Net Weaver

Apologies for the messy stuff in this page. I am trying to find out what it is. Hopefully someone will describe this animal better with more useful details. It appears to be a heavyweight contender as a development platform though.

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NetWeaver is a development platform from SapCorporation (the top EnterpriseResourcePlanning firm) that debuted in 2003 (see http://web.archive.org/web/20030119120846/http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/030116/sfth044a_1.html). Although primarily a JavaPlatform product (via WebSphere) , it claim interoperability with MicrosoftDotNet.

SapCorporation is said to have close relationships with MicrosoftCorporation, SAP NetWeaver appeared in DotNet roadshows, and the company was considered as a merger partner by the Redmond giant.

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Resources

General info on the NetWeaverPlatform at http://www.cxotoday.com/cxo/jsp/article.jsp?article_id=2798&cat_id=911

SAP portal product for DotNet at http://www.theserverside.net/news/thread.tss?thread_id=31096

SAP tells developer to focus on Business at http://www.idevnews.com/IntegrationNews.asp?ID=123

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'From NetWeaver Master Guide 04 version'

see http://help.sap.com/nw04, http://service.sap.com/network, "SAP NetWeaver Security Guide"

NetWeaver is the technical foundation for mySAP Business Suite and SAP xApps solutions...

MicrosoftDotNet, Sun JavaTwoEnterpriseEdition (J2EE), IBM WebSphere

Adobe PF 6 interactive forms inclusion in "Web Dynpro" and "NetWeaver Developer Studio" meant SAP applications can drive business processes using PDF documents.

Scenarios include:

• SAP BW - supports Crystal Enterprise SAP edition version 10
• SAP BI Information Broadcasting
• SAP EP (Enterprise Portal)
• SAP XI (SAP Exchange Infrastructure)
• SAP MI (Mobile Infrastructure)
• SAP KW (Knowledge Warehouse) - Arbortext Epic or Altova Authentic xml editors supported
• SAP NetWeaver Development Environment
• SAP MDM (Master Data Management)

Installable components include (AS means "Application Server")

• Web AS ABAP 6.40 with BW server 3.5, IGS 6.40 and PI_BASIS 6.40
• Web AS Java 6.40 with J2EE engine, SAP Java Connector, SAP Java Tech Services
• SAP GUI 6.20 or 6.40

NetWeaver perspective on Software components

• Collaboration via collaboration rooms that are populated with elements from SAP Enterprise portal. Can integrate groupware (Exchange, notes) and synchronous collaboration tools such as "Web Ex".
  • real-time: appln sharing, chat, instant messaging
  • async: tasks, calendar, discussions
• Knowledge Management access to unstructured documents in repositories connected to portal, via "repository managers". APIs available to develop customized repository managers.
  • Content Management. life-cycle management of documents. Has collaboration features like feedback, rating, subscription
  • TREX search and classification, for text mining. TRES is used in SAP BW as well.
• Business Information Warehouse is a core component and includes warehousing, business intelligence, tool called "Business Explorer". Manages the distribution of information as well, in accordance to different roles (BI Content).
  • BI component includes OLAP, business planning and simulation, special processes like Data Mining and Reporting Agent.
  • "Business Explorer" supports strategic analyses, operational reporting, and decision-making support.
• Enterprise Portal provides role based, secured web interface without installed client components.
  • iViews allows access for reading or operations (e.g. form submission). Has portal navigation, portal eventing. Preassembled iViews "business packages" available for download.
• XI Exchange Infrastructure integrates heterogeneous components from multiple vendors and technology environments. Capable of tying "shared business semantics" and mediate between services and technical realizations.
  • Technical components include queuing, mapping and routing. Provides infrastructure for BPM
  • Process integration without direct connection between processes. New components are plug-in and eliminate the cost of direct connections.
• Knowledge warehouse is the technical infrastructure to manage documentation, training and manuals in different media. Has facilities to model large company structures.
  • ISO 9000 quality management template is available.
• Developer Studio for development of multi-layered java based applications using EclipseIde. Also supports "Web Dynpro"?
  • has deployment manager to connect to J2EE engine
• Java Development Infrastructure is intended for server-side services.
  • Design time repository for software versioning
  • Component build Service for structuring applications and build from components
  • Change Management Service for software life-cycle management
  • Deployment Manager has manual or automated deployments
  • System Landscape Directory
  • Name service
  • Java dictionary
  • SAP Java test tools
• Visual Composer for creating portal content via GUI
• User Management Engine provides centralized user management for all Java appln. Its data can be drawn from a combination of existing corporate directory, SAP Web AS ABAP system or database.
• Web Application Server was called SAP Basis and can be configured as AbapLanguage (ABAP) only, ABAP & Java, or Java only.
  • via Java Connector or .NET connector to link to components from the respective architectures.
  • ICF (Internet Communication Framework) allow direct ABAP programs to process and distribute HTTP requests.
  • Can function either as HTTP clients or servers, and also SMTP based email send/receive.

ABAP Server

ABAP server includes Change and Transport System (CTS) that supports large development teams.

New Business Server Pages programming model available after R/3 4.6C release. The Web AS includes a Internet Communication Manager (ICM) that supports HTTP/HTTPS protocols.

A Transport Management System can be used to link up development, test and prod environments.

Java Applications

scenarios include:

• J2EE ( JSP/Servlet and EJB)
• Web Dynpro (MVC based application interface that can be connected to webservice)
• SAP JCo to access ABAP
• Development and integration of Web Service
  • during development, web service can use UDDI as an option
  • A platform specific proxy is generated using a WSDL file, and the generator will be concerned with the formulated of valid SOAP messages

Messaging in "Exchange Infrastructure"

Middleware technology include:

• Intermediate Documents (iDoc)
• Remote Function call (RFC)
• Text file
• JavaMessageService (JMC)
• JavaDatabaseConnectivity data access
• SoapProtocol
• RNIF
• Plain HTTP
• Marketplace Access
• Proxy-based messaging

Central SAP Administration and Monitoring System

• includes Computer Centre Management System to collect and handle alerts
• Web Administrator will progressively become the centralized administrator

Solution Managers are used for operational management purposes.

Specialized toolsets for admin

• Wily Introscope Tool for performance and troubleshooting
• Mercury Interactive load generator

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Gunnar, it is not intended as spam, I am learning about significant application development platforms, and I would think after IBM and MS, this could be the next biggest, and I think it would be bigger than Sun's product offering. --dl

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