Introduction to SAP NetWeaver

- An Overview

What is SAP NetWeaver exactly ?

SAP NetWeaver currently consists of the following products:

SAP Web Application Server ( WAS )

SAP Enterprise Portal
SAP Business Information Warehouse ( BIW )
SAP Exchange Infrastructure
SAP Knowledge Management ( KM )
SAP Mobile Infrastructure Not yet fully released
SAP Master Data Management ( MDM )
SAP Composite Application Framework
SAP Life Cycle Management

The fragrance/essence of integration of all of the above in a unified

development platform is called SAP NetWeaver. So, the name
Integrated Development Environment ( IDE ) inherited for SAP
NetWeaver.

SAP NetWeaver
Purpose:
SAP NetWeaver provides,
1.
an open integration Ex: Platform independent,
2.
an extended application platform Ex: xApps,
3.
permits the integration of the Enterprise Services
Architecture (ESA),
4.
an unified business processes across technological
boundaries,
5.
integration of applications as needed, and
6.
access and edit simple information easily and in a
structured manner.

ESA Enterprise Services Architecture

Definition:
ESA is a service oriented architecture for adaptive
business solutions

Basic building block of adaptive enterprise

Open technology standards
Component oriented
Web services based
Flexibility (if any changes in business processes )

Contd.,

Let us break the definition of ESA for clear understanding

ESA is a service-oriented - Openness through Web services & other

standards
Architecture The way to build new and to integrate existing
solutions. But it doesnt mean that it is a product by itself.
For adaptive Ease of exchange, ease of use and ease of innovation
Business Secure, reliable, scalable, manageable, highly available,
performant.
Solutions The blueprint for mySAP business suite, SAP Net Weaver
and SAP xAPPs etc.,

Integration

SAP NetWeaver is the basis

for all SAP solutions on a given
hardware. The business
applications and the SAP
xApps use the key areas of
SAP NetWeaver as shown in
the following graphic.

SAP NetWeaver is designed to

support the Microsoft .NET
and IBM WebSphere
standards

SAP xApps
xApps are
a new breed of
packaged
composite
applications

xApp
New, snap-on cross-functional business process

that snap-on to an
existing
(heterogeneous)
IT environment
to orchestrate new,
cross-functional
business processes.

Existing applications
and data sources

Features
SAP NetWeaver covers the following topics and components:

Security
People Integration:

Multi-channel access

Portal

Collaboration
Information Integration:

Business Intelligence
BI Content

Knowledge Management

Master Data Management

Process Integration :

Integration Broker

Business Process Management

Application Platform :

Java

ABAP

Business Services

Connectivity

DB and OS abstraction

SAP Knowledge Warehouse

Conclusion

1. Security
Purpose:
In todays world of collaborative business
processes and open system environments, security no
longer means just adding a firewall and using
passwords to log on. It requires a complete approach
that not only applies to your own IT landscape, but also
to issues that arise beyond your own borders, in which
even simple organizational measures can have a
significant impact. The infrastructure of the SAP
NetWeaver technology platform supports you by
delivering
comprehensive
security features
for
heterogeneous environments
contd.,

Features
Section
SAP NetWeaver security
guide

Description
The SAP NetWeaver Security Guide provides an
overview of the security aspects involved with the
SAP NetWeaver platform and its products. It
includes a overview of the mechanisms available
as well as our recommendations and security
measures to take to increase the security of your
overall SAP system landscape

User authentication and

Single Sign-On

This section describes the user authentication and

Single Sign-On mechanisms available with the
SAP NetWeaver platform, for example the use of
logon tickets or X.509 client certificates for Single
Sign-On or the use of Pluggable Authentication
Services (PAS) for using external authentication
mechanisms.

Contd.,

Identity Management

This section describes the mechanisms

available for user and role management on
the SAP Web Application Server ABAP, the
use of the User Management Engine
(UME) for user management on the SAP
J2EE Engine, and the integration of user
accounts on SAP systems with user
accounts maintained on a directory server.

Network and transport

layer security

This section describes the mechanisms

available for transport layer security, for
example, the use of the Secure Sockets
Layer (SSL) protocol to secure Internet
connections and the use of Secure Network
Communications (SNC) to secure
connections that use SAP-specific
protocols.

Contd.,

System security

This section describes topics that apply to

system security, for example: key, key pair
and trust management, logging of securityrelated events using the Security Audit Log,
and virus detection using the virus scan
interface.

Digital signatures and

encryptions

This section describes the use of public-key

technology for digital signatures and
encryption with SAP systems.

2. People integration

Purpose

People Integration brings together the right

functionality and the right information to the right
people.

