Briefly explain about Net weaver?

Ans: SAP Net Weaver provides an open integration and application platform and permits the integration of the Enterprise Services Architecture. Net weaver covers following topics:

a) People Integration

b) Process Integration

c) Information Integration

d) Application Platform.
2) What is SAP PI?
Ans:Process Integration is an Integral part of SAP Net weaver.The aim of PI is to integrate different versions of both SAP and non-SAP systems implemented on different flat forms (Java, ABAP, and so on). PI enables you to implement cross-system business processes.PI is based on an open architecture, makes use of open standards and offers services that are essential in a heterogeneous and complex system landscape: namely a runtime infrastructure for message exchange, configuration options for managing business processes and message flow, and options for transforming message contents between the sender and receiver systems.

The application-specific contents are transferred from the sender to the receiver in a freely defined XML schema (XML: extended Markup Language) using the Integration Engine. The structure of a message is therefore determined by the interface data structures used.

The central concept is that, during the design phase, all interfaces required are initially developed independently of a platform and made available in the form of a WSDL description (WSDL: Web Service Description Language). Using this description you can, for example, define mappings between interfaces without this having an effect on an existing system landscape. All design phase data is saved in the Integration Repository to be implemented later in a particular system landscape. In this second phase, the configuration phase, you can select components, interfaces, and mappings saved in the Integration Repository that are appropriate for your system landscape and business processes, and assign them to each other in logical routing. The data resulting from this configuration process is saved in the Integration Directory and you can call and evaluate it from the runtime of the PI.

Features:
PI enables you to do the following:- Develop cross-system applications. You can exchange multiple system messages using the runtime infrastructure and synchronous or asynchronous communication. You can either develop new and platform-independent interfaces, or connect to existing interfaces at runtime, using adapters. Adjust message values and structures for the receiver, using mappings. – Centrally maintain the message flow between logical systems in the system landscape, using logical routing.- Connect the logical receiver to a technical system, using Services; this system can easily be switched using this abstraction level (technical routing). Describe your system landscape as the basis for the description of your cross-system business process.

3) PI – Process Integration

Process Integration can be used as a Middleware Engine to communicate in a distributed environment. The heart of XI is Integration Engine that is used for integrating different technologies using Standard Messaging techniques e.g XML. Different mapping tools are avilable for mapping the distributed system which can be mapped without having any expertice of Technical Details. As a real world example, XI can be helpful in integrating different banks with SAP R/3. XI Engine also support previous releases of SAP R/3 like 4.6C and have many more adapters to communicate with legacy systems.

SAP XI is an integration technology and platform for
1.  SAP and Non-SAP systems,
2.  A2A and B2B scenarios,
3.  Synchronous and Asynchronous communication,
4.  Cross component Business Process management and it include built-in engine for designing and executing   integration process (Business process).
5.  The goal of SAP XI is to provide single point of integration of all systems inside and outside the corporate boundary across technologies and organizational boundaries.
6.  The important feature of XI is openness, flexible and transparency to the integration process. It is based on ESA and SOA.
7.  The overall key concept of SAP XI is to drive integrated business process across heterogeneous and highly dynamic landscapes in a more manageable cost effective way.
8.  The basic idea is to provide runtime infrastructure which allows heterogeneous systems to be tied together with fewer connections and at the same time, in order to connect those applications and let messages flow from one application to other, have a centralized storage of integration knowledge
4) What are the integrations in net weaver?
Ans) People integration, information integration, process integration and application platform.
5) What are the components in net weaver? 
Ans) mobile infrastructure, enterprise portals, biw and MDM, sap xi (integration broker and bpm) WEB AS.
6) What is the message flow in SAP XI?
Ans) inbound handling, receiver determination, interface determination, channel determination, mapping, outbound handling.
7) What are routing rules?
Ans: Receiver determination rules and interface determination rules (includes mapping assign).
8) What are the quality of services, which comes under asynchronous process?
Ans: exactly once and exactly once in order.
 
9) What are service users?
Ans) they have sapmuser roles on the abap part of the SAP web as that is available on the J2ee part as groups
10) What the central administration transaction to manage the alerting? 
Ans) ALRTCATDEF.
11) What are the tools used by runtime to monitor?
Ans) ccms (computer center management system), pmi (process monitoring infrastructure)   and alert frame work.
12) Partner connectivity kit is directly integrated with? –
Ans) integration engine.
13) What does partner connectivity kit enable?
Ans) enables partners of XI customers to conduct XML document exchange with XI.
14) What is the process performed in runtime workbench?
Ans) message monitoring, component monitoring, performance analysis and message alerting.
15) What are Unicode sap web AS platforms?
Ans) oracle and ms sql
16) What the use of WEB AS alert framework?
Ans) classification of errors and alerting channels.
17) What the standard that adapter framework is maintained?

