S/4HANA Release Upgrade

S/4HANA Release Upgrade

S/4HANA release upgrades are a regular Basis job, not a one-off project. You plan, execute, and validate an upgrade so SUM, downtime, and follow-up checks are familiar.

The labs follow the sequence you will run on a customer landscape.

Syllabus

  • S/4HANA landscape and release concepts
    • S/4HANA product versions, releases, and support packs
    • Compatibility matrix: kernel, database, OS, SAP GUI
    • Single vs. dual-stack history; ABAP-only S/4HANA
    • Deployment options: on-premise, private cloud, RISE
    • System roles: DEV, QAS, PRD, sandbox, SOLMAN
    • High availability, DR, and upgrade sequencing
  • Upgrade strategy and project planning
    • Choosing the target release and upgrade path
    • Maintenance strategy: n-1, n, support package stack
    • Downtime vs. near-zero downtime options (overview)
    • Sizing and duration estimation (runtime, disk, memory)
    • Upgrade runbook and rollback / fallback concepts
    • Coordination with functional, security, and infrastructure teams
    • Upgrade checklist and gate reviews (readiness, cutover, go-live)
  • Preparation: software logistics and downloads
    • SAP Software Download Center and SAP for Me
    • Maintenance Planner: planning, stack file, download basket
    • Stack XML / stack configuration and dependencies
    • SAP Host Agent and relationship to SWPM / sapinst
    • License keys and registration (Basis overview)
    • Export control and download integrity (checksums)
  • System preparation (source system)
    • Current system inventory: release, SP, kernel, DB version
    • SAP Note implementation and conflict resolution
    • Pre-upgrade reports: RC_COLLECT_ANALYSIS_DATA, custom code (overview)
    • Housekeeping: spool, jobs, logs, disk space
    • Consistency checks: ST22, SM21, DB checks, tablespaces
    • User and batch job freeze strategy
    • Backup and recovery verification (DB and file system)
    • Deactivating third-party interfaces and RFC destinations
  • Software Update Manager (SUM) fundamentals
    • SUM purpose, architecture, and supported scenarios
    • SUM directory structure, logs, and trace files
    • SUM phases: PREPARE, UPGRADE, POST (overview)
    • SUM GUI vs. command line and sapinst context
    • sapupparams and key SUM parameters
    • Resuming, restarting, and abort handling
    • SUM on application server vs. central instance
  • S/4HANA-specific upgrade mechanics (Basis)
    • ABAP upgrade / EHP / support package application via SUM
    • Kernel and ABAP platform update
    • Database revision requirements for SAP HANA
    • ICM, gateway, and Web Dispatcher considerations
    • Enqueue and message server in clustered environments
    • Post-upgrade: SPAM/SAINT, tp configuration, transport domain
  • Database layer for S/4HANA (SAP HANA)
    • HANA revision alignment with target S/4HANA release
    • HANA backup before upgrade (file and snapshot concepts)
    • HANA Studio, HDBSQL, and hdblcm in upgrade context
    • Tenant DB vs. single-container (as applicable)
    • HANA parameter and memory checks pre-upgrade
    • Post-upgrade: statistics, savepoints, and cleanup (overview)
  • Downtime optimization (advanced)
    • nZDT / downtime-optimized procedures (conceptual)
    • Shadow instance / parallel upgrade concepts
    • Business downtime vs. technical downtime
    • Application-level freeze and data sync coordination
  • Unicode, code page, and language
    • Unicode system checks for upgrade path
    • MDMP / language handling (legacy contexts)
    • Sort sequence and collation after upgrade
  • Post-upgrade technical tasks (Basis)
    • Starting the system: sequence, profiles, services
    • EarlyWatch / SDCCN and solution documentation
    • SPAM/SAINT: support package level verification
    • Kernel switch and sapcontrol verification
    • RFC, HTTP, and SSO smoke tests
    • Batch job and spool recovery
    • Regenerating buffers where required
    • License measurement and USMM (overview)
    • Transport management: freeze lift, import order, client settings
  • Client, authorization, and security after upgrade
    • Client copy / refresh relationship to upgrade (overview)
    • SUIM, SU01, and role comparison after upgrade
    • Security notes and profile parameters (login, SSL, SNC)
    • Trusted RFC and SSO (SAML/OAuth) regression checks
    • Secure configuration: gateway, ACL, UCON (overview)
  • Integration and middleware
    • PI/PO, CPI, and IDoc flow verification
    • Background RFC and qRFC queues
    • Business Connector / third-party adapters (if used)
    • Fiori / launchpad and reverse proxy after upgrade
    • SAP Gateway and OData service activation checks
  • Monitoring and performance after upgrade
    • SM50, SM66, ST03N, SAT (Basis overview)
    • Workload analysis comparison pre vs. post upgrade
    • HANA SQL Plan Cache and expensive statements (overview)
    • Early correction of performance regressions
    • Alerting: CCMS, Solution Manager, Focused Run (overview)