Product versus Technical System in SAP Solution Manager 7.1

[Martin_Lauer]

The LMDB documentation (http://scn.sap.com/docs/DOC-29495) really confused me because I was unsure if Technical or Product Systems are assigned to a Logical Component, but see for yourself:

Fact is: Technical Systems (TS) are assigned to Logical Components (LC) and Technical System (TS) are assigned via Logical Component to Solutions, see for yourself (here's the URL: http://help.sap.com/saphelp_sm71_sp05/helpdata/en/de/721f5bc59e46a99969d8ed835cd727/content.htm😞

There another object the so-called Logical System (LS): see how this is being defined (http://help.sap.com/saphelp_sm71_sp05/helpdata/en/7a/96449e84b74121a323dcfdc8e2a7be/content.htm😞

A logical system identifies individual clients of a product system and AS ABAP technical systems. To an ABAP-based product instance in a logical component, you assign a logical system. To a non-ABAP-based product instance, you assign the product system to which the technical system, on which the product instance is installed, belongs.

BTW, did I mention that I used to assign Logical System to Logical Components? As  aconseqeunce of the definition of a Logical System above I would expect Product Systems to be assigned to Logical Component either directly or via an Logical System, right?

OK, but what about the System Graphic which still references Product Systems (PS)? See for yourself (http://help.sap.com/saphelp_sm71_sp05/helpdata/en/5a/c08802c3f446ed968db8cecce8ac35/frameset.htm😞

How do I add Product Systems to a Solution? Any ideas???

...and what are Product System being used for? again documentation sheds some light on this (http://help.sap.com/saphelp_sm71_sp05/helpdata/en/2f/f0a5a230e54d62921a282622536916/content.htm😞

  Product Systems 

Product systems bundle product instances of one or several technical systems. They are needed for maintenance and planning. One technical system can be in multiple product systems (Hub scenario), so dependencies are defined between product systems.

OK, so the conclusions are

• All Solution Manager scenarios use Technical Systems and the Maintenance Optimizer uses Product Systems
• Logical Components contain Technical Systems
• Solutions contain Logical Components are therefore contain Technical Systems
• there are also Logical Systems (anything with a client)
• Product Systems are only needed if you use Maintenance Optimizer (maintenance and planning scenarios)
• Technical System are used in all other Solution Manager scenarios, e.g. Monitoring

....right??? See what I got when I tried to delete a Product System from LMDB:

seems as if my Product System in contained in a Logical Component... let's check...:

...nope: I see only the Technical System M180001 or do I see the Logical System M180001:800 or ...