Surprise for Kernel version 7.21 patch level 500 !
Surprise for Kernel version 7.21 patch level 500 !
Today, I started applying EWA report actions to ne of my ABAP stack SAP systems. Since kernel was out of date, I checked download center whether there was a new patch or not. Luckily there was nw version 7.21 patch level 500. It was very fresh on download page and was released today.
I downloaded SAPEXE_500* and SAPEXEDB_500* immediately.
As it is always done I extracted both SAR files into a folder and copied extracted files into NTAMD64 folder with overwrite option.
Then I started my system. It didnot become all green, dispatcher was in Dialogue Queue Standstill status, there were no work processes seen on management console. I could see all wps that were started, using Task Manager processes tab page but they were not coming to management console AS ABAP WP TABLE. Besides this inconsistency I could login to system without any warning etc, too.
There was inconsistency and strangeness in the system.
When I checked SAPCAR command (used with -xf parameter) I realised that extraction did not finish successfully for SAPEXE file. So I redownload SAPEXE file 2-3 times thinking that there was an error in downloading (SAPEXE filesize incresed in later downloads) . But the same error occured each time for SAPCAR command. Something was wrong with the file not with downloading.
I tried download manager for downloading but there was also an oddness in DM. I have seen “You are not authorized to…” message. How could it be I downloaded the same file few minutes ago.
After this message, I decided to check the download page. What was the problem of SAPEXE file.
And there was a surprise waiting for me. SAPEXE*_500* files were withdrawn by SAP guys.
I was surprised. This was the first time I have met with a damaged kernel file.
A damaged file was released for all customers!
How could this be? I could not imagine.
Wasn’t there a quality control?
This could not be done but it happened to me.
I have been checking download site for the files but they still did not appear.
Looking forward to 500.
I hope this kind of things will not occur again.
Regards,
Well, they "unrelease" Notes all the time to work on them, so why not kernel patches? Actually, they do this all the time with kernel patches, too, it's just that usually a slightly newer one (501?) is released immediately to replace it.
I trust you kept a backup copy of the previous kernel?
Hello Matt,
This was the first time for me to face this kind of unrelease for 8 years of experience.
There could be inconsistencies, bugs among files but in this situation SAPEXE file was damaged. How could this pass through quality check?
I did backup the old one of course.
Regards,
Well, usually when they're pulling something back, you don't notice, because the replacement is already out there. My guess is you probably started your download just as they were doing something to it, marking it offline or unreleased, etc. You got "lucky" and hit the narrow window of time when it wasn't working.
I'm not surprised.
The initial release of the 7.40 GUI was crawling with bugs, it did not work at all, and it took SAP three months to fix that.
I think possibly when the developers at SAP were told they had to be "agile" they took that to mean "release without any testing whatsoever".
But in SAP's mind the only reason they are losing customers is because of "the Cloud". Nothing to do with lousy support/testing for the price you pay.
I had to ask my collegues with 7.30 to work in PFCG because I was stupid enough to install 7.40.
I have the same feeling about some SAP notes. Maybe we should send a few copies of your book to SAP developers? 😉
Hello,
You would expect that 7.21 is a mature kernel, however there are various notes that say that SAP will deliver proper updates only in 7.21 EXT.
Why are you downloading a non-ext version ?
Regards,
Siddhesh
🙂 someone else is facing a problem downloading the same version (this one is extended though) - "You are not authorized to download selected object" when trying to download SAP Kernel 7.21 EXT PL 500 with DL
Maybe, after you posted this blog, SAP is rectifying the problem 🙂
Regards,
Siddhes
721_EXT is not compatible with SQL Server 2005 -- it requires SQL 2008 or above. Yuksel doesn't say what his DBMS platform is, but it might be one that isn't compatible with the EXT kernel.
He is on MSSQL. At least based on the MMC screen shot 😉
Patch level 500 is very new and not even released completely and also you are not the only one facing this issue.
"You are not authorized to download selected object" when trying to download SAP Kernel 7.21 EXT PL 500 with DL
To be honest I wouldn't start using that until it is 6 months old (at least).
We had to ask SAP to rewrite one of their SAP notes just because they forgot to deliver the corrections for release 7.31
Hello Yuksel,
Just to update - Patch Level500 is now available for download.
The below blog for is for your reference.
SAP Kernel: Important News
thanks,
pavan
Hello Pavan,
I changed my kernel to new Patch Level 500.
It seems running well now.
Thanks and Regards,
Yuksel AKCINAR