PBS ContentLink for EMC ® Centera

White Paper

Direct lean connection of SAP systems to EMC Centera

Introduction

PBS ContentLink is a software solution that enables a direct con-nection between SAP systems (mySAP ERP, SAP BI, …) and the storage system EMC® Centera via the SAP ArchiveLink interface. As an economic and scalable storage system EMC Centera offers a fast and accepted solution for managing archived auditing data.

PBS ContentLink was designed to store and retrieve documents and files directly to / from an EMC Centera without the requirement for a classical document or content management system. The data is transferred via SAP ArchiveLink and the EMC Centera Application Programming Interface (API). The monitoring and administration of PBS ContentLink is executed using a transaction directly in the SAP system. A specific user interface is therefore not required, thus minimizing the effort required for installation, configuration and

EMC CenteraSAP Server

mySAP ERP SAP BI

SAP applications FI, CO, SD, MM, PP, HR, ...

ArchiveLinkPBS ContentLink

(HTTP Content Server)

Low Cost ServerWindows / Linux / Unix

EMC CenteraContentAddressedStorage

Centera API

operation. PBS ContentLink is a lean communication solution. End users can display archived application data directly in the SAP sys-tem. In principle, all data that is transferred via SAP ArchiveLink can be stored and imported on the Centera, for example:

• SAP archive files (in ADK format)• PBS index files (in ADK format)• DART files• PBS Data Export Interface files• Incoming documents (by linking an external scanning system)• SAP outgoing documents (such as SD billing documents, purchase orders, etc.)• SAP print lists

PBS ContentLink provides an integrated and complete data re-trieval and extract functionality for archived documents, archived SAP application data (SARA) and data extract files (DART, PBS ectracts), if it is combined with the PBS archive add ons for mySAP ERP and SAP BI and the archive data is stored in a manner accept-able for auditing purposes on EMC Centera. The features of this combination cover all SAP user requirements and comply with cur-rent legal and tax audit requirements. All archived data stored on

Centera can be retrieved directly in the SAP system without using an external viewer. Additional training is therefore not required for end users. All PBS ContentLink functions can also be used by each SAP standard functionality that is based on the SAP ArchiveLink interface independently from PBS archive add ons (such as SAP data archiving in ADK format, SAP Archive Information System, DART, SAP Records Management, Knowledge Provider, Workflow, …).

PBS ContentLink has been certified by SAP (BC-HCS 6.20-HTTP Content Server) and runs as an HTTP server-based software solution on current Windows, Unix and Linux platforms.

Page 2 Introduction

PBS ContentLink Features - Overview

The key feature of PBS ContentLink is the direct and seamless link between the SAP ArchiveLink interface and EMC's Centera API. This enables the ILM strategy to be optimized for SAP archive files, docu-ments, print lists and SAP data extracts. PBS ContentLink and EMC Centera provide an archiving functionality comparable with the basic functions of classical DMS systems in the SAP environment. Stand-ard scan software components that have an SAP link can be used for scanning external documents and implementing them in SAP. The most important PBS ContentLink functions are described below.

Storing, reading and deleting data in the archive system PBS ContentLink enables all data objects supported by the SAP Ar-chiveLink interface to be managed directly inside an EMC Centera system using the operations “Store, Read, Delete“ in a SAP system. The delete operation can be applied to archive data which have reached a retention period which can be defined by law or business requirements.

Retrieving status information of an object in the archive systemFunctions to determine the status are required to implement an ILM strategy. The minimum retention period of an object in the archive, for example, can be determined and checked. The respective func-tions are provided as an ABAP API.

Reading analysis and statistical informationFor an optimal management of the PBS ContentLink server detailed analysis and statistical information can be retrieved via an ABAP API function. Examples are: number of archive accesses, disk cache statistics, etc.

Monitoring and administrating PBS ContentLink via the linked SAP systemPBS ContentLink does not offer a special interface for monitoring and administration in the ContentLink server. Both functions can be executed directly in the linked SAP system using the respective transaction. Only installation and software update procedures take place on the ContentLink server.

