Solution Manager Course notes

INTRODUCTION TO SAP SOLUTION MANAGER........................................................................2

SYSTEM LANDSCAPE.............................................................................................................................2
INCREASINGLY COMPLEX SYSTEMS......................................................................................................3
WHY SOLUTION MANAGER?.................................................................................................................4
SOLUTION MANAGER USAGE SCENARIOS.............................................................................................4
Implementation of SAP Solutions.....................................................................................................4
Upgrade of SAP Solutions................................................................................................................4
Change request management...........................................................................................................4
Solution Monitoring.........................................................................................................................5
Service Desk.....................................................................................................................................5
Root Cause Analysis.........................................................................................................................5
Delivery of SAP Services..................................................................................................................5
BENEFITS OF SOLUTION MANAGER.............................................................................................6
MORE RELIABLE IT SOLUTIONS.............................................................................................................6
REDUCED COST OF IMPLEMENTATION AND CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT.............................................6
FASTER ROI...........................................................................................................................................6
REDUCED COST OF OPERATION..............................................................................................................6
MORE LEVERAGE FROM IT INVESTMENTS.............................................................................................6
ACCELERATED SAP (ASAP) METHODOLOGY............................................................................6
OBJECTIVES:..........................................................................................................................................6
ASAP METHODOLOGY DEFINED...........................................................................................................7
STANDARD ASAP ROADMAPS..............................................................................................................7
Implementation Roadmap................................................................................................................7
Solution Management Roadmap......................................................................................................7
Global Template Roadmap..............................................................................................................7
Upgrade Roadmap...........................................................................................................................8
Other Roadmaps..............................................................................................................................8
FIVE PHASES OF THE IMPLEMENTATION ROADMAP..............................................................................8
Project Preparation.........................................................................................................................8
Business Blueprint............................................................................................................................8
Realization.......................................................................................................................................8
Final Preparation............................................................................................................................8
Go Live and Support........................................................................................................................8
SAP SOLUTION MANAGER AS A TOOLSET FOR IMPLEMENTATION.................................9
OBJECTIVES...........................................................................................................................................9
PROJECT MANAGEMENT IN SAP SOLUTION MANAGER........................................................................9
ELEMENTS OF THE IMPLEMENTATION ROADMAP................................................................................10
FEATURES OF THE BUSINESS BLUEPRINT............................................................................................10
BUSINESS BLUEPRINT FEATURES........................................................................................................11
COMPONENTS OF THE CONFIGURATION TRANSACTION......................................................................12
FUNCTIONS OF CONFIGURATION.........................................................................................................12
Configuration Testing Features 1..................................................................................................13
Configuration Testing Features 2..................................................................................................14
SOLUTION MANAGER AS A TOOLSET FOR OPERATIONS AND CONTINUOUS
IMPROVEMENT..................................................................................................................................15
CHANGE REQUEST MANAGEMENT......................................................................................................15
SAP SOLUTION MANAGER DURING PRODUCTIVE OPERATIONS.........................................................15
SOLUTION MONITORING......................................................................................................................16
MONITORING RECOMMENDATIONS.....................................................................................................17
SERVICE DESK.....................................................................................................................................17
CHANGE REQUEST MANAGEMENT......................................................................................................19
SOLUTION MANAGER DIAGNOSTICS....................................................................................................20

This course defines the SAP Solution Manager and outlines the benefits of using
Solution Manager and the ASAP Methodology tools to aid in the implementation,
operation, and continuous improvement of SAP solutions.
Since projects commonly include multiple solutions consisting of potentially
complex system landscapes, it is imperative to provide a consistent and persistent
documentation of the existing systems and the planned systems. Understanding
the benefits of a central repository is essential.

Introduction to SAP Solution Manager

Define SAP Solution Manager

State the general purpose of SAP Solution Manager
Identify the multiple usage scenarios of SAP Solution Manager
List the benefits of using SAP Solution Manager

The SAP Solution Manager is the central application management platform that
customers can run in their solution landscape to help them efficiently implement,
operate, monitor and support their SAP solutions.

