Changes in the Infrastructure for BPMon on MAI compared to classic BPMon
As of Solution Manager 7.1 SP12, you have the option to use Business Process Monitoring on MAI. This new Business Process Monitoring function uses the monitoring and alerting infrastructure, which is quite different from the infrastructure for classic BPMon.
The most important infrastructure changes are:
- Storage of monitoring configuration
In classic BPMon, the monitoring configuration was stored in the DMD. The generated and activated customizing was stored in cluster tables. For BPMon on MAI, all monitoring configuration (saved, generated and activated) is stored in the MAI infrastructure. Only the link between the business process context and the monitoring object is stored in the DMD.
- Triggering of Data Collection
In classic BPMon, the trigger for the data collection came via the CCMS on SAP Solution Manager, using the BPM_LOCAL RFC destination. For BPMon on MAI, this trigger now comes via the DPC PULL Extractor in the Extractor Framework. The BPM_LOCAL RFC destination is no longer used in BPMon on MAI.
Since the DPC PULL extractor can only be triggered every 5 minutes, also for BPMon on MAI data cannot be collected more frequent than every 5 minutes (in theory, PUSH metrics could be collected more frequently, but almost all BPMon metrics currently available are PULL metrics).
In classic BPMon, the scheduling maintained in CCMS or the information stored in table DSWP_BPM_TIMESCH was used for determining which monitoring objects were due for data collection. For BPMon on MAI, the scheduling information is stored in the MAI infrastructure. Table DSWP_BPM_TIMESCH does not contain entries for monitoring objects collected via BPMon on MAI. - RFC destination for data collection
In classic BPMon, the TMW RFC destination is used for data collection. In case no TMW destination exists, the READ destination is used as a fallback (in earlier releases only the READ RFC destination was used). In BPMon on MAI, the data collection is executed via the TMW RFC destination. If no TMW destination exists for the managed system, no data collection will be possible.
- Add-Ons installed on managed systems
In classic BPMon data collectors on the managed system were called directly (i.e. coding shipped in ST-A/PI was called directly from SAP Solution Manager). In BPMon on MAI, the BPMon data collectors are called via the DPC Extension (which is part of ST-PI) on the managed system. This means that for BPMon on MAI, it is mandatory to have ST-PI SP10 or higher implemented on the managed system, and the managed system has to have a basis release 7.0 or higher.
- Alert Storage
In classic BPMon, alerts were stored in table DSWP_BPM_ALERTS. In BPMon on MAI, alerts are stored in the MAI infrastructure. You will not find entries for BPMon objects collected via MAI in table DSWP_BPM_ALERTS.
In classic BPMon, alerts could be transfered to cube 0SM_BPM for trend analysis. In BPMon on MAI, this cube is no longer used. The BPMon alerts are stored in the MAI twin cubes.
The changes in the infrastructure mean that the prerequisites for Business Process Monitoring on MAI have changed compared to classic BPMon. For the prerequisites for Business Process Monitoring on MAI, please see SAP Note 1949245.
For an introduction to Business Process Monitoring on MAI and links to further blogs for BPMon on MAI see Business Process Monitoring on MAI available with Solution Manager 7.1 SP12.
Thanks for posting, its a very informative document.
I do have a couple of questions:
1. For the alert reporting since the DSWP table is no longer used is the alert data directly stored in the Twin cubes or is stored in any other location before being transferred to the twin cube?
2. Since data collectors are called by DPC extension on managed is there still a requirement to load the monitoring definition in the BPMon setup?
Also I am not able to activate the twin cubes and there has been no help from SAP OSS since long, I keep on getting the error "You are trying to lock a document which is in exclusive mode (already locked)" do you have are information about this error?
Hi Vishal,
many thanks for your feedback. Regarding your questions:
1. The alerts are stored in the MAI alert store (as all MAI alerts are). Only those alerts that have been configured to be transfered to BW are then transfered to the MAI twin cubes. For completeness sake I would like to point out that these are different than the BPAnalytics twin cubes.
2. The load of the monitor definitions is still required. Via this load it is ensured that the Solution Manager "knows" which monitoring functions are available on the managed system, so that it can offer these functions for configuration in the BPMon Setup. A reload is usually only required after you have implemented a new ST-A/PI on the managed system or after you have created a new customer monitor.
Regarding your Twin cube question, is this regarding the BPAnalytics Twin cubes or the MAI twin cubes?
Best regards,
Ulrike
Thanks Ulrike,
1. Is the MAI alert store a table or a structure? and how can it be accessed?
2. I am talking about the twin cubes of Analytics. I am trying to activate from the BPMon WC - "Infrastructure" tab where
Hi Vishal,
regarding point 1:
the MAI alert store is a rather complex set of several tables. Unfortunately, we do not access the alert store directly and I have therefore very limited knowledge about the alert store. This question would need to be answered by a MAI expert.
regarding point 2:
Business Process Analytics is a separate function from Business Process Monitoring. Again, I have limited expertise in the area of Business Process Analytics and unfortunately cannot help with your question.
Best regards,
Ulrike