Meta DataParallel to each stored data object metadata are created and stored on the Centera. This is an important prerequisition for a realization of retention management concept. The meta data can contain legal retention periods, timestamps or cutomer specific data for each ob-ject. The meta data can be made transparent in the SAP system via a PBS ContentLink ABAP-API call.

Linking several SAP Systems / data center operationSeveral SAP systems can be connected to the Centera using a Con-tentLink server by installing multiple PBS ContentLink program instances. The installations are saved and administered completely separately. They can be stopped, started, updated or uninstalled in-dividually without having any influence on other instances.

Verifying IP addresses in linked SAP SystemsAs an additional security feature the IP addresses of the access-ing systems are checked against a configurable list in the PBS Con-tentLink. Thus, for example, complete subnetworks can be excluded from access.

Supporting encoded signed call upsPBS ContentLink implements the verification of an encoded sig-nature for each call up. This ensures the authenticity of the calling SAP System.

Crash recovery optionA crash recovery option has been implemented so that increased availability can also be achieved in a low-cost hardware environment. It enables the current valid configuration to be saved outside the ContentLink server. The ContentLink instances can thus be reacti-vated as fast as possible on a standby system.

Supporting high availability environmentsPBS ContentLink supports the installation in high availability envi-ronments such as Microsoft® Cluster, VMware® or AIX® LPAR. PBS will examine further high availability environments on request.

Advanced Cache ManagementThe PBS ContentLink Server provides a local, fast disk cache which can be activated to optimize archive access performance in the com-plete access chain SAP – PBS ContentLink – EMC Centera. Therefore stored SAP archive files can be loaded individually into the cache. This can be done directly from the SAP system.

Retention ManagementDuring the data transfer process from SAP to the Centera a customer defined retention period can be added to archived data objects via meta data. This allows the realization of a retention policy for ar-chived data. All subsequent operations utilize the defined retention periods to keep data integrity.

Page 3PBS ContentLink Features - Overview

EMC Centera “Compliance Mode"(Centera Governance Edition / Compliance Edition Plus) Centera can be run in “Compliance Mode". This enables retention periods for stored data to be defined inside the Centera. PBS Con-tentLink supports this feature in the manner described below.

The SAP ArchiveLink interface controls access to external archiving systems via “Content Repositories". One PBS ContentLink instance has to be defined for each SAP content repository. A retention pe-riod for the data can be defined for each of these PBS ContentLink instances. Archived data that is older than the retention period can be deleted. This combination of SAP ArchiveLink settings and ad-ministration of EMC Centera retention periods via PBS ContentLink enables legally compliant management of the archived data on the level of SAP Content Repositories.

Monitoring and AdministrationPBS ContentLink is monitored and administered directly through the SAP system. The screenshot displays the respective transaction in the SAP system with status information on the PBS ContentLink server and the linked storage system. Current status information is displayed via the ContentLink server and the linked storage system.

Hardware

• IPC server hardware (Pentium IV)

•SUN, HP, IBM server hardware for corresponding Unix variants

•Main storage min. 512 MB

•Disk space: min. 4 GB without file cache

•Disk space: min. 72 GB with activated file cache

System Software

•Windows Server 2003: MS Internet Information Server 6.0

•AIX 5.3: IBM HTTP Server 6.0.2 (contains Apache 2.0.47)

•HP UX11: Apache HTTP Server 2.0.52

•Solaris 9: Apache HTTP Server 2.0.54

•Solaris 10: contains Apache HTTP Server 2.0.52

•Linux (each from): Suse 9.1, SLES 9, RHEL 4, Debian 3.1, Mandriva 9 (Apache HTTP Server 2.0.54)

SAP Software

•All releases from SAP R/3 4.5B to mySAP ERP 2004

SAP basis release levels: all

SAP ArchiveLink 0045

Scan Software

•DICOM: Kofax Ascend Capture 7.0

•EMC: Captiva Accel / KGS

EMC Centera Software

•All releases from 2.1

System RequirementsPBS ContentLink supports various hardware and software plat-forms as listed in the following overview:

Cost-effective server hardware can be used in combination with a minimum user license. PBS ContentLink contains a hard disk cache on the server to avoid performance bottlenecks for mass data processing. This feature was designed to avoid reloading of SAP archive files to the exchange directory (SAP application server) for mass data evaluation of archived data (reporting needs). Smaller SAP exchange directories lead to a reduction in costs as these directories are usually located on expensive SAN disks. Cost-effective disks can be used for the hard disk cache of the PBS ContentLink server. Data security is ensured by EMC Centera which manages all data using respective safety mechanisms. In addition, PBS ContentLink checks data integrity when reading data from the file cache.