Ans) JCA
18) In which monitoring end to end monitoring is taken place?
Ans) message monitoring.
19) What are the two types of monitoring handled by message monitoring?
Ans) end to end and performance.
20) What are the views you get in message end to end monitoring?
Ans) process and instance views.
21) How idoc is posted to r/3 system
Ans) XI is not responsible for posting idocs. XI is just responsible for populating the idoc structure with the data. The function module associated with idoc structure is posting the actual data into the R/3 tables.
22) What are the monitoring options you get in performance monitoring?
Ans) overview data and detailed data.

23) Which adapter has central monitoring and configuration?
Ans) XI Adapter Engine.
24) What is required to install XI adapter on XI system?
Ans) Java proxy environment.
25) Why exactly BPM usage? 
Ans) cross component and takes care of the execution and persistency.

26) When will we go for BPM?
Ans)     a) Error Handling

b) Splitting of messages

c) Combining of messages

d) Message Persistency.
27) Why integration engine?
Ans) Processing messages, mapping, routing, guaranteeing quality of service.
28) How many types of editors we have? And what are they?
Ans) scenario editor, process editor, mapping editor, condition editor, interface editor.
29) What are the steps involved in integration engine? 
Ans) routing, mapping, channel determination.
30) What are the steps involved in BPM?
Ans) process execution and correlation handling.
31) What is the transport protocol involved in JMS?
Ans) sonic mq, mq series.
32) What is soap?
Ans) simple object access protocol.
33) What are different messaging models? 
Ans) publish/subscribe & request/response.
34) Global Container?
Ans) This object enables you to cache the value that you want to read again when you next call any user-defined function that is in the same message mapping.
35) Container?
Ans) This object enables you to cache the value, which you want to read again when you next call the same user-defined function.
 
 
36) Multi Cast?
Ans) you have an option of sending a message to multiple receivers and waiting for a response from the each of the receivers. This procedure of sending a message to multiple receivers and waiting for a response message is also known as ‘multi cast’.
37) Types of Node Functions?
Ans)                 a) Remove Contexts: – remove all higher level contents of the source level message in order to map with the target message field. So you can get the node contexts removal.

b) Split by value: – Insert Context change for an element split by value is some as counter part of remove context. Here instead of delivering the context you can insert a context change in the source value queue.
c) Collapse contexts: – Copies first values of the all contexts to one context empty context are replaced by empty string.
d) Copy Value: – How many ever times I occur I am copied just once”. This is not a node function but I am explaining it as it is used very frequently in real-time.  Let us take an instance of material group, which can occur as many times as the item node. But since we are mapping it to the header in the target node I just want to copy the first occurrence of material group and map it to the header node. CopyValue exactly does that.

e) Create if:  – It will create a target node or element based on some condition.

f) Exists:  – Function to determine whether a particular source field exists in instance to be processed. If it does it gives true or else false.

g) Use one as many.

h) Replace value: – Replace the value I with the value that you desired in the dialogue for function properties.

i) Sort: – Sorts all values of the multiply occurring inbound field with in the existing or set context.
38) What are the three objects used at user defined functions?
Ans)    a) Container

b) Global Container

c) Mapping Trace.
39) What is the Mapping Trace?
Ans) This object enables to transfer message to the mapping trace if the trace level set correspondingly then the trace is visible to message monitoring.
40) What is an Alert?
Ans) An alert is a notification informing its recipients that a critical or very important situation has arisen. The situation is as severe that an action must be taken immediately in order to solve the situation.
41) Sap XI definition on Alert?
Ans) Alert are used to monitor the abap and java components (Including the Business Process Engine) of Exchange Infrastructure centrally, and to identify different categories of system errors and application errors in the various interfaces and interface namespaces of the components involved.
42) Types of Mapping?
Ans)    Graphical Mapping

Java Mapping

XSLT Mapping

ABAP Mapping
43) Disadvantages of XSLT Mapping?
Ans) you cannot use Java APIs and Classes in it. There might be cases in your mapping when you will have to perform something like a properties file look up or a DB lookup, such scenarios are not possible in XSLT.

44) What is Technical System?

Ans) Technical system represents the physical system, it contains all the physical characteristics of your system for eg while creating a Technical system for your R3 system – u specify the host name, message server, OS, the clients etc.
45) What is Business System?
Ans) Business System is a logical entity, which represents logical view of your technical system. (Eg a client in R3 system can be represented as business system in SLD) For one technical system you can have multiple business systems.

46) SAP XI features?

Ans)    a) for SAP and non-SAP applications.

b) For A2A and B2B Scenarios

c) For asynchronous and synchronous communication

d) For cross component Business Process Management

47) What type of destination we need for RFC Scenario and IDOC Scenario?