SAP Solution Manager is thus used for both implementation and operational
functions.
The SAP Solution Manager provides tools, content, and a gateway to SAP that helps
to:

Optimize the management of your SAP solution

Ensure the reliability of your SAP solution
Ensure efficient operations
Ease implementation and upgrades
Continuously adapt and improve your solution

System Landscape

The SAP Solution Manager is a separate complete application server installation that
is connected to all systems in your solution landscape. These various systems are
called satellite systems.
In this way SAP Solution Manager acts as the central system of your solution
landscape, allowing business processes to be implemented, tested, and even
monitored in an integrated manner, thus avoiding duplication of effort and
information and streamlining your activities.

Increasingly Complex Systems

In the last few years, the IT world of SAP customers has grown much more complex.
Instead of one single SAP R/3 system, there are now extensive system landscapes
distributed over the entire globe involving different solutions. Thus it has become
much more complicated to manage all of the components of the various solutions.
The management process has also become more complicated for SAP itself. For
example, over the last several years, SAP has consolidated separate information
sources and services into the SAP Service Marketplace (service.sap.com). By having
a solution management system at every customer site, SAP can offer a virtually
seamless link from customer systems to the service marketplace, helping to reduce the
time for support, notes access and so on.

Why Solution Manager?

Faster implementation and more efficient operation of solutions

All available implementation and upgrade content is included
Optimal access to all support services
Optimal support of all operations, maintenance and improvement activities
Faster issue resolution through collaboration with Active Global Support

Solution Manager Usage Scenarios

Implementation of SAP Solutions

SAP methods and tools

Global roll-out
Customizing sync.
E-learning mgmt
Test mgmt

Upgrade of SAP Solutions

SAP methods and tools

E-learning mgmt
Test mgmt

Change request management

Follows ITIL standards

Maintenance processes

Solution Monitoring

System monitoring
Business process monitoring
Central system administration
Solution reporting
Service level reporting
SAP EarlyWatch Alert

Service Desk

Best Practices for messaging

Integration of 3rd party help desks

Root Cause Analysis

Safe remote access

Performance measurement
Logs and dumps
Traces
Technical configuration

Delivery of SAP Services

Onsite/remote delivery
Issue management

Benefits of Solution Manager

More reliable IT solutions

Minimise risk during implementation

Avoid inconsistencies
Resolve issues quickly resulting in less down time
More efficient implementation and change management projects

Reduced cost of implementation and continuous

improvement

Reduce cost of process design technical setup, business setup, support and
operations, testing, and knowledge transfer
Centralized project handling blueprinting, configuration and testing
Reduces the cost of upgrades or continuous improvement projects

Faster ROI

Accelerates implementation and continuous improvement

Availability of implementation road maps, best practice documents, and SAP
solution management services speed learning and accelerate project

Reduced cost of operation

Provide central point of control for multi-component environments

Facilitates technical and application integration

More leverage from IT investments

Integrates with IT landscapes that include both SAP and non-SAP applications
Reduce the total cost of ownership without making major changes

Accelerated SAP (ASAP) Methodology

Proven and repeatable methodology for planning and executing the activities involved
in projects.

Objectives:

Purpose of ASAP
Available ASAP roadmaps
Five phases of Implementation Roadmap and purpose of each

ASAP Methodology Defined

The Accelerated SAP (ASAP) methodology is a proven, repeatable and successful

approach to implement SAP solutions across multiple industries and customer
environments. This methodology evolved from a time in the mid-1990s when SAP
realized that customers needed a better approach to SAP R/3 implementations.
ASAP was first introduced as a PC based tool set called ValueSAP, which eventually
included the Implementation, Global, and Upgrade roadmaps. The ASAP
methodology is now fully integrated into SAP Solution Manager. AcceleratedSAP
roadmaps provide content, tools and expertise from thousands of successful
implementations.
SAP is continually improving these roadmaps with enriched content based on
experience gained in implementing solutions.

Standard ASAP Roadmaps

ASAP roadmaps outline the activities involved in implementing, upgrading or
enhancing SAP solutions. These roadmaps are enriched with sets of deliverables,
accelerators, role descriptions, and additional guides. The five standard roadmaps are
listed below.

Implementation Roadmap
Methodological framework for project teams to leverage in the implementation of an
SAP solution. It covers, amongst other things, the necessary project management,
requirement gathering, design, configuration of business processes, technical
implementation, test procedures, training and organizational change management.

