Technical Articles
SAC Live Data Connectivity to SQL Data sources
Introduction
In SAC, currently, we don’t have an inbuilt direct connector available to establish a live connection to non SAP SQL Datasources.
But we have the following approaches to establish the live connection to non SAP SQL data sources
Approach 1: SAC SQL Data source live connectivity using HANA SDA / SDI
Highlights: Since we don’t have a direct live connector to non SAP SQL data sources in SAC, So this approach could be one of the options to establish a live connection to non SAP SQL data sources e.g. Oracle. Here HANA is just a semantic layer, it doesn’t store the data it just processes the data. Performance can be improved by using HANA capabilities
Limitation or Challenges: Cost and Maintaining additional components.
Architecture:
Approach 2: SAC Native Live SQL connectivity With Embedded DWC
Highlights: This is also similar to Approach 1. The advantage is, DWC that provides you additional capabilities like an easy interface to build complex business logic.
Limitation: Cost and Maintenance for an additional layer.
Approach 3: SAC Native Live SQL connectivity via Live Data/Universe connector
Highlights: This is also the same as Approach 1, But here SAP BO universe act as a semantic layer it doesn’t process the data, the data processing happens at the database. The advantage is if you have the BO platform setup already universe and Webi reports can reuse as a data source, the business logic defined in the universe or Webi document can be reused.
Limitation: Since data processing completely relies on database and SAP BO universe a semantic layer between, due to this additional layer you might see some performance difference
Conclusion
In the future SAC roadmap, SAP might provide a Live connection to non SAP SQL data sources, But at this moment we have the above mentioned options to establish a live connection to non SAP SQL data sources, based on cost and limitations and the existing environment we should select an option.
Hi Ganesha,
Thanks for your blog! Currently, Live SQL Connectivity is pushed to Q4 2022 on the roadmap and it's not the first time dates shift around this topic.
Let's keep an eye on the SAC Roadmap.
Kind regards,
Martijn van Foeken | Interdobs
It just even got pushed further to 2023.
Oops...for me it's unlikely this will ever be delivered. But I would like to see proven otherwise...
A highly effective option for live connectivity from SAC to non-SAP data sources is the APOS Live Data Gateway - Live virtualized SAP data connectivity - Live Data Gateway - APOS. It has been built specifically for this SAC live connectivity need, and is certainly an option to add to this list of considerations.
We have tried APOS Live Data Gateway setup in our organization two year back, But it was not successful. The bigger challenge is configuration and network setting (like opening firewall), and it was not stable for Data lake with complex data structure.
It is unfortunate you hit challenges when you looked at the solution at that time. You may want to consider revisiting this option - there have been many important advancements, and some may help address the challenges you had there. Live Data Gateway is being used very successfully in a wide range of SAC deployment scenarios to meet this important live connectivity need.
Hi Ganesha Babu thanks so much for your blog.
APOS is a long-term trusted SAP Technology Partner that helps us with tech adoption in many scenarios. It would great to hear from you - if you could reconnect with us either via your customer engagement or customer office contacts at SAP?
Kind regards, H
Hi Henry Banks
Thanks for the info. In the future, if we planned an APOS gateway also in our architecture for live connectivity to non SAP SQL data soucres, I will definitely contact you.
Regards,
Ganesha