Ans)     For RFC-RFC Destination of type TCP/IP

For idoc – rfc destination of type R/3

48) What are Advanced Java Functions in XI?

Ans) they allow to add your own functions to the message mapping

49) Where BPM will execute?

Ans) BPM will execute in the Integration Engine in the Integration Server.

50) Differences between proxies and adapters?

Ans) Proxies are interfaces, which will get executed in the application system. They can be created only in the system from message interfaces using the proxy generation functions. You can use proxies for systems with WAS >=6.20.

XI will communicate in native language with SAP systems via proxies. Proxies uses XML – SOAP based communication for both ABAP and Java Proxies.

Adapters will convert one format into another expected/target format. means from SAP standard formats and as well as 3rd party formats to target formats

51) Types of Usefull node functions?

Ans) removeContext, splitByValue, collapseContext, Copy value, createIf, exits, useOneAsMany

1.removeContexts- “There is absolutely no difference between my children or grand children or great grand children”. Material Group is sent in the item node of the source idoc but I want it in the header node of the target idoc. So I need to fool the mapping runtime that Material Group is coming in the header node of the source. removeContext exactly does that.

2.SplitByValue- “I need a different parent for every instance of me”
I will try to explain the function with the same mapping as readers can correlate well. Each instance of Itemno in the source structure should generate a target itemNo and item under a different instance of the header node in the target. As we can observe that occurrences of item in the source an target structure are different we cannot map the elements of the item node directly. We use splitbyValue to achieve the same.
3.collapseContexts- ” There is just a slight difference between my children or grand children or great grand children”. Similar to removeContext but context change is replaced with “”. If we need to create empty tags in the target for every context change in the source we can use it. I did not find it useful so I don’t like to explain in detail.

copyValue-“How many ever times I occur I am copied just once”. This is not a node function but I am explaining it as it is used very frequently in real-time.
Let us take an instance of material group, which can occur as many times as the item node. But since we are mapping it to the header in the target node I just want to copy the first occurrence of material group and map it to the header node. copyValue exactly does that.

5.createif-“I have a criteria for existing”. It is used when you want to create target node or element based on some condition

52) What are the SAP XI Components?

Ans) a) Integration Builder b) Integration Server c) System Land Scape Directory, d) Runtime Work Bench.

53) What is an abstract interface?

Ans) Abstract interface is similar to other interface (outbound or inbound) but does not have direction. It can be used as either outbound or inbound. It is used only inside BPM.It is also called as hidden Interface.

54) What are the configurations done on XI, on R3, on XI’s SLD, what is the protocol used for File, Content Conversion, and Serialization?

55) What kind of JDBC action was performed, DB accesed, driver installed?, Synch call and asynch call, what actions can be perfromed, datatypes for JDBC and so on ?

56) Configurations on XI, on R3, how was data sent to XI, what are the connections used, how was the IR and ID of XI configured, Synch call or asynch call, BPM or non BPM?

57) Anything related to BPM can be asked. What are the patterns, how do you implement a pattern, what are the step types,, etc?

58) Transport and Message Protocols for each of Sender/Receiver adapters. For File and JDBC adapters these protocols are different in the Sender/Receiver adapters?

59) Definition of logical system, RFC destination, port?

60) How to Monitoring of BPM?

SXMB_MONI_BPE

61) What is IB?

62) What is IS, where does the IR, ID reside?

63) What does the cache hold?

64) Which adapters run on j2ee engine and which run on ABAP stack?

IDOC and HTTP adpter run on ABAP stack…..rest on Java stack

65) Sender / Receiver Agreement– Why doesnt IDOC and HTTP have a sender agreement?

As they run on ABAP stack…..

66) How do you test an Alert?

run a report RSALERTTEST

67) Alerts in a BPM?

68) What is the difference between the monitoring done on the RunTimeWorkBench and the one done using SXMB_MONI?

SXMB_MONI for ABAP atck and RWB for java STACK

69) What are End-to-End Monitoring, Performance Monitoring, and Cache Montioring etc?

70) What is a Business System, Technical System, Logical System, and other questions related to the System Landscape Directory (SLD)?

71) How and what are the stacks available in XI?

ABAP and JAVA stacks

72) What is mapping trace?

Ans) This object enables you to transfer information for the mapping trace during mapping to a container that can be viewed by users in the message monitoring

73) What is the SLD used for?

Ans) Repository used for storing landscape information. Its does not provide any landscape administration tools .SLD manages software components and platform dependencies. It acts as a central information provider for NetWeaver systems and other administration tools. Facilitates Installations, upgrades and transports

74) What does SLD use to communicate with client applications?

