SAP Basis Interview Questions

What are the key responsibilities of SAP Basis Administrator?

Answer

The key responsibilities are −

• System installation and configuration.
• Load balancing on servers.
• Performance management of different components.
• Managing interfaces and integration with servers.
• Managing servers and different services.

 What is the current version of SAP GUI? How do you install it?

Answer

SAP GUI 7.4, the latest version for Windows was released in October 2014. It supports various features like — it is by default installed with NWBC 5.0 and SAP GUI and GUI shortcuts are launched through NWBC.

Which SAP GUI type is suitable for different kinds of users? How do you decide?

Answer

When users are working mostly in the SAP system

SAP GUI for Windows or SAP GUI for Java is recommended.

When users are ABAP developers

For ABAP developers, SAP GUI for Windows is recommended.

When users use operating systems other than Microsoft

It is recommended that they use SAP GUI for Java and HTML or they can use SAP GUI for Windows on a remote server

For integrating Dynpro transactions to the Portal

The use of SAP GUI for HTML is recommended. This allows you to integrate classic Dynpro-based applications into the portal easily.

 How do you maintain roles in the SAP system?

Answer

To maintain roles in the SAP system, we use transaction code — PFCG

Why do we create instances in the SAP system? How are these instances configured?

Answer

AP instance is defined when you install and configure a SAP system. These are used to refer to memory, processors and other resources in the system. SAP instance allows users to log in to the SAP system and share the same resources.

A SAP instance is managed by CCMS and is used by users to login.

A SAP system can consist of one or more instances — you can set up a SAP system with a single instance with only one CCMS or you can configure a system with two or more separate instances in client/server environment.

We need to consider the following points to configure a SAP instance −

• You need to define separate directories for UNIX, AS/400, or Microsoft Windows NT server on which the instance is to be run.
• You can use a shared file system.
• For each instance, there are entries created in operating system configuration files (/etc/services, /etc/sapconfig…).

Explain the architecture of SAP system with different layers. What is the use of Gateway?

Answer

Presentation layer communicates with the application server to perform all the processing. This is known as the brain of a SAP system.

An application server consists of multiple instances and communicates with the database layer of the three-tier architecture.

Bottom layer is called the database layer. This is responsible to store all the data. Database of SAP system is kept on a separate server for performance and security reason.

The Presentation layer consists of different components for ABAP and JAVA that enables the communication and processing of data in the SAP system. The key components at the Presentation layer also include — Gateway. This is used to manage communication between the SAP system and external systems.

 

Suppose you have to integrate SAP ECC 6.0 to AWS. How can you achieve this?

Answer

You have to make use of the SAP Cloud Appliance Library (CAL). This will help you to directly push SAP ECC software to your cloud environment by entering the Security key.

How do you check the installed software components and product versions on SAP system?

Answer

Go to SAP system data → Click on the component magnifying glass.

The following two options will be displayed −

• Installed Software Component Versions
• Installed Product Versions

Under the installed software component, you can see all the software installed, support package, service pack, description etc. If you want to check the details of each component, you can select the component and go to the details tab as shown above.

Go to Installed Product Versions; it will show you the version of the installed SAP NetWeaver.

What is client administration in SAP system? Why do we use multiple clients in SAP system?

Answer

A client is used in the SAP system for multiple logins on a single instance. You can create multiple clients on a single instance. It also provides data security as one user with one client can’t see the data of the other user with another client and also there is no need to install the software again.

The following are the advantages of client administration in SAP system −

• Using SAP Clients, the same resources can be shared between multiple users.
• It helps you to manage the SAP system landscape as you can create multiple clients for DEV, QA and PROD team.
• It allows you to share the SAP system with a large number of users.
• We have standard clients in SAP system

What are the different default clients in SAP system? How can you create a new client in the SAP system?

Answer

SAP system comes with the following three standard clients −

000 − This is called the master client and is available when you install the R/3 system.

001 − This is a copy of 000 and it comes with a test company. Generally, this client is used to create new clients.

066 − This is called the SAP Early watch. This is used for diagnostic scans and monitoring service in the SAP system.

