SAP Cloud Connector – support approach

The SAP Cloud Connector is the endpoint of SAP Cloud Platform Connectivity in the customer On-Premise landscape. The cloud side is upgraded more often than the SAP Cloud Connector in general and specific customer installations in particular. Therefore you might wonder how long you can run a specific version of the Cloud Connector without having to expect compatibility issues with the cloud side or what distinguishes a specific version from its  predecessor.

Semantics of Cloud Connector versions

The SAP Cloud Connector typically has a version that looks like 2.x.y – very seldom 2.x.y.z, for example 2.12.0.1

• Version change from 2.x.y to 2.(x+1).0: (e.g. 2.12.5 to 2.13.0) – a feature release
  Such a version will contain new features compared to the previous version that will allow you to extend the scenarios in which you can use the Cloud Connector. Also larger architectural changes only happen in feature releases. Furthermore, configuration options might have been simplified.
• Version change from 2.x.y to 2.x.(y+1): (e.g. 2.13.0 to 2.13.1) – a patch release
  Such a version will contain only patches and small enhancements,  but no completely new feature. Known bugs have been fixed.
• Version 2.x.y.z: (e.g. 2.12.0.1) – a release containing late patches detected in last test cycle
  Such a version will not happen too often and might only affect specific platforms. The type of the release (feature or patch) is determined by the version change of the minor and micro version compared to the predecessor version.
• Version 3.x.y: A change of the major version will only happen, if an incompatible change of the Cloud Connector is required. The clear goal is to avoid such changes as long as possible.

Support, patches and compatibility

The support strategy is now defined in SAP note 3302250. Find all relevant details there.

References:

• Installing the Cloud Connector
• Upgrading the Cloud Connector