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Mastering SAP System Copy: Planning a Seamless Migrations in Detail



Source System




System Information 

  • SAP products installed

  • Versions of installed products, for example, enhancement packages, support packages,

kernel version, operating system, and database system

  • Current system landscape

  • Number of systems in a production state

  • System migration order and time schedule

  • Maximum system downtimes for migration purposes

  • System access in case of hosting environments

  • Check all software components to be certain that they can be migrated, especially Java-based components



Technical Information

  • Current hardware (RAM, CPUs, disk subsystem) 

  • Size of the source databases (compressed/uncompressed) 

  • Free local disk space for unloading the database 

  • Largest tables and indexes 

  • Code pages used 

  • Tables in ABAP Dictionary but not in DB or the reverse 

  • External files and interfaces 

  • Procedure for transporting the dump files from the source to the target system

Target System 

Technical Information 

  • Current hardware (RAM, CPUs, disk subsystem) 

  • Size of the source databases (compressed/uncompressed) 

  • Free local disk space for unloading the database 

  • Largest tables and indexes 

  • Code pages used 

  • Tables in ABAP Dictionary but not in DB or the reverse 

  • External files and interfaces



  • Number of CPUs and I/O subsystem details aid in determining the optimal number of export processes.

  • Source database sizes and sizes of the largest tables impact the duration of the migration.

  • During the first test migration, allocate 10%-15% of the uncompressed source database size as free space in the export file system.

  • Determine the approach for handling external files such as spool files, archives, logs, transport files, and interfaces that need to be copied to the target system.

  • If the source and target systems are located in different locations, decide on the available media or methods for transporting the dump files.



A migration test run is essential when for the production system 



Task Name

Detailed 

1. Install migration tools and prepare the source system

- Research and select appropriate migration tools

- Install the chosen migration tools 

- Review the source system and ensure it meets the prerequisites for migration 

- Take necessary backups of the source system

2. Export data from the SAP source system

- Identify the data to be exported 

- Configure the export parameters 

- Initiate the data export process 

- Verify the completeness and integrity of the exported data

3. Install the SAP product and the database software on the target system

- Prepare the target system hardware and software environment 

- Install the required SAP product on the target system 

- Install the compatible database software on the target system



4. Transport/share the data export to the target system

- Transfer the exported data to the target system 

- Ensure the data transfer is secure and reliable 

- Verify the integrity of the transferred data



5. Create an empty target database

- Set up the necessary database instance on the target system 

- Configure database parameters and settings 

- Create the empty target database



6. Load the data export into the target database

- Identify the data import methods supported by the target database 

- Configure the data import parameters 

- Initiate the data import process 

- Validate the data import and ensure its accuracy



7. Complete the installation and perform the follow-up tasks

- Finalize the installation of the SAP product on the target system 

- Configure additional system settings 

- Apply necessary patches and updates 

- Perform system checks and validations



8. Configure the test environment

- Set up a dedicated test environment 

- Configure test system parameters and settings 

- Prepare test data and scenarios


9. Extensively test the migrated system

- Execute various test cases and scenarios 

- Validate the functionality and performance of the migrated system 

- Address any issues or discrepancies identified during testing 

- Obtain user feedback and incorporate necessary adjustments



So as in any project we do the following and it will be talked in detail in later blogs , Final Migration Planning :  


  • Create a cut-over plan 

  • Perform the migration 

  • Perform the follow-up tasks 

  • Check the system 

  • Run a backup 

  • Start production work

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