Product Information
Updated Maintenance Terms for SAP Master Data Governance
Since SAP updated the maintenance commitments for SAP S/4HANA and for core applications of SAP Business Suite 7 in February, I’d like to take the opportunity and inform you about the correlated changes in the maintenance terms for SAP Master Data Governance.
As you probably know, there are two versions of SAP Master Data Governance:
- SAP Master Data Governance on SAP S/4HANA
- SAP Master Data Governance (technically on SAP ERP 6.0).
SAP Master Data Governance on SAP S/4HANA is a fully integrated part of SAP S/4HANA, and therefore the S/4HANA maintenance terms apply.
The general principles of the maintenance strategy for SAP Master Data Governance on ERP have been described in an earlier blog (which is meanwhile outdated in terms of maintenance times), but according to these principles the following terms now apply:
| MDG on ERP release | Planned end of mainstream maintenance |
| SAP MDG 9.2 | Dec. 31, 2027 |
| SAP MDG 9.1 | Dec. 31, 2021 |
| SAP MDG 9.0 | Dec. 31, 2020 |
| SAP MDG 8.0 | Dec. 31, 2027 |
| SAP MDG 7.0 | Dec. 31, 2027 |
| SAP MDG 6.1 | Dec. 31, 2020 |
For details about the release strategy, please also see SAP Note 2881788, and the SAP Product Availability Matrix.
I agree with Stefan Pietsch, DSAG Board Member for Technology, who adressed the maintenance extensions in his keynote at the DSAG Technology Days 2020 in Mannheim, Germany, in the context of the digital transformation and the move to SAP S/4HANA, pointing out that “this news must not be misunderstood. It’s not about using the extra time gained to take a break. It’s quite the opposite. It’s about going for the transformation thoroughly and in a sustained way.”
(Quote translated from German Keynote speech).
In this context, I’d like to add that the extra time gained is a good opportunity to clean up your master data.
But first and foremost, stay safe in these stormy times!
Best,
Markus
Hi,
In the "Planned end of mainstream maintenance" chart, where does this version of MDG fit in?
ERP 6.0 EHP7 part of ERP (MDG_APPL617 + MDG_FND747)
The EHP7 "part of ERP" is the version that is delivered with EHP7, before an upgrade to MDG 7.0 (upgrade to MDG_FND748). Being on this version is a bit confusing because in PAM there is only a choice to view MDG 6.1 or MDG 7.0, but not the "part of ERP" version.
Hi Clifton,
The above list only applies to MDG as AddOn on ERP. The maintenance end dates for MDG as part of ERP follow the maintenance end of the respective ERP EhP itself. This is also described in the following note in section "VII: Maintenance":
1685823 - Release strategy for SAP MASTER DATA GOVERNANCE
So in your case, the PAM information for ERP 6.0 EhP7 is valid.
Best regards,
Tobias
Thanks Tobias for the clarification.
Best, Markus
Hello,
what about the maintenance of MDG-M on ERP 6.0 EhP8 SP17?
In the table above MDG 9.1 is supported till end of 2021.
We use on our ERP system MDG-B 9.1 and MDG-M 9.1.
If I see it right, for MDG-M under ERP there doesn't exist a version 9.2. In SAP Help there're no infos about MDG-M 9.2 and in our updated ERP system there is also no MDG_MATERIAL_8. It only exists for S/4HANA.
Do we have longer support from SAP if we remain on MDG-M 9.1?
How is it with the combination of MDG 9.2 and MDG 9.1?
We planned to switch from MDG 9.1 to 9.2 for MDG-Foundation as well as for MDG-B.
If we stay on MDG-M on 9.1 due to a missing MDG_MATERIAL_8 --> does it work this combination?
What it the recommendation for this situation?
Best regards
Bernd
Hello Bernd,
MDG 9.2 (full name: "SAP Master Data Governance 9.2") is the successor for MDG 9.1. As long as you cannot convert to S/4 and need to stay on ERP, you should upgrade to MDG 9.2 due to the fact that MDG 9.1 is out of maintenance since end of 2021.
Regarding the business functions, these do not reflect the product versions (like MDG 9.1 and MDG 9.2), you can ignore this in your context. Instead, please refer to the Product Availability Matrix for MDG 9.2.
Please note, you will not find MDG 9.1 under "Upgrade from" any more in the "Related Product Versions" section because the Product Availability Matrix filters out any product versions that are no more in maintenance.
See also note 1685823 ("Release strategy for SAP MASTER DATA GOVERNANCE").
Best regards,
Tobias
Thanks Tobias for the reply!
Hello Tobias and Markus,
thanks for your reply!
We saw that MDG 9.1 is now out of maintenance. So we’re going to bring our ERP systems to the latest release (EhP8 SP17) and afterwards we’ll bring our ERP systems to S/4HANA in the next couple of years.
So we need on ERP EhP8 SP17 a solution how we should go on.