Following are the steps to create a New Client in SAP −

• To create a new client in the SAP system, use transaction code — SCC4
• To create a new client, enter the following details after clicking on New Entries −

• • Client number and name
  • City
  • Currency, Roles

• Enter your client-specific data and set permission for the clients as per your requirement and click on save.

How can you create a new user in the SAP system? How do you assign roles to new users?

Answer

You can create multiple users with different access rights in the SAP system. Follow these steps to create a new user −

Step 1 − Use transaction code — SU01

Step 2 − Enter the username you want to create, click on the Create icon.

Step 3 − You will be redirected to the Next Tab — the Address tab wherein, you have to enter details like First name, Last name, Phone number, email id, etc.

Step 4 − You will further be directed to another Tab — the Logon Data tab wherein,

• You have to enter the user type under Logon data tab.

• Type the first login password – New Password and Repeat Password

Step 5 − You will now be directed to the Roles tab wherein, you have to assign the roles to the user

Step 6 − Now, the next tab is the Profiles tab wherein, you have to assign the Profiles to the user.

Step 7 −Click on Save and you will get a confirmation.

What are the different user types in the SAP system that an admin can use while creating a new user?

Answer

The following are the five different types of user types −

• Dialoge user — This user is used for interactive system access from GUI.
• System user — This user is used for background processing and communication within a system.
• Communication user — This user is used for external RFC calls.
• Service user — This user is created for a larger and anonymous group of users.
• Reference user — These are reference users with no logon possible, non-person related users that allow the assignment of additional authorizations.

Is it possible to lock users in the SAP system? What are the different ways to lock/unlock users?

Answer

The different ways to lock/unlock users are −

• Manually/Forcefully
• Automatically

Manually or Forcefully

You can lock a user forcefully/automatically using the following transaction codes −

• Transaction- SU01 for single user
• Transaction –SU10 for multiple users

How can you define login policy for users in the SAP system?

Answer

You can set the number of incorrect login attempts and then the system can end the session or can also block the user account if the parameter value is set by Administrator. There are two types of parameters used −

Static − This parameter doesn’t apply immediately and the system needs a Restart for this.

Dynamic − This parameter can be applied directly and the system does not need a Restart.

To set the value of parameters, use transaction code — RZ11s

What are the different login and password parameters that can be applied in the SAP system?

Answer

To set the number of failed attempts, use parameter — login/fails_to_session_end.

Likewise, you have other parameters such as login/fails_to_session_end, login/fails_to_user_lock

The following are the password policy parameters −

• login/min_password_lng
• login/password_expiration_time

How do you maintain password selection for users? What are the different parameters that can be used for this and which table maintains these details?

Answer

Passwords are maintained in table USR40 and transaction code — SM30 is used for this purpose.

There are two wildcard characters −

• ?- stands for a single character
• *- stands for a sequence of any combination characters of any length.

If you select 123* in table USR40, it means that any password that begins with the sequence “123.” is prohibited.

If you enter *123*, it prohibits any password that contains the sequence “123.”

If you select AB?, it indicates that all passwords that begin with “AB” and an additional character are not allowed. For example, “ABB”, “ABF”, etc.

What are the categories to execute SAP Background jobs?

Answer

Class A (High Priority) − This is used for urgent or critical tasks. These tasks must be scheduled with class A priority job. Class A job reserves one or more background work processes.

Class B (Medium Priority) − These jobs are executed after the completion of Class A high priority jobs.

Class C (Low Priority) − These jobs run once class A and class B jobs are completed.

What are the different options available for scheduling a background job? What start conditions type can be used?

Answer

To schedule a background job you must specify the conditions that will trigger the job to start.

The different types of start condition you want to use are −

• Immediate
• Date/Time
• After Job
• After Event
• At Operation Mode

What are the different types of job status? Can you unschedule an active job?

Answer

The different types of status are – Scheduled, Released, Ready, Active, Finished, Cancelled

You can’t unschedule a job if it is active. You need to wait for the completion of the job to unscheduled it.

What is the use of commit value while deleting jobs in SAP system?

Answer

Commit value is proportional to program performance. If the commit value is high, then job deletion will run faster. Recommended value is >= 1000.

In Transport Management System (TMS), which file is used to store TMS configuration and is used by domains for checking configuration?

Answer

DOMAIN.CFG file is created under usr/sap/trans/bin directory which stores TMS configuration and is used by systems and domains for checking existing configurations.

