How to update SAP Kernel?

This procedure will help you to update your SAP Kernel in a SAP ABAP based system such as ECC 6.0. Do not use this strategy to update kernel on a JAVA stack. you should use JSPM for this task on a JAVA stack.

1. First of all, go to the SAP Service Marketplace (service.sap.com), and download your desired kernel version: Downloads --> SAP Support Packages --> Entry by Application Group --> SAP NetWeaver --> SAP Netweaver --> SAP Netweaver <version> --> Entry by Component --> <select component> --> <select your system version> --> #Database independent (this is the part I. In the same step, select your database to download the part II of the package). 2. After you have the two parts downloaded, log into the OS level and uncar the 2 parts in separate directories. Copy the part I in a new folder, and copy the part II into the same folder (there are cases that files may need to be replaced. replace them, don't worry). 3. If on Windows, disable Windows service SAP_[SID]_##. 4. Stop SAP, the database, SAPOSCOL, sapccm* and saprouter (if they exist)). 5. Backup the old kernel. Usually it is located in: </usr/sap/SID/SYS/exe/<uc or nuc>/<system>. it might also be located in /usr/sap/SID/SYS/exe/run The default kernel location is: /sapmnt/SID/exe . When the SAP instance is starting up by startsap command, the kernel from /sapmnt/SID/exe is overwriting the kernel in /usr/sap/SID/SYS/exe/run . So always is better to upgrade kernel in /sapmnt/SID/exe directory. 6. Delete the old backed up kernel, and copy the new kernel there. 8. if on Unix as user root : saproot.sh [SID] 9. if on Windows, enable Windows service SAP_[SID]_##. 10. if on Windows Start the services related 11. start SAP. 12.Now just confirm the new kernel version in SAP with this command: disp+work | more