Understanding SAP Versions

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Understanding SAP Versions
Optimizing Packaged Applications
Niel Robertson - CTO, Co-Founder Newmerix
Corporation 1100 S. McCaslin Blvd, Suite
160 Superior, CO 80027 303-350-3900
www.newmerix.com or nielr_at_newmerix.com
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Keys to Understanding Versions

• SAP versioning is a bit tricky bear with it a
  bit until you learn it
• It depends on which part of the stack you are
  asking about (application stack or technology
  stack)
• It has evolved as SAP has changed its overall
  architecture from 2 tier to 3 tier
• Many names are just marketing bundles of
  technology components

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Overview
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Main Concepts You Will Encounter

• R/3, R/3 Enterprise, mySAP
• ABAP
• BASIS
• WebAS
• ECC
• NetWeaver
• Read on for explanations..

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Application Editions

• R/2
• Terminal server architecture
• Greenscreen UI
• R/3
• Introduced client server architecture
• Uses BASIS for technology stack
• Desktop client UI
• R/3 Enterprise
• Replaced BASIS with WebAS (Web Application
  Server)
• Web Based UI
• mySAP
• Web based UI
• Changed WebAS to just AS

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ABAP

• Proprietary programming language
• All of SAP was written in ABAP until about 3
  years ago
• ABAP doesnt really have versions, it depends on
  the BASIS version being run

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BASIS

• R/3
• BASIS is the complete technology stack and
  application stack
• Runs ABAP programs (all application logic is
  contained in the BASIS server)
• BASIS acts as the application server using
  proprietary protocols to communicate to the
  desktop client
• All changes to SAP application made in BASIS
• For R/3 Enterprise
• BASIS was split into BASIS and WebAS (WebAS uses
  standard internet protocols to communicate with
  web browsers)
• BASIS version numbers aligned with WebAS versions
• BASIS conceptually used only for administration
  (migrations, performance monitoring)
• For mySAP
• BASIS conceptually equal to WebAS
• Note since the introduction of WebAS, BASIS
  versions are referred to either as both X.YZ and
  XYZ (e.g. 6.10 or 610, 7.0 or 700) where X.YZ is
  the WebAS version number

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WebAS

• Application server that replaced BASIS
• Uses standard internet protocols so it can
  communicate with web browsers
• Hosts ABAP engine (runs ABAP applications)
• Version 6.20 had the first J2EE engine so you
  could write Java applications as well as ABAP

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ECC (ERP Core Components)

• Separates application logic from technology
  stack
• All the modules you would buy (e.g. Payroll) are
  thought of now as in ECC (before they were
  thought of as in BASIS)

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NetWeaver

• This is just a bundling of standard technology
  stack components that are released together
• WebAS
• Enterprise Portal
• Business Intelligence
• Exchange Integraton
• WebAS renamed AS going forward

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Try This View With What You Now Know
In the beginning BASIS was both the server AND
the application
BASIS sort of sits in the middle to help
administer applications now
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Release Matrix
SAP appears to support 4.6D on BASIS server and
WebAS
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Solution Manager
Solution Manager appears to have been introduced
with R/3 Enterprise Edition
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Some Screenshots of Different Versions
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R/2 Screenshot
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R/3 1.0 Screenshot
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R/3 2.0, 2.1 Screenshot
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R/3 3.0, 3.1 Screenshot
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R/3 4.0, 4.5 Screenshot
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R/3 Enterprise, mySAP Screenshot