SAP SolMan 7.2 Insight… SAP Support Backbone Update

If you are running a SAP Solution Manager 7.1 or 7.2 with a Support Pack below 08, here is important information about the SAP Support Backbone updates that affect SAP Solution Manager capabilities. Please refer to SAP Support Backbone central landing page on SAP Support Portal for information about areas outside of SAP Solution Manager that are affected by the update of the Support Backbone. There are also additional links in the last section of this post, Where to find more information?

What is SAP Support Backbone?

SAP Support Backbone is the central infrastructure located at SAP that provides technical support to customers. It consists of several different systems that are used for different purposes. For example, SAP Solution Manager connects to the Support Backbone to exchange data with SAP related to SAP Note Download, Maintenance Planner, IT Service Management, and SAP EarlyWatch Alert to name a few.

The Support Backbone infrastructure has been updated by SAP. However, the legacy infrastructure remains in place to allow a safe transition for Customers until the end of the 2019.

What SAP Solution Manager capabilities are affected?

SAP Solution Manager is an end-to-end Application Lifecycle Management (ALM) solution and a solution landscape support platform with connectivity to SAP. Below is the list of SAP Solution Manager capabilities that are affected by the Support Backbone update.

SAP Solution Manager and Support Backbone Overview – Source: SAP
IT Service Management	Exchange of messages with SAP
Landscape Management	Landscape synchronization with SAP (automatic update of customer system data, used for Maintenance Planner) Remote Service Connection Management from SAP Solution Manager System Recommendations
License Management	Automatic distribution of licenses and maintenance certificates
SAP Engagement and Service Delivery	Service Delivery SAP EarlyWatchAlert from SAP Solution Manager to SAP Service Content Update
Test Suite	Scope and Effort Analyzer
Additional Information	SAP Note Assistant (SNOTE) and download service in SAP Solution Manage and all managed systems that have a direct connectivity to the SAP Support Backbone are affected. Remote connection between SAP Solution Manager and SAP Support is not affected.

What SAP Solution Manager version is impacted?

The table below lists the SAP Solution Manager product version and the impact.

What is action required from Customers?

Customers using SAP Solution Manager must transition to the new SAP Support Backbone infrastructure by end of 2019 in order to ensure continuous connectivity to SAP. Below is the summary list of actions required to be performed. For more information about each action, please refer to the central and landing pages listed in the Where to find more information? section of this blog.

• Upgrade to SAP Solution Manager 7.2 Support Pack 08
• Create/activate Technical Communication Users (SAP Note 2174416).
• Replace generic users with Technical Communication Users in all RFC connections to SAP (SAP Note 2740667).
• Enable SAP Note Assistant (SNOTE) for downloading and uploading digitally signed SAP Notes (SAP Notes 2408073, 2546220 and 2508268). NOTE: If SAP Note Assistant is enabled for Transport-Based Correction Instruction (TCI)
• in the ABAP system, then implement SAP Note 2576306 instead.
• Update ST-PI and ST-A/PI software components on all managed systems that have a direct connectivity to the SAP Support Backbone to a minimum required version (Impact on ST-PI and ST-A/PI section on the central landing page).

What happens if Customers do not upgrade by end of 2019?

If customers do not upgrade to SAP Solution Manager 7.2 Support Pack 08 by end of 2019, there will be an impact to capabilities that require connectivity to SAP. SAP recommends transitioning to SAP Solution Manager 7.2 Support Pack 08 as soon as possible!

Where to find more information?

• SAP Support Backbone central landing page
• Impact on SAP Solution Manager landing page
• Impact on SAP Note Assistant (SNOTE) landing page
• Impact on ST-PI and ST-A/PI section on the central landing page
• Handling of Technical Communication Users section on the central landing page
• Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) page
• Preparation: SAP Support Backbone Update page
• SAP Note 2737826 – SAP Support Backbone Update / upcoming changes in SAP Service and Support Backbone interfaces (latest) in January 2020
• SAP Note 2740667 – RFC connection SAPOSS to SAP Service & Support backbone will change (latest) in January 2020
• SAP Note 2738426 – Automated Configuration of new Support Backbone Communication
• SAP Note 2174416 – Creation and activation of users in the Technical Communication User application
• SAP Note 2704804 – What’s the difference between a Technical Communication User (Solution Manager) and a regular S-User ID?
• SAP Support Backbone Update Guide (planned to be released in early Q2/2019)

Until next SAP SolMan 7.2 Insights…

Yuliya