Currently we have the following business functions in use:
MDG Business Function
mainstream maintenance
To have further SAP support we want to update MDG to 9.2.
Function after SP-Upgrade
mainstream maintenance
So you see. In our upgrade project we can activate our MDG 9.1 to 9.2, except MDG-M (MDG_MATERIAL_7).
In SAP help there is not a MDG-M 9.2 available. It ends with 9.1.
https://help.sap.com/viewer/db97296fe85d45f9b846e8cd2a580fbd/MDG92.SP07/en-US/ef318a30b04e41198c4d35474ca83d05.html
In our already updated systems (sandbox & DEV system on EhP8 SP17) there’s also no package for MDG-M 9.2.
If you take a look to the prerequisites of MDG Foundation 9.2 you’ll find the following:
https://help.sap.com/viewer/db97296fe85d45f9b846e8cd2a580fbd/MDG92.SP07/en-US/da640d5a013a4884bc2eb021627448cd.html
The Master Data Governance, Generic Functions 9.2 business function is a prerequisite to activate the following business functions:
We couldn’t find “Master Data Governance for Material 9.2” as business function which we can activate after update of our ERP system from EhP8 SP09 to EhP8 SP17! Is there a special post-installation of “Master Data Governance for Material 9.2” after upgrade to EhP8 SP17 or how we get the business function (MDG_MATERIAL_8) to our ERP-system?
If you take a look to S/4HANA you’ll find a MGM-M 9.2 package (MDG_MATERIAL_8):
https://help.sap.com/viewer/7113856e409647838af7891e1429b807/2020.002/en-US/9eeeafcbb3ba478ea8f3f7650098300d.html
Neither PAM nor SAP note 1685823 give us an answer to this question.
Best regards
Bernd
Hello Bernd,
The most important statement in this context is: there is no strict pattern between a business function and it's name on the one side, and a release of a product version on the other side. Or in other words, as I had already stated in my first reply, "Regarding the business functions, these do not reflect the product versions".
To assume that MDG_MATERIAL_8 is hard-wired for MDG 9.2 is wrong. Even more, there is no business function specifically for material in MDG 9.2, which is fully OK. You can still activate (or use if already activated) the business functions from your "old" product version, like MDG_MATERIAL_7.
Nevertheless, we are currently checking the documentation you mentioned and it might have to be corrected. I would add a note to this blog entry if it is required.
Please can you create an incident, so we can handle your questions in this format. I would stop communicating further in this blog because the remaining discussions should be clarified in an incident/case.
After all, the SAP Master Data Governance 9.2 product version is a proper release to upgrade to coming from SAP Master Data Governance 9.1 (unless you would consider S/4, which is even better).
Best regards,
Tobias
Hi Markus,
Thanks for the blog. The blog states about the updated maintenance of SAP MDG on ERP. Is there an SAP oss note which talks about MDG and the corresponding S/4 Hana system (where orders are created) Compatibility.
For instance, MDG is a standalone system upgraded to S/4 Hana 1809 and the core ERP system is updated from existing ECC version to lets say to S/4 Hana 2021. Can the Data from MDG standalone system 1809 system be replicated to S/4 HANA 2021 core system where the sales order and purchase orders are created.
or should the existing MDG system has a forced need to be upgraded from S/4 Hana 1809 to S/4 Hana 2021 so that both MDG and new core S/4 Hana system are of the same version.
if both the systems should be of the same version can you please provide the reason behind it.
Is there any guidelines from SAP. Can you please guide.
thanks
Geetha.
See the release strategy note for SAP MDG.
Hi Markus,
Thanks for the feedback. I checked the note it says release strategy of SAP MDG.
OSS note 1685823 - Release strategy for SAP MASTER DATA GOVERNANCE talks about SAP MDG as a standalone or if installed as part of S/4 HANA.
My requirement is different
MDG is a standalone system upgraded to S/4 HANA 1809 2 years back. Core ERP system is an ECC system which will be upgraded to S/4 HANA 2021. I also get the point that when core ERP system is upgraded to S/4 HANA 2021 MDG will be a part of it but we are not going to use that MDG as we need MDG as a standalone component. Now can the already upgraded MDG system of S/4 HANA 1809 work seamlessly with the new S/4 HANA 2021 system or should the standalone MDG system also be upgraded to S/4 HANA 2021 for Business partner object and otherobjects to work smoothly?
There is no such oss notes describing this scenario of standalone MDG and Core S/4 HANA where orders and other transactional is done. can you please clarify.
thanks
Geetha.
Hi Geethy,
The beauty of using MDG in a hub deployment is, that you have flexibility in system upgrades. Generally, we recommend using the latest release. If you run MDG on older releases, new features that are in the S/4HANA ERP system may not be supported from a master data point of view.
Best,
Markus
Hi Markus,
Thanks for the clarification.
best regards
Geetha