Software Provisioning Manager – Versions, Guides and more

Setting the stage

Software Provisioning Manager is not only a tool, but a whole infrastructure for the provisioning of SAP Software. It is released as part of the SL Toolset.

Software Provisioning Manager offers many different options:

• System Installation
• System De-Installation
• System Copy and Migration
• System Transformation
  • System Rename
  • Dual-Stack Split
  • System Refresh

It also covers the provisioning of a wide range of SAP Solutions:

• SAP NetWeaver based Solutions (AS ABAP & Java, e.g. SAP Business Suite)
• SAP S/4HANA ON-PREMISE, S/4HANA Foundation, BW/4HANA
• SAP Solution Manager Systems

many Databases:

• SAP HANA Database
• SAP MaxDB
• Oracle
• MS SQL Server
• IBM Db2 for z/OS, Linux, UNIX, and Windows
• IBM Db2 for i
• SAP ASE

and Operating Systems:

• z/OS
• Linux (Linux PPC BE/LE, Linux X86_64, z_Linux)
• UNIX (AIX, SunOS, Solaris X86_64, HP_UX IA64)
• Windows
• IBM i

Challenge

The big advantage of the Software Provisioning Manager is that there is one Tool for all System Provisioning tasks.

But also, as you can imagine from all the different options and combinations, that there are various paths to choose from inside the Software Provisioning Manager.

In addition, due to new technologies and new offerings (e.g. SAP S/4HANA), new versions for the Software Provisioning Manager are available.

The challenge is to find the right SWPM version, the right documentation and then choosing the right path inside SWPM without ending in a deadlock or to make mistakes during the provisioning process.

Solution

The best overview is here at the SL Toolset Landing Page:

As you can see, there are 3 main areas you need to look for:

• Software Provisioning Manager 1.0
  • SWPM10*.SAR is for NetWeaver 7.1 and upwards
  • 70SWPM*.SAR is for NetWeaver 7.0 and lower
• Software Provisioning Manager 2.0
• Software Provisioning Manager 1.0 (out-of-maintenance product versions)

You can find which Solutions / Databases / Operating Systems combination is covered, on each of the respective Help Pages:

SAP Products Supported by Software Provisioning Manager 1.0

All Guides for Software Provisioning Manager 1.0 only

SAP Products Supported by Software Provisioning Manager 2.0 

All Guides for Software Provisioning Manager 2.0 only

SAP Products Supported bySoftware Provisioning Manager 1.0 (out-of-maintenance product versions)

All Guides for Software Provisioning Manager 1.0 (out-of-maintenance product versions)

A Guide to help you navigate:

Let’s first take a look at Installations. Example: Installation of SAP Systems Based on the Application Server ABAP of SAP NetWeaver 7.3 EHP1 to 7.52 on UNIX: SAP MaxDB

On the left side you find Planning and Preparation checklists, depending on your use case. E.g. Standard System, Distributed System, High Availability System etc.

A very specific case: One chapter covers the required Authorization for Running the Installer in a WIN OS/Domain or performing a Domain Installation Without Being a Domain Administrator:

Now let’s take a look at the System Copy for SAP HANA Database: Systems Based on the Application Server ABAP of SAP NetWeaver 7.3 EHP1 to 7.52 on UNIX: SAP HANA Database

In the navigation on the left side, again, you find specialized cases for System Copy for SAP HANA DB:

Database Independent System Copy for Systems with HANA DB or

Database-Specific System Copy for Systems with HANA DB

Or let’s look at Homogenous and Heterogenous System Copy for SAP Systems Based on the Application Server ABAP of SAP NetWeaver 7.3 EHP1 to 7.52 on UNIX (main link for the copy guide)

Please note: this is for all Databases except SAP HANA.

In the navigation on the left side, you find specialized cases for System Copy:

Copying the Database Only – Refresh Database Instance

Copying the Database Only – Move Database Instance

Database-Specific System Copy (Use DB specific tools, e.g., Backup/Restore)

One last recommendation from my side: I would always add the most important links to the right documentation to my browser favorites. The links will not change as the guides are updated for new versions.

Hope this will help you to find the right Guide.

Best Regards

Stefan Jakobi

Product Management CLM