DB14 : Daily SAP Basis job log to be monitored
SAP provides an excellent DBA tools (for Oracle DB) which is called BRTOOLS. BRTOOLS is a compilation tools range from BRBACKUP (tools to maintain backup database), BRARCHIVE (tools to maintain archive files backup), BRCONNECT (tools to maintain checking database, updating database statistics, etc), BRRESTORE (tools to maintain database restoration), and some specific and useful tool.
When SAP Basis running one or more tools from BRTOOLS, it will create a job log to provide SAP Basis some information about BRTOOLS activities whether it succeed, succeed with warning, or failed. We can access those log from SAP R/3 through SAPGUI.
SAP provides DB14 tcode for SAP Basis to access those database logs. Through this article, I’ll show you how to monitored your database logs.
First, type DB14 on your SAPGUI screen. You’ll have this screen :
To check your BRCONNECT logs, just click BRCONNECT button.
You’ll see some logs. The one which coloured grey is BRCONNECT job that had run well or successfully. The other one which coloured yellow is BRCONNECT job that had run but ended with warning. If your BRCONNECT job hadn’t run well then it will show you red coloured log. To see what’s really happened, justdouble click one of i logs.
For more detailed information, click Detail Log button.
For BRBACKUP job log, you can click BRBACKUP button.
For more information about BRBACKUP activities, double click on one of its log.
To get more detailed information, click on Detail Log button.
For BRARCHIVE log activities, click on BRARCHIVE button.
For detailed information, just double click on one of its lines and you’ll get this screen.
For detailed information, you have to click Detail Log button.
SAP through Going Live Check event will check this log to make sure that your SAP production system is ready to go live. They will mention and warn you if something wrong with your backup configuration. So, make sure that you’ll have this log check every day to make your system has high availability and minimize your SAP production downtime.
SAPOSCOL : how SAP R/3 instance communicate with OS
SAPOSCOL a tiny program developed by SAP as daemon so that SAP R/3 instance can comunicate with its OS host. By using this SAPOSCOL program, SAP R/3 can communicate and can get a lot of information about OS including CPU usage, memory level usage, swap, disk activity, network information, monitored process, system configuration, client – server connectivity, etc. Hmm….we can get it without directly communicate with OS. Just use SAPGUI from your workstation.
Usually, SAPOSCOL program had to be started before your SAP R/3 instance so that it can supply your R/3 instance with OS information. To start SAPOSCOL program, your just entered your OS console/terminal and use ora[SID] (if you’re using Oracle) or SAPservice[SID] if you’re using MS SQL.
Just type : #saposcol
If SAPOSCOL process had been running, it will show you the information and status.
To stop SAPOSCOL, just type : #saposcol -k
To check SAPOSCOL information, just type : #saposcol -s
SAPOSCOL program is very important to SAP R/3 instance. It can delivered information to SAP tcode such as RZ20, ST03, ST06, etc.
If your SAPOSCOL program did’nt run then you’ll need to run it manually. Usually, Basis forget about its permission (if you’re working in UNIX environment) and claimed “Hey, my SAPOSCOL didn’t run ? help…”
Your first step is check its permission on OS level (no need to restart your SAP R/3 instance nor your database server).
Hope this tutorial can help you.
Searching for The Best Linux distros for SAP Workstation
In my previous “personal” projects, my client always keep asking me what’s linux distro that I use and recommended for SAP workstation. Before I answer that question, I always gave them some of SAPGUI requirements. Based on that requirements, even you can decide which linux distro is the best linux OS for SAPGUI.
Here some guidelines before choosing linux distros :
- Must be able to run SUN java environment because SAPGUI for Java was the only SAPGUI client available for Linux right now. There is no native SAPGUI for Linux. Not like Windows OS.
- Must have office suite applications such as OpenOffice.org, KOffice, etc.
- (Optional) Having remote desktop applications so that your SAP helpdesk or IT/EDP crew can help you figure out what happened if something bad is happening on you linux environment.
- (Optional) Having MP3 player, Movie Player, Chat application, etc…just kidding.
Based on this requirements, you can decide the best linux distro for your own. Another consideration before choosing your company official linux distro to use are :
- How long do your IT/EDP crew to prepare a single desktop PC until its ready to be used ? If your choosen linux distro had already shipped with SUN java, OpenOffice an all applications you need then you’ll ready to boot your client just in a few minutes. This is the reason why I am using Vector Linux 5.0 SOHO and Vector Linux 5.8 SOHO edition. I recommend them as SAPGUI-ready distro 😀
- Linux support and documentation. Soon or later, you’ll need help when installing or operating linux distro as SAPGUI workstation. Some of linux distro are well supported by big company such as Redhat, Novell, Xandros, Linspire, etc. Maybe one day you’ll need their support. For me, I prefer community based linux because I do not use complicated setting or configuration on my linux client. But, your bozz will decide this, right ?? Usually, well established company are still need legal support from another company support. You can get this support from your native or local company. (FYI, my private company, Ardhian Linux Shop are providing SAP support and also Linux PC and server support for Indonesia. Hope for my all over the world clients :D. Who knows ?? )
- Regular linux distro release. Computer programs always have bugs. So, you always need to update or –radically– upgrade your linux distro. Ubuntu is one of the best linux that give their promise to be regular release every 6 months. You can rely on that.
I use Ubuntu and Vector Linux for my office. Of course, you can also use another linux distro such as PC Linux OS, Linux Mint, Freespire, etc.
Happy migrating your “pirated” Windows version to Linux !
SAP Basis Cafe 