SAP XI provides a set of integrated tools for creating and managing all integrationrelevant information

Contd.,

How does integration takes place here ?

Process integration is one of the three integration layers of SAP NetWeaver

Contd.,

Features
Key areas Integration broker Description
SAP exchange infrastructure permits XML/SOAPbased communications between components of different origins. You can define the following objects: 1. Integration Scenarios 2. Interfaces 3. Mappings 4. Integration Processes Business Process Management encompasses the following areas: 1. Control business processes within application systems by using SAP business workflow 2. Control integration process (ccBPM) by using SAP Exchange Infrastructure 3. Control Ad-hoc Workflows by using the Universal Work list (UWL) in the Enterprise Portal.

Business process management

5. Application platform ( WAS )

Purpose
The SAP Web Application Server provides a complete development infrastructure, on which to develop, distribute and execute platformindependent, robust, and scalable Web services and business applications. The SAP Web Application Server supports ABAP, Java, and Web services.

Contd.,

How does integration takes place ?

The application platform is the basis of SAP NetWeaver and is implemented by the SAP Web Application Server.

Contd.,

Features
Function Architecture ABAP JAVA Description
Overview of the architecture of the SAP Web Application Server with respect to the different installation options.

ABAP is a programming language developed by SAP to develop business applications. One fundamental application area is for processing data in a central

database.
Support of Java 2 Platform Enterprise Edition (J2EE) for developing Java-based business applications.

Contd.,

Business communication services Connectivity Database and operating systems SAP knowledge warehouse

Part of the SAP Web AS integrated services and includes document management, workflow and organizational management. Enables the exchange of application data between different SAP Systems and with external systems. Overview of the databases and operating systems supported by SAP NetWeaver

Infrastructure for creating documentation, training material, and quality manuals.

6. Conclusion
Ways to Adopt SAP NetWeaver

1. As part of a Business Solution

Included in SAP xApps, mySAP Business Suite, SAP R/3 Enterprise

2. As a Building Block

Customers can purchase individual building blocks of SAP NetWeaver for targeting specific integration issues

SAP EP, SAP BI, SAP XI, SAP MDM, etc.

3. As a Strategic Platform

Customers can purchase a complete integration and application platform to address a strategic need across the enterprise