Solution Management Roadmap

Methodology for the implementation of the technical infrastructure and its operation.
The Solution Management roadmap complements the implementation roadmap.

Global Template Roadmap

Describes how to organise and run a project in which a corporate template is
developed. The Global Template Roadmap is geared towards more complex
implementation or harmonization projects, typically involving more than one kind of

SAP solution and a variety of sites, possibly in different countries. The corporate
template is rolled out to other sites in a follow-up project.

Upgrade Roadmap
Designed to help you carry out the customizing activities required for an upgrade.
These customizing activities are essential if you want to continue to use the same
functions in your business application components after an upgrade.

Other Roadmaps
The Enterprise Portal and Exchange Infrastructure roadmaps are simply variations of
the Implementation Roadmap.

Five Phases of the Implementation Roadmap

Project Preparation
Initial Planning and Preparation

Business Blueprint
Documents business process requirements

Realization
Implement business and process requirements based on business blueprint

Final Preparation
Complete Preparation for go-live

Go Live and Support

Cut over to live productive operation and continuous support

SAP Solution Manager as a Toolset for

Implementation
SAP Solution Manager supports you through each phase of your project, from
planning to testing and hand-over to operations.

Objectives

Identify project management features of the SAP Solution Manager

List the various elements of the Implementation Roadmap
Identify the features of the Business Blueprint transaction in an SAP Solution
Manager system
List the most commonly used components within the Configuration
transaction of the SAP Solution Manager

Project Management in SAP Solution Manager

The ASAP Implementation Roadmap provides a work breakdown structure that can
be used to plan and track the underlying tasks and activities of the implementation;
however it is not meant to be characterized as a project management tool. In fact,
there are links to Microsoft Project from the Roadmap, allowing a project manager to
download the entire structure into an MS Project plan.
Each phase of the roadmap provides a list of general project management activities,
such as project team status, scope management, training plan management, and so on.

Elements of the Implementation Roadmap

Roadmap Structure
Viewing/text area
Attachments area
The roadmap structure gives the project team a list of what to do and when to do it.
This appears on the left-side of the screen displayed. The roadmap structure can be
filtered by roles so that each team member can focus on those items requiring their
attention.
The viewing / text area on the upper right of the screen displays procedural guides,
prerequisite information and deliverables of the highlighted structure area on the left
side of the screen.
The attachments area on the lower right of the screen displays various items, such as
accelerators, issues, and supplemental documentation. In this area you also carry out
various tasks, such as assigning project team members and tracking the status of the
highlighted item in the roadmap structure.

Features of the Business Blueprint

There are several features of the business blueprint transaction. We will focus on the
following features:
Blueprint Structure
Business Scenarios
Business process groups
Associated items

Blueprint document

Each feature has a direct impact on the other.

Business Blueprint Features

The Business Blueprint structure is displayed on the left side of the screen. This
structure is developed through the business process workshops; all requirements
gathered are recorded an associated with a structure item. The content used to
establish the structure is found in the Business Process Repository (BPR).
The business structure displayed on this screen is based on a business scenario. The
business scenarios are first defined and then supporting business process groups are
chosen from the BPR based on those scenarios.
These decisions are based upon the activities outlined in the business blueprint phase
of the Implementation Roadmap, where workshops are organized with the purpose of
defining the business process needs of the project.
On the right side of the screen, associated items are available to support the line items
in the structure on the left. Additional features such as project documentation,
transaction assignments, and graphical flow of processes are also available.
Once the Blueprint structure is finalized, the blueprint document can be generated and
becomes the master plan for the realisation phase of the project.

Components of the Configuration Transaction

The purpose of the configuration transaction is to use the blueprint structure to
configure the IMG object in your development system. The most commonly used
components are:
Project Documentation
Transaction assignments
Configuration of IMG objects
Development items
Test cases
Graphics
Training materials

Functions of Configuration
Using the blueprint document generated in the Business Blueprint phase, the project
team will go into the configuration transaction in the SAP Solution Manager to
customize the attached development system. Customization is the configuration of the
IMG objects in the target system. The blueprint structure is replicated in the
configuration screen. The associated items on the right side of the screen provide a

place for documentation, administration, tracking, IMG objects to be configured, test

cases, and team members assigned.