On the people level, end users will settle for nothing

less than a seamless user experience (in spite of the
growing system diversity), boundless collaboration
functionality, and pervasive access.
Contd.,

How does the Integration takes place ?

People Integration is one of the three integration layers of
SAP NetWeaver

Contd.,

Features
Key capability
Portal

Description
This capability provides industry-leading portal
technology that delivers unified, personalized,
and
role-based
user
access
to
your
heterogeneous IT environment.

Collaboration

Collaboration
promotes
cooperation
in
enterprises
using
virtual
team
rooms
(Collaboration Rooms), real-time communication
(chat and application sharing) and the use of
third-party
groupware
and
synchronous
collaboration (for example, Microsoft Exchange,
Lotus Notes, and WebEx). Because of the close
integration
with
Portal
and
Knowledge
Management, it is easy to reuse their content .

Multi channel access

With Multi-Channel Access, you can connect to

enterprise systems through web-based, voice,
mobile,
messaging,
or
radio-frequency
technology. Multi-channel Access includes an
universal and secure Mobile Infrastructure to
enable mobile business applications

3. Information Integration

Purpose
Information integration provides your company with both structured
and unstructured information that is consistent and accessible:
Users have constant access to consistent information, no matter
where it is stored

Contd.,

How does integration takes place ?

Information integration is one of the three integration layers of SAP

NetWeaver

Contd.,

Features
Key areas
SAP Business
Intelligence ( BI )
SAP Knowledge
Management ( KM )
SAP Master Data
Management ( MDM )

Description
Analyzes, integrates and distributes timely
information that supports your decision-making at
all times. It provides you with reliable tools for
creating individual and interactive reports and
applications.
These are the repositories which includes
Search,
Classification,
Constructions
of
taxonomies,
Subscription,
Versioning
and
discussion forums.
Supports unified data storage across company
branches in a heterogeneous IT landscape. It
permits common use of master data from
systems that were originally different, and
ensures that the data is consistent across system
boundaries, irrespective of the system location or
vendor.

4. Process Integration

Purpose

SAP Exchange Infrastructure (SAP XI) forms the basis for the
integration of business processes.
SAP XI provides a technical infrastructure for XML-based
message exchange to enable the integration of SAP systems
with each other on the one hand, and SAP and non-SAP systems
on the other.
In SAP XI, integration knowledge is shipped in the form of predefined integration scenarios. Furthermore, SAP XI provides a
set of integrated tools for creating and managing all integrationrelevant information

Contd.,

How does integration takes place here ?

Process integration is one of the three integration layers of
SAP NetWeaver

Contd.,

Features
Key areas
Integration broker

Business process
management

Description
SAP exchange infrastructure permits XML/SOAPbased communications between components of
different origins. You can define the following
objects:
1. Integration Scenarios
2. Interfaces
3. Mappings
4. Integration Processes
Business Process Management encompasses
the following areas:
1. Control business processes within application
systems by using SAP business workflow
2. Control integration process (ccBPM) by using
SAP Exchange Infrastructure
3. Control Ad-hoc Workflows by using the
Universal Work list (UWL) in the Enterprise
Portal.

5. Application platform ( WAS )

Purpose
The SAP Web Application Server provides a complete development
infrastructure, on which to develop, distribute and execute platformindependent, robust, and scalable Web services and business
applications. The SAP Web Application Server supports ABAP, Java,
and Web services.

Contd.,

How does integration takes place ?

The application platform is the

basis of SAP NetWeaver and
is implemented by the SAP
Web Application Server.

Contd.,

Features
Function

Description

Architecture

Overview of the architecture of the SAP Web Application

Server with respect to the different installation options.

ABAP

ABAP is a programming language developed by SAP to

develop business applications. One fundamental
application area is for processing data in a central
database.

JAVA

Support of Java 2 Platform Enterprise Edition (J2EE) for

developing Java-based business applications.

Contd.,

Business
communication
services
Connectivity

Part of the SAP Web AS integrated

services
and
includes
document
management, workflow and organizational
management.

Database and
operating systems

Overview of the databases and operating

systems supported by SAP NetWeaver

SAP knowledge
warehouse

Infrastructure for creating documentation,

training material, and quality manuals.

Enables the exchange of application data

between different SAP Systems and with
external systems.

6. Conclusion
Ways to Adopt SAP NetWeaver

1. As part of a Business Solution

Included in SAP xApps, mySAP Business Suite, SAP R/3 Enterprise

2. As a Building Block

Customers can purchase individual building blocks of SAP NetWeaver

for targeting specific integration issues

SAP EP, SAP BI, SAP XI, SAP MDM, etc.

3. As a Strategic Platform

Customers can purchase a complete integration and application

platform to address a strategic need across the enterprise