Informatica SAP Connector Explained

by Balaswamy Kaladi

This blog describes how to configure Informatica’s SAP NetWeaver R/3 to connect with SAP BW, extracting data directly from SAP transparent tables. It details setup steps on Informatica and BW servers, as well as what’s required from a developer’s perspective.

It’s also important to note that there are two ways to connect SAP BW from Informatica, i.e.

1. Using Informatica’s SAP BW Connector – this extraction is driven by an Infospoke and extracts data via the Open Hub Services (OHS)
2. Using Informatica’s SAP NetWeaver R/3 Connector – this allows data extraction directly from a SAP transparent table

This blog details the second method i.e. using Informatica’s SAP NetWeaver R/3 Connector.

SAP BW – INITIAL SERVER TASKS:

Install PowerExchange for SAP NetWeaver 9.5 software on SAP system:

• Informatica supplies two sets of transports for the SAP system, one for Unicode, the other for non-Unicode. Also, the transports for SAP version R/3 4.6 will not work with ECC 6.0. Therefore, ensure that the PowerExchange for SAP transports installed in the SAP system are compatible with the SAP version.
• To check if the system is Unicode or not, login and go to System -> Status…
• Under ‘SAP System Data’, check the ‘Unicode System’

Create a Communication User:

• The communication user will be used to configure an Application Connection to BW in Informatica’s Workflow Manager. This requires BW Security Admin assistance.
• The communication user’s profile varies depending on whether it’s a development/test or production user
• We may also require the password to be all UPPERCASE

INFORMATICA – INITIAL SERVER TASKS:

• Add One Entry to the saprfc.ini File

One entry must be made to the saprfc.ini file on the Informatica server (/informatica/9.5.1/server/bin/saprfc.ini) – The Type A entry is used by the developer when defining an Application Connection in Informatica’s Workflow Manager.

Adding the Type A Entry

DEST= XXXXXXX
TYPE=A
ASHOST=XXXXXX
SYSNR=00

The DEST field MUST uniquely identify the entry, i.e. there cannot be another entry in the saprfc.ini file with the same DEST – this is very important, since Informatica will use the first entry with a matching DEST, irregardless of Type.
The ASHOST and SYSNR are the hostname and the SAP BW ‘system number’ – these can be supplied by the BW Basis team.

• Add One Entry to the sideinfo File:

IMPORTANT: This step is optional – We did get the Transparent Table running correctly without an entry in the sideinfo file.

One entry must be made to the sideinfo file on the Informatica server (/informatica/9.5.1/server/bin/sideinfo) – This entry is used to run the ABAP program to extract the data from SAP when the workflow runs.

Adding the sideinfo Entry

Supply the following BW specific parameters.

DEST=XXXXXX
LU=XXXXXXXX
TP=sapdp00
GWHOST=XXXXXX
GWSERV=sapgw00
PROTOCOL=I

The DEST field MUST be the same as the DEST field specified in the saprfc.ini file.

• Add SAP Ports to /etc/services:

Modify the /etc/services file on the Informatica Unix server, adding the TCP port numbers of the BW dispatcher and gateway services, i.e.
sapdp00         3200/tcp
sapgw00         3300/tcp

INFORMATICA – POST CONFIGURATION TASKS:

• Install/Configure SAP RFC Drivers to your PC

Extract the contents of the Win32-SAP-Drivers.zip file to the PowerCenter Client directory, i.e.

<PowerCenter installation directory>/client/bin

• Register the SAP BW Drivers by doing the following steps:

1. Go to <PowerCenter installation directory>/client/bin
2. If you are installing on Windows 7 or any other 64-bit OS on your PC, then:

Double click on the PWX_SAP_64.reg file
Otherwise (i.e. You are still running a 32-bit OS on your PC)
Double click on the PWX_SAP.reg file

1. Click Yes, and then click OK
2. If you are running Windows 7 or any other 64-bit OS edit the C:/Windows/SysWOW64/saprfc.ini, otherwise (i.e. You are still running a 32-bit OS on your PC) then edit the C:/Windows/System32/saprfc.ini Replace the contents with the following: 

DEST=XXXXXXXX
TYPE=A
ASHOST=XXXXXX
SYSNR=00
RFC_TRACE=1

• Configure the Application Connection

1. In the Workflow Manager, configure an Application Connection to BW for extracting data. Go to Connections -> Application.
2. Create a new SAP R/3 connection
3. User Name and Password should be the BW communication user details
4. Connect String should be the DEST of the Type A connection

Step a.

Step b.

Also note the Language Code and Client Code attributes – the BW Basis resource should be able to supply these.

• Import SAP BW source metadata:

In the PowerCenter Designer, go into the Source Analyzer, i.e.

From the Main menu, select Sources and then Import from SAP, i.e.

.

Choose the required Connection string and enter the relevant details, eg. You will need a BW username and password.

NOTE: You can add the Table Name that needs to be extracted in Filter Criterion in order to avoid long waits in extracting metadata.

• Generate & Install ABAP Code from Informatica Designer:

1. This step is required after Mapping is developed in Informatica.
2. Within the Mapping Designer, Go to Mappings > Generate and Install R3 Code. Then choose Enable Override and Stream option and hit Direct Install.

IMPORTANT: After hitting direct install, you may be prompted for the program name – if so, please ensure that it is 8 characters or less in length. If it is longer than 8 characters, it will not get created.

Balaswamy is a senior consultant with expertise in Informatica, Oracle Data Integrator, Amazon Web Services, and UNIX shell scripting and has worked extensively on global supply chain systems.