SAP OS/DB MIGRATION CHECK FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS These FAQs are grouped into the following areas:

1. Area 0 - What is this all about?

2. Area 1 How do I order the Migration Check? How do I get the software?

3. Area 2 How are the remote service sessions delivered? What must I do?

4. Area 3 How do I plan and perform the migration?

Questions & Answers Area 0 What is this all about?

What is an OS/DB migration?

The copy of an SAP system to another hardware is called a system copy. If the target system will run on a different operating system (OS) and/or a different database system (DB) than the source system, then this is called a heterogeneous system copy or OS/DB migration.

What is a homogeneous system copy?

A system copy that doesn't involve the change of either OS or DB is called a homogeneous system copy. It is not covered by this subject and the restrictions of a migration don't apply. To change from 32 bit to 64 bit is also a homogeneous system copy.

I plan to copy my SAP system to a new hardware with the same OS and DB products but higher release levels. Is this a migration or a homogeneous system copy? A change of the version of the operation system and/or the database system is not relevant in the context of a migration or a homogeneous system copy. If you don't change the product, but only the release level it is a homogeneous system copy. If you change OS and/or DB, it is a migration.

What happens to the data in my SAP system during the OS/DB migration? Is there something I need to tell to the financial auditor?

An OS/DB Migration that is performed according to SAP's regulations and guidelines does not alter, convert or modify the business

related content of the database. It is a purely technical procedure.

I want to migrate a SAP BW, mySAP CRM, mySAP EBP or mySAP SCM system. Is this the same as a migration of a R/3 system?

The migration of these systems is generally available.

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Questions & Answers Area 1 Service contract and software delivery

Do I need an OS/DB Migration Check from SAP in every case?

If you plan to use the target system as a production system, you need to use the SAP OS/DB Migration Check, otherwise SAP cannot give

you support for the migration. You do not need the SAP OS/DB Migartion Check to migrate development or test systems. Also, you do

not need it to migrate a production system for pure evaluation purposes as long as you don't use the target system as a production

system later.

If you want to migrate a system without involving a certified consultant, then you do this on your own risk. Any support for the migration

and for problems that result from the migration will be billed as consulting. This applies also for non-production systems. You are obliged

to let a certified consultant perform the migration.

Why do I need a Migration Check for a migration and not for a homogeneous system copy?

An OS/DB migration is a lot more complex than a homogeneous system copy. A productive SAP system is almost never a stand-alone

system. It has interfaces in every direction. Operating systems of different brands or technology use different conventions for file storage

(i.e. line-feed convention; big-endian vs. little-endian). Databases of different brands use different technology (raw devices vs. file

system) and interfaces. This is not a comprehesive list, but you get the idea. All these issues may cause interface failure that lead to a

complete failure of the migration project.

To minimize the risk of failure of the migration project and the support cost, SAP has set up the regulations (certified consultant and the

SAP OS/DB Migration Check for productive systems) for a migration it is willing to support. Because of the innumerable variety of projects

it is impossible to draw a line between "complex projects" and "less complex projects". Therefore SAP decided to draw the line between

"homogeneous system copy" and "heterogeneous system copy".

If you decide to deviate from the regulations, you do so at your own risk. Nevertheless, if something goes wrong with your production

system due to a failed migration project, SAP will take action to help. But i may be billed on a time and material base.

How do I get a Migration Check contract?

You can order the OS/DB Migration Check in the SAP Service Catalog (/servicecat). For all questions regarding service contracts, contact

your Customer Interaction Center. For contact details refer to SAP note 560499

I want full support from SAP for my migration what must I do to get it?

If you plan to use the target system as a production system, you need to use the SAP OS/DB Migration Check. Also, to migrate any SAP

system at all, you must secure the services of a technical consultant with special certification for OS/DB migration (through SAP training

course TADM70). The consultant must perform the migration onsite. If SAP support is required, the consultant is the contact person.