What is a Transport Request in TMS? What are the different types of Transport Requests that can be created in a SAP system?

Answer

A Transport Request contains the number of changes to be implemented in the development system. It consists of the type of change, purpose, change category, target system and other details.

Transport Requests are named in a standard format — <SID>K<Number>

For example, in <SID>K<Number> −

• SID represents System ID
• K stands for fixed keyword/alphabet
• The number can be anything from a range starting with 900001

There are two types of request types that can be created in the SAP system −

Workbench Request − This request type contains repository and cross-client customizing objects. Workbench requests are used to make changes to the ABAP workbench objects.

Customizing Request − This request type contains objects that belong to client-specific customizing. These requests are created in the system automatically when a user performs customize the setting and a target system is automatically assigned as per the transport layer.

What is the use of transport logs in the TMS system? What are the different log types and record value in the log files?

Answer

There are two types of logs that are available in Transport Management System

Transport Logs − This keeps track of transport log files which have been moved in a transport request.

Action Log − This includes the details of action logs that have been performed in a Transport Request. This also includes exports, import, etc.

One of the important functions provided by the logs are the following return codes −

• 0 — This value represents that export was successful.
• 4 — This value represents that a warning was issued and objects were transported successfully.
• 8 — This represents that a warning was issued and at least one object could not be transported.
• 12 or higher — This value represents an error in Transport Request and this normally does not result because of objects in TR and probably occurs because of system failure.

Which transport directory is used to implement a support package and add-ons?

Answer

Transport directory /usr/sap/trans should have enough space.

What is the use of Kernel in SAP system? How do you check the current Kernel version in SAP system?

Answer

A kernel is an executable program that exists between SAP Applications and operating system. It consists of executable program under the path — “/sapmnt/<SID>/exe” for UNIX and \usr\sap\SID\SYS\exe\run Windows. It starts and stops application services such as message server, dispatcher, etc.

In Kernel upgrade, new .exec files replace old executable files in SAP system. To check the current version, use Transaction SM51 and go to Release Notes.

To check the status, go to System → Status tab → Other Kernel info

What are the key activities that you perform as part of SAP Basis support?

Answer

• Job Processing and Scheduling
• User Management
• SAP system configuration and Client Administration
• Installation and Patch Upgrade
• Installation and Patch Upgrade
• Managing interfaces and integration with servers

How do you check the user’s logs in your system and how many sessions each user is generating?

 Answer

 SM04:

To check a number of users are logged into the system and in which client and how many session each user is generated and in each session what transaction is being executed.

How do you maintain roles in SAP system?

Answer

PFCG:

This is used to maintain roles in the SAP system.

What is SAP GUI?

Answer

SAP GUI is known as client tool which is used to access remote central server and runs on different operating systems like Microsoft Windows, UNIX, Mac, etc. This is used to manage and access SAP applications like SAP ECC and SAP Business Intelligence system.

Do you know the different supported platforms for SAP GUI?

Answer

SAP GUI for the Windows environment

SAP GUI for the Java(TM) environment

SAP GUI for HTML / Internet Transaction Server (ITS)

Are you aware of the Blue Crystal design of SAP GUI?

Answer

SAP Blue Crystal is a new visual design theme which succeeds Corbu. It provides a consistent design that allows users to seamlessly experience SAP GUI and NWBC elements. It is the standard theme of Fiori applications and comes with a new color palette and icons which are better scalable.

What is SAP Market place?

Answer

To download SAP Products. Service.sap.com to login to SAP Market Place

What is the difference between Sandbox, Development box and Production server?

Sandbox server

When a project is implemented, at the initial stages a sandbox server is used where all the customization, a configuration is performed.

Development Server

Next is to save the configuration in development server and saved in workbench requests and this has to be transported to a Production server.

Production Server

You can consider it as the last or most refined stage where the work is done when a project is in production/go live. All the changes that are required by the client are performed in DEV environment and later and the request is transported to production.

How do you create an instance?

 Answer

To create an instance, you should first define an operation mode. To create an instance, go to CCMS > Configuration or use Transaction code RZ04.

What are the different components in SAP system architecture?

Answer

Presentation layer communicates with the application server to perform all the processing and which is known as brains of an SAP system.