PBS ContentLink Features and System Requirements

Page 4 PBS ContentLink Features and System Requirements

Development

PBS ContentLink

Content Addressed StorageEMC Centera API

Production

read write

PCL Instance 3: Content

Repository P1

PCL Instance 2: Content

Repository S1

PCL Instance 1: Content

Repository D1

Other applications (mail, DMS, ...)

Test / QA

A typical SAP environment contains development, test, QA and production systems. Each of these SAP systems can be connected individually via a specific PBS ContentLink program instance (PCL instance) and a corresponding content repository (SAP ArchiveLink customizing parameters) to the EMC Centera.

In addition to the usage in the production environment it is also possible to develop, test and evaluate archive scenarios on the basis of a Centera platform. The diagram shows the situation for a typical SAP R/3 system environment. PBS ContentLink can be used in the same way in other SAP infrastructures such as SAP NetWeaver BI.

PBS ContentLink enables you to set up a connection between one EMC Centera system and multiple SAP systems. This is shown in the following diagram.

SAP R/3 SAP R/3 SAP R/3

The diagram also shows how archived data from a production sys-tem can be read from other systems. This feature enables evalua-tions in mirrored systems without increasing the load in the pro-duction system. The archived data only needs to be kept once. Operating costs can be reduced significantly by intensive archiving in the production system. This effect is multiplied by each mirror system.

A further benefit can be achieved by using the same Centera system simultaneously from other applications that support the Centera API. These include email archiving systems and document management systems.

Implementation

Page 5Implementation

Information Lifecycle Management for SAP Application Data

Current legal requirements force companies to provide access to SAP application data over a period of several years for evaluation purpos-es. In Germany, tax-relevant application data must be accessible for a period of ten years (GDPdU). Using the SAP data archiving concept, data from this time period can be accessed, even in the case of very large systems, without uninhibitedly increasing the database. Specific rules can be defined for the retention period in the SAP database for several types of application data. The SAP data archiving process enables archive files to be created and archived application data to be deleted from the database. SAP also provides a variety of data retrieval features for accessing archived data (transactions, reports, programming interfaces).

Typically, the archive files are stored in the SAP file system or trans-ferred to external storage systems via the SAP ArchiveLink interface. With PBS ContentLink, archived data, print lists, other documents and data extract files can be stored quickly and directly in EMC Centera. The Centera system can thus be used to store and evaluate archived data from an SAP system directly without using a document management system.

In this example, archived data and database data from an SAP BI system is displayed via the SAP BEx Browser (web-based) and the BEx Analyzer (MS-Excel-based). The archived data (data period from 1994-1997) is read and displayed directly from EMC Centera with the PBS archive add on CBW via the PBS ContentLink interface.

The PBS archive add ons supplement the SAP functionality with complete and integrated display and evaluation options for archived and database data from different SAP applications. Integrated ex-traction of archived data and database data is also supported (PBS Data Export Interface, CDART, PBS IDA).

All components together enable the setup of a detailed concept for the optimum, resource-efficient data management in the life-cycle of various SAP application data (accounting documents, sales docu-ments, purchase orders, data extracts, etc.). Data archiving enables inactive application data to be stored in EMC Centera without loss of information for end users and auditors, which results in a significant reduction of operation costs (storage, backup, etc.). The ILM concept can be applied to different SAP infrastructures (SAP R/3 Enterprise, SAP NetWeaver BI, SAP CRM, …):

SAP BI

PBS ContentLink

EMC Centera

Page 6 Information Lifecycle Management for SAP Application Data

EMC Centera

PBS ContentLink

SAP SD

The same Centera system can be used for both scenarios. Both pro-cesses show the seamless integration of transparent user access and external storage of archived data and documents inside the modern storage system EMC Centera. Companies can implement their own individual ILM strategies for their application data using the archive Customizing of SAP application data (retention periods in the da-tabase, etc.).

