Guide to Implement SDA for BW

SAP smart data acess is a capability of HANA which can be utilized in BW if running on HANA. For BW 7.4 , which is by default on HANA this comes as a new functionality by default.

The Smart Data Access makes access of data and reporting possible on top of it from multiple connected Databases and without actually any need of ETL. These databases which are connected to HANA can be utilized for the same, without even any requirenment of replicating data to HANA as well. This is not only beneficial as per ROI as cost per say it is a reduced cost to implement run and manage. But also this brings in homogenity in disparity. Various Databases which are unlike can be combined without thinking much about there technology in back and reporting is possible still. In BW specially where we have a concept of Sybase IQ NLS where cold data resides, if required a reporting can be done combining warm or hot data with this cold data without actually need of manipulating physically the data. Unified HANA models for reporting can be created and utilized between non homegenous source of data. Today’s new concept applications handling Big Data e.g. Hadoop can be connected using Hive Interface [HWI].

Some of the possible Databases which can be connected at the moment are:

o SAP Sybase ASE

o SAP Sybase IQ

o Intel Distribution for Apache Hadoop

o Teradata and SAP HANA

o SQL

o XRDBMS

o IBM PureData System for Analytics

Benefit of various HANA optimized engines happens and diparity in syntax of various Data bases are taken care by this HANA based technology. All necessary performance stats and details are recorded in HANA.

A pre-requisite for this definitely is presence of all relevant drivers for the to be connected Databases in HANA. So, the same needs to be installed prior on HANA.

Once SDA is established with any Database, the virtual tables can be created as required. Users can create SQL in HANA on these Virtual tables.  SAP HANA Query processor prepares plan for query executes relevant part in target Database. Results are the returned to HANA. Query optimization can be used by enabling Smart Cache functionality, this enables running of query in target Databases.

Following are steps (High Level) to implement SDA.

Steps in Implementing SDA.

1. Creating the Remote Data Source:

Select “New Remote Source…”from Provisioning –> Smart Data Acess –> Remote Source –> New Remote Source …

•Select Required Adapter

•Fill in the values for all the Properties for Connection and provide Credentials.

•Prerequisite: All relevant drivers must be installed beforehand on HANA Server.

2. Create Virtual Table:

Select the table from connected Database and Add as virtual table

3. Display Data

a. Data can be visualized through Display Content or SQL from created Virtual table

b. SQL used here is highlighted below

All thes implementation steps are using GUI in HANA studio. Alternatively SQL Console can also be used to implement using SQL.

1. Creating the Remote Data Source

See SQL Syntax below:

Example SQL is shown below

Creating Virtual table

See SQL Syntax below

Example SQL is shown below

Display Data

a. Data can be visualized through Display Content or SQL from created Virtual table

b. SQL used here is highlighted below