Ans) By using the Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP)

75) What are the 2 main areas of the SLD?

Ans) The Software Catalog describes the installed products and their constituent components. The Systems Catalog describes the systems in the data center from two perspectives

76) The information from the software catalog is used by which component of the Integration Builder?

Ans) Integration Repository to organize development efforts.  Software Component Version organizes all design work in the Integration Repository. This makes sense, as interfaces logically belong to a software component and to a particular version.

77) The information from the systems catalog is used which component of the Integration Builder?

Ans) Integration Directory to drive the specific configuration of Integration scenarios. Routing Relations in the Integration Directory point to the Business Systems that are maintained in the System Catalog of the SLD, and through the appropriate association, to the technical systems.

78) What information is defined in the Software Catalog?

Ans) Product: Represents a collection of all versions of a product. In an SAP environment, a product corresponds to an SAP technicalcomponent, e.g. 4.6c, 4.6d, 4.7. Software Component: Represents a collection of all versions of a software component. Examples of Software Components are SAP_APPL, SAP_ABA, SAP_HR, etc.

79) What information is defined in the System Catalog?

Ans) Technical System correlates the software to the physical host on which it is installed. Each technical System can have multiple business system associated with it. Business systems are Logical systems that function as senders and receivers in XI

80) XI Advantages over other Middleware Tools

 Ans)  Pre-Delivered integration content

(Def: -SAP solutions bring their integration Meta data like CRM, SRM, SCM, xRPM, etc.) As delivered with the integration repository of XI
Benefit: –
A) Out-of-the-box of integration solution
B) Simplified upgrade of SAP solutions
C) Versioning and modification management of integration of Meta data.
Openness and interoperability
(Def: -Connect to existing integration solutions) like
Through JMS messaging (e.g MQ series) and SOAP.
Use open, XML standards for integration
Incorporate existing functionality in to new process (Adapters (JCA),

81) What is the use of component monitoring?

Ans) you use component monitoring in the following cases:

If you want to get an overview of the status of the individual components of SAP Exchange Infrastructure (XI).If you want to call the configuration data of individual XI components. If you want to use test messages to check whether the XI runtime is functioning correctly. If you want to test whether cache connectivity is functioning correctly. If you want to archive message security settings or entire messages.If you want to check the status of your communication channels or the adapters configured in the communication channels.

82) What is the use of Message Monitoring?

Ans) Totrack the status of messages.

To find errors that have occurred and establish what caused them

83) What is the use of End-to-Monitoring?

Ans) If you want to monitor message processing steps in a number of SAP components (to be configured). If you want to monitor the path of individual messages through these SAP components, from start to end.

84) What is element?
Ans) Element is a simple XML TAG
85) What is attribute?
Ans) Properties of XML TAG
86) What is node?
Ans) Logical set of group of XML TAG.
86) How many transform protocols and what are they?
Ans) two types of transform protocols 1) NFS (Network File System, 2) FTP (File Transfer Protocol)
87) Which setting needs to be done for enabling abap mapping?

88) Which adapters run on j2ee engine and which run on ABAP stack.?

89). How do you test an Alert?

90) Alerts in a BPM

91). What are the protocols that the Mail adapter supports

92). What is the usage of Web Application server in XI?

93). How to convert WSDL (Web Services Descriptive Language) to target language?

94) What is Software component?

Ans) Software components represent the reusable modules of a product

95) What is Software Component version?

Ans) represents a particular version of a software component.

96) What is product?

Product: A software product is composed of one or more software components.
It represents a collection of all versions of a product. A product is a unit that
can be delivered, is visible to the customer, and that is installable and renewable.

97) What are the stacks available in XI?

Ans) 1) Java stack 2) ABAP Stack
98) IDOC and Plain HTTP adapter is it required Sender Communication channel,
Ans) No
98) What is the use of Exactly Once In Order (EOIO)?

Ans) Messages are delivered with the same queue names (supplied by the application) in the same sequence that they were sent from the sender system.

99) When would you use ABAP and Java mapping? What are advantages and disvantages of one vs. the other? Any guidelines on this?

Ans) Java mapping runs on J2EE engine, ABAP Mapping runs on ABAP Stack.I guess ABAP mapping makes more sense if you have a requirement wherein you need to perform multiple RFC classes for RFC Lookup’s etc as you can do this very easily  Using  your ABAP Code. Java Mapping provides a easier means to use Java API’s etc and it uses SAX parser which provides better performance while ABAP Mapping uses DOM Parser (I am not very sure on this though) which can cause a performance bottleneck.

100) what are the Monitoring available in Runtime Work Bench?

Ans)     1) Component monitoring

2) Message monitoring

3) End-to-End monitoring

4) Alert Configuration

5) Cache monitoring

6) Index administration