An application server consists of multiple instances and communicates with the database layer of the three-tier architecture.

The bottom layer is called the database layer which is responsible to keep all the data. Database of SAP system is kept on a separate server for performance and security reason.

At the Presentation layer, you consist of different components for ABAP and JAVA that enables the communication and processing of data in the SAP system. Key components at the Presentation layer includes −

Message Server

This is used to manage communication between distributed Dispatchers in the ABAP system.

Message Server

This is used to manage server processes and JAVA dispatchers. It is used to manage communication within JRE.

Dispatcher Queue

This is used to store multiple work process types.

Dispatcher

It is used to distribute requests to the work processes.

Memory Pipes

This is used to manage communication between ICM and ABAP work processes.

Enqueue Server

This is used to handle logical locks set by the executed Java application program.

Java Dispatcher

JAVA dispatcher is responsible to receive the client requests via the presentation layer and forward to the server process.

Gateway

It is used to manage communication between the SAP system and external systems.

ABAP Work processes

It is used to execute dialogue steps in R/3 applications separately.

Where do you download the trail version of SAP ECC, what is SAP CAL?

Answer

You can download SAP ECC 6.0 free trial from SAP Market place. It is also possible to integrate SAP ECC 6.0 trial using SAP Cloud Appliance Library ACL to AWS or other cloud environment service provider by providing user public cloud key.

What is SAP NetWeaver?

 Answer

SAP NetWeaver is known as an open technology software component that provides you with a platform to run critical business applications and integration between people, processes and information. It allows the composition, provisioning, and management of SAP and non-SAP applications across a heterogeneous software environment.

Do you have an idea about SAP NetWeaver architecture?

 Answer

SAP NetWeaver is one of a central component of the entire SAP software stack and provides you with a platform for other components and JAVA and ABAP applications.

SAP Application server consists of multiple several application server instances and also database servers. With the use of dialogue instance, it also contains a message server and an enqueue server.

Internal Communication Manager

It is used to process both client and server web requests. It supports protocol – HTTP, HTTPS, SMTP

Dispatcher

The dispatcher is used to distributing the user request to different work processes. If all the work processes are busy, requests are stored in the Dispatcher queue.

Work Processes

These are used to execute Java or ABAP programs.

SAP Gateway

This provides a RFC interface between SAP instances.

Message Server

Message Server

What is SAP NetWeaver Administrator tool?

Answer

SAP NetWeaver Administrator (NWA) is a Web-based tool that allows you to perform configuration, advanced administration, monitoring, troubleshooting, and diagnosing an SAP NetWeaver system.

You can use the NWA tool in these working modes −

• Online
• Local and remote

What do you understand by SAP Client administration?

 Answer

A client is used in the SAP system for multiple logins on a single instance. You can create multiple clients on a single instance. It also provides data security as one user will client can’t see data of other user and also there is no need to install the software again.

What are the benefits of using different clients in SAP system?

Answer

• Using SAP Clients, you can share the same resources between multiple users.
• It helps you to manage the SAP system landscape as you can create multiple clients for DEV, QA and PROD team.
• It allows you to share the SAP system within a large number of users.
• Standard Clients in the SAP system.
• You can create clients in SAP system from 000-999.

When your database size is large, how you can perform client copy in SAP landscape?

 Answer

It is always recommended to use the import/export option for client copy when the database size is large.

Steps to export a client −

Log on to Target system and create an entry for new target client using Transaction SCC4. To perform export for transferring data files to target system import buffer use Transaction SCC8.

What is password policy?

Answer

It is also possible to define password policy for users in the SAP system. This includes −

• User has to set minimum password length
• Password expire policy
• Password complexity, etc.

 What do you understand by executing background jobs in SAP system?

 Answer

Background jobs are jobs in the SAP system that run in the background without affecting normal operations in the system. Background jobs are used to reduce manual effort and to automate the process. They can run in the background without any user input and can be scheduled to run when the system load is low.

 What should be the job status to make it run?

Answer

Released

How do you access the Job Overview screen?

Answer

Transaction Code: SM37

Use * in job name column and select the status to see all the jobs created by this user. Also, enter the date range as per the requirement → Execute

What do you understand by Transport Management in SAP Basis?