Almost every consulting company that offers SAP consulting has employees with the necessary certificates. Please ask your favourite

consulting partner first. See also the Partners area on SAP's public web site (www.sap.com/partners). Also, the CIC has a list of suitable

consultants and will help you to find one.

How do I get the Migration Kit?

Contact your CIC and your sales representative. For your new platform, you need not only the Migration Kit but also an Installation Kit.

Your SAP system license is platform dependent, so perform the following steps together with your local contracts department:

1. Change your SAP system license to reflect the new platform data (you must do this first).

2. Order an Installation Kit for the new platform.

3. Order an OS/DB Migration Tool Kit (Mat.-No. 52002792); this is platform independent. The OS/DB Migration Tool Kit is only fo SAP

basis releases up to 4.6D. For later releases all necessary tools are included in the installation kit.

You can order the software in the SAP Software Catalog (/softwarecat)

Note:The Migration Kit cannot be used with Oracle versions greater than or equal to 8.1.7 on UNIX. Please use the tools from the

installation kit.

Why does the Migration Kit not contain a CD for my specific R/3 release?

There is one CD for each series of R/3 releases, such as 3.x, 4.0x, 4.5x and 4.6x. For example, the 3.1I CD covers all releases back to

3.0D. The cover letter contained in the kit gives detailed information. For SAP systems with basis release 6.x and above, the tools are

included in the istallation kit for the respective platform.

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Questions & Answers Area 2 Service session delivery

When will the service sessions be delivered? Must the migration project be in a specific phase?

The OS/DB Migration Check consists of two remote service sessions. The first service session can be performed near the project start as

soon as you return your questionnaire. It comprises the contents of the former Project Audit session and the Going Live Migration

Analysis session. The second service session is scheduled for about 4 weeks after you start production on your new platform. SAP prefers

to schedule the service sessions well in advance, so sign your service contract as early as possible.

Can I start with the project before the first service session is delivered?

You can start the planning and preparation. However, the first service session may recommend changes in the planning of the project

and the hardware sizing or database layout for your target system. Before you can perform the final migration, you need time to

implement the recommendations.

What service sessions do I need if I plan to upgrade my production system at the same time as the migration?

Technically, a migration occurs when you transfer your source system unchanged to another platform, so you cannot upgrade during the

migration. The SAP R/3 OS/DB Migration Check is designed to support the migration. Before you perform an upgrade, or other activities

such as adding new applications or users, all the Migration Check service sessions should be completed. For the upgrade, you should

then perform the SAP GoingLive Functional Upgrade Check. For other changes, such as adding new applications or users, perform a SAP

GoingLive Check. As an exception of the rule "one project at a time" you can include a Unicode Migration into an OS/DB migration,

because the same tools are used in both cases. On the other hand, a Unicode migration addes a noticeable amount of complexity to the

project that may not be covered exhaustively by the SAP OS/DB Migration Check.

Where is the Project Audit session? The Project Audit session and it's questionnaire has been integrated into the Going Live Migration Analysis session.

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Questions & Answers Area 3 Planning and performing the migration

How long will it take to unload and load a database of size X gigabytes?

This depends very much on your hardware capacities and on the parameterization and tuning of the migration tools. You cannot tell it

until you tried it. This is the reason, why SAP recommends comprehensive test migrations before the final migration of the production

system.

How should I plan my migration project?

Your migration expert will assist you in the planning. Another source of information is the Planning Guide.

Can I migrate an R/3 System of Release R from OS/DB platform 1 to OS/DB platform 2?

Please see the information information on supported platforms in the Product Availability Matrix in the SAP Service Marketplace (/pam)

With whom from SAP can I discuss certain aspects of my migration?

Your migration consultant should be able to answer your questions. If you want to talk to someone in SAP, contact SAP Basis Consulting.

How do I get the migration key that I need when my consultant wants to work with the tools?

At /migrationkey in the SAP Service Marketplace, you can generate the key online. Do not use the fax forms on the migration CDs (these

are now obsolete).

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