The next diagram shows a typical data access in the SAP module SD. An archived sales document, the corresponding document flow and a linked outgoing document (order confirmation) are selected directly from EMC Centera via PBS ContentLink. The data is dis-played with the PBS archive add on CSD including the SAP standard functionality to display outgoing documents.

Page 7Information Lifecycle Management for SAP Application Data

PBS

Cont

entL

ink

EMC

0220

07 E

pro

duct

ion

ww

w.to

pide

ntity

.de

germ

any

- SA

P™ a

nd R

/3™

are

reg

iste

red

trad

emar

ks o

f SA

P AG

, Wal

ldor

f/G

erm

any

- EM

C an

d Ce

nter

a ar

e re

gist

ered

tr

adem

arks

of

EMC

Corp

orat

ion,

Hop

kint

on -

USA

.PBS

arc

hive

add

ons

™ is

a reg

iste

red

trad

emar

k of

PBS

Sof

twar

eber

atun

g D

ipl.

Mat

h. G

ünth

er R

eich

ling,

Ben

shei

m

PBS Product Overview

Copy

right

© 2

008,

PBS

Sof

twar

e G

mbH

PBS Software GmbHSchwanheimer Strasse 144 A64625 Bensheim, Germany

The following tables provide an overview of the PBS archive add ons and the PBS software components for SAP systems.

Database Analyzer PLUS Check database capacity, document distribution, archivability SAP ERP, R/3 BI Database Analyzer Check database capacity and data distribution for SAP BI objects SAP BIDatabase Export Interface Data extraction from the SAP database SAP ERP, R/3Database Export Interface IS-U Data extraction from the SAP IS-U database IS-U/CCSFiscal Year Reporter Effective fiscal year management for FI accounting FIIDA SAP independent DART access AllEnterprise Content Store SAP independent data access (decommissioning) AllContentLink Interface to external archive systems via SAP ArchiveLink AllSE16_PERSONAL Table-based process analysis AllSE16_PERSONAL ISU Table-based process analysis for SAP IS-U IS-U/CCS

www.pbs-software.com

PBS archive add on Description SAP Component

PBS Software Component Description SAP Component

CAB Agency business (SAP IS-Retail) LO-ABCBW SAP Business Information Warehouse SAP BW 3.xCBW NLS ADK SAP NetWeaver BI - ADK-based NLS solution SAP BI 7.xCBW NLS IQ SAP NetWeaver BI - NLS solution with Sybase IQ SAP BI 7.xCCMD Vendor master data FICCO CO line items and totals records COCCOPA Costing-based profitability analysis CO/PACCU Master data changes SAP ERP, R/3CCU-IS Master data changes for SAP Industry Solutions SAP ISCDART Archive enhancement for Data Retention Tool (DART) SAP ERP, R/3CDOC Archived print documents SAP ERP, R/3CFI Financial accounting and material documents FI, MMCFICA Contract Accounting FI-CACHR HR archiving objects HRCISU ISU / CCS documents ISU / CCSCML Material ledger documents COCMM Purchasing documents MMCMT Material master data, batches, special stocks and BOMs MMCOO CO order COCPCA Profit center line items EC-PCACPCP Product cost planning COCPM Plant maintenance PMCPP Production orders PPCPR Process orders PPCPS Project system PSCQM Quality management QMCRW Routing and work center COCSD Sales and distribution SDCSL Special ledger documents FICUSTOM BW Customer-specific tables (Z tables) SAP BICUSTOM ERP Customer-specific tables (Z tables) SAP ERP, R/3CUSTOM IS Customer-specific tables (Z tables) for SAP Industry Solutions SAP ISCVMD Customer master data FICWM Warehouse management LE

Phone: +49-6251-174-0Fax: +49-6251-174-174email: info@pbs-software.com