Answer

TMS is one of the key components in the SAP system and used to control the new requests, to monitor the changes- who has implemented the changes, defining and configuring system landscape in the SAP environment.

What are the different components in the Transport Management system?

 Answer

Change and Transport Organizer CTO

Transaction: SE01

This is used to manage, configure the changes in SAP repository and other objects. This provides you with a central environment for development and configuration projects.

Transport Management System

This is used to manage, control and copy development objects and for customization to perform in SAP system landscape using transport routes configured with RFC Connections. This includes exporting the objects from one SAP system and importing to the target system.

Tools

Tools are part of SAP Kernel and are used to manage R3 trans and transport control program.

How to add a system to Transport domain?

 Answer

Log on to SAP system that you want to add to the system, use client 000 and start transaction STMS. If the system is not added, TMS will check the configuration file DOMAIN.CFG and will ask to join the domain. Click on -Select the proposal and save. The system will remain in ‘Waiting’ status initially.

To complete the task → login to Domain Controller System → Transaction STMS → Go to Overview → Systems.

You can see a new system that will be available. Go to SAP System → Approve

What are the Transport routes? What are the different Transport routes type in SAP Basis?

Answer

Transport routes are defined as routes that are defined by SAP Administrator to transmit the changes between different SAP systems.

You can define two types of transport routes −

• Consolidation (From DEV to QAS) – Transport Layers are used
• Delivery (From QAS to PRD) – Transport Layers not required

Where do you check Transport request logs?

Answer

You can also check the logs once the transport request is completed. To check the logs, Transaction SE01 → Goto → Transport Logs

What is the use of Patches in SAP system? Could you name a few common patch types?

 Answer

In the SAP system, when a bug is found you have to use patches to fix the bug. There are different types of patches that can be used in the SAP system. All patches start with SAPK followed by patch type.

ABAP (SAPKA620XXXX)

ABAP (SAPKA620XXXX)

ABAP (SAPKA620XXXX)

ABAP (SAPKA620XXXX)

In what sequence patches should be applied in the SAP system?

Answer

Patches are also called support packs and they should be applied in this sequence −

BASIS (SAPKB620XXXX)

ABAP (SAPKA620XXXX)

ABAP (SAPKA620XXXX)

APPLICATIONS (SAPKH470XXXX)

Where do you download the Support Package and Stack update?

Answer

You can download the support package from SAP Service Market place. Open the link- service.sap.com and login with your SID.

How do you perform proactive monitoring of Application servers, CPU Utilization, Database space, monitoring log files?

Answer

System monitoring involves proactive monitoring of Application servers, CPU Utilization, Database space, monitoring log files, etc.

System monitoring also includes −

• Batch Jobs monitoring
• Batch Jobs monitoring
• Monitoring Application Users
• Spool Request Monitoring
• Print Requests

To monitor the SAP system, use Transaction SM51

What is RFC connection?

 Answer

To communicate between SAP systems, there is a need to define a mechanism. One of the most common ways is to define Remote function Call RFC connection between two systems. By creating a trusted RFC connection between two, it allows you to create a trusted-trusting relationship between systems and you can communicate and exchange information and data.

What are the different types of Trusted RFC connections in SAP system?

Answer

Type 3

This connection type is used to specify a connection between ABAP systems. As mentioned in the next article, you need to mention hostname and IP address of the source system and also the logon information. This is applicable for both type of RFCs, between ABAP systems and external calls to ABAP systems.

Type I

It is used to specify ABAP systems connected to the same database as the current system.

Type T

It is defined as a connection for destinations to external programs that use the RFC API to receive RFCs. This can be activated using start or registration.

How do you create a Trusted RFC connection in the ABAP system, Explain?

Answer

Creating a Trusted RFC Connection −

On your source SAP system AA1 you want to setup a trusted RFC towards target system BB1. When it is done it would mean that when you are logged onto AA1 and your user has enough authorization in BB1, you can use the RFC connection and logon to BB1 without having to re-enter user and password.

Using RFC trusted/trusting relationship between two SAP systems, RFC from a trusted system to a trusting system, password is no required for logging on to the trusting system.

Open SAP ECC system using SAP logon. Enter transaction number sm59 → this is transaction number to create a new Trusted RFC connection.