Configuration Testing Features 1

Testing is one of the most important components of Configuration. A crucial part of
the Realisation Phase is the ability to test the functionality of the solution as you build
it. Integrated into Solution Manager is the Test Workbench, which includes the test
organizer, automated testing tools, and interfaces to third party testing tools.

Configuration Testing Features 2

Testing workflow:
Building test plan > Execution of test cases > analysis of results
The benefits of the testing features include:
Reduced time for test preparation and execution
Single point of access to complete system landscape
Central storage of test materials and results
Re-use of existing test material

Solution Manager as a Toolset for Operations and

Continuous Improvement
The operations section of the SAP Solution Manager is the point of access to SAP
support services, on-site services, and best practice documents. Based on your
solution configuration, recommendations for these services are triggered dynamically.
The SAP Solution Manager is the delivery platform for services delivered as part of
your maintenance agreement with SAP.
Functions in this area help you to manage, support and optimize the Productive
environment. Features such as solution monitoring, Service Desk, and Change
Request Management are defined.

Change Request Management

Component of Solution Manager used to manage SAP Solution Manager projects
(maintenance, implementation, template, and upgrade), from top to bottom; starting
with Change Management and project planning; through resource management and
cost control; to physical transports of changes from the development environment into
the productive environment.
Solution Manager provides a single, comprehensive tool to help effectively
implement and manage solutions within multiple system environments.

SAP Solution Manager During Productive Operations

Customers central system
Customers help desk

Customers link to SAP services and support

Solution Monitoring

The continually increasing number of IT solutions and components is a growing

challenge for the administration team in a computer centre. The number of
components has increased from what was required with SAP R/3 (including SAP
instances, database, hardware, and operating system) to include an ever-growing
range of technologies. As a result of this development, computer centre managers
demand a monitoring method that is centralized (with all information in one tool), yet
can be extended to cover new components.

Instead of classic system monitoring of individual components, we now talk about

Solution Monitoring, where entire business processes can be monitored as a whole
across multiple components. This concept is realised through the following three
monitoring sections within SAP Solution Manager:
Business Process Monitoring: real-time monitoring with a focus on graphical
display of business processed based on the Computer Centre Management System
(CCMS)
System Monitoring: Central System: Administration and real-time monitoring
based on the Computer Centre management System (CCMS)
Service Level Management: Continuous monitoring based on SAP EarlyWatch alert.

Monitoring Recommendations
Use SAP Service Level Management in the SAP Solution Manager to lay the
foundations for setting up the correct procedures for monitoring of your SAP solution.
The recommended technique is to define an explicit monitoring concept for central
system monitoring using the Computer Centre Management System (CCMS) in
conjunction with the SAP Solution Manager. This form of system monitoring, that
starts with the monitoring of all business process-relevant system components, is
known as the inside-out approach. The complementary outside-in approach involves
using tools from third party manufacturers. To achieve comprehensive monitoring,
SAP recommends using both approaches simultaneously.

Service Desk
The service desks offers a complete infrastructure for organizing and operating a
solution wide support Organization at your site. Features include:
Message handling process end users can create messages that automatically
collect system and context data. An interface for third party messaging tools is
also included
Customer solution database allows customers to build a history database for
future troubleshooting
Managing SAP notes integrated notes search from the SAP Service
Marketplace, as well as the ability to implement notes via the SAP notes
assistant
Solution Manager diagnostics provides all functionality to centrally analyze
and monitor a complete SAP solution

Change Request Management

Change Request Management, as part of the SAP Solution Manager integrates SAP
Service Desk functionality for managing change requests. The processes supported by
Change Request Management include urgent corrections for implementing fast and
direct changes in the Production environment, and maintenance cycle activities such
as regular releases and implementation, upgrade, or template projects.
Three Tiers of Change Request Management

End to End Root Cause Analysis and Solution Monitoring with SAP Solution
Manager

Solution Manager Diagnostics

A key requirement for the efficient and safe support of IT solutions is the ability to
perform root cause analysis with speed and efficiency. Solution Manager diagnostics
provides all functionality to centrally analyze and monitor a complete SAP solution. It
also reduces the time needed to train a support consultant in root cause analysis.