Now you can proactively avoid administration problems with CRM Middleware - whether they be performance losses or even complete system freezes - using this comprehensive book, based on the extensive experience of SAP Active Global Support. You'll learn the basics of data processing in the Middleware (input processing, validation, output processing) and get concrete troubleshooting advice. Plus, uncover a vast array of optimization options for all critical parts of the Middleware, as well as practical instruction on how to avoid system freezes and on how to handle those freezes once they've occurred.

Based on CRM Release 5.0, this book is also highly useful for those still working with the older Release 4.0. In addition, wherever possible, the authors also provide you with sneak previews of the upcoming release 6.0 as well.

Highlights

• Input processing and validation
• Output processing
• BDoc modelling and storage
• Groupware integration
• Exchanging your own data
• Replication & Realignment
• XML
• Reorganizing the Middleware
• Mass changes
• Roadmaps for analyzing the Middleware

About the Author(s)

Juliane Bode, Stephan Golze, and Thomas Schröder are members of the SAP Active Global Support Center of Expertise for CRM. Among other things, their responsibilities are remote and on-site support for critical key account projects. Their invaluable experience with several SAP CRM releases collected over years of support activity builds the foundation of this book.

Table of Contents

Part I: Basic Principles of CRM Middleware

1. A Journey Through CRM Middleware ... 25
... 1.1 The Journey from R/3 to CRM ... 25
... 1.2 The Journey from CRM to R/3 ... 28
... 1.3 The Journey from CRM to a Mobile Client ... 30
... 1.4 The Journey from a Mobile Client to CRM ... 33

2. Inbound Processing and Validation ... 37
... 2.1 BDoc ... 38
... 2.2 Flow ... 40
... 2.3 Inbound Queues ... 44
... 2.4 Inbound Adapters ... 63
... 2.5 Validation ... 79
... 2.6 Handling Errors When Processing BDoc Messages ... 82

3. Outbound Processing ... 89
... 3.1 Replication Model ... 90
... 3.2 Messaging Flow ... 100
... 3.3 Synchronization Flow ... 107
... 3.4 Outbound Queues ... 124

4. BDoc Modeling and Storage ... 135
... 4.1 Definition and Structure of BDocs ... 135
... 4.2 Data Storage for BDoc Messages ... 147

5. Groupware Integration ... 155
... 5.1 Server-Server Scenario in Groupware Integration ... 155
... 5.2 Analyzing Groupware Integration ... 164

6. Exchanging Customer-Specific Data ... 169
... 6.1 Customizations Required in SAP R/3 to Enable the Import of Custom Data ... 171
... 6.2 Customizations Required in SAP CRM to Enable the Import of Data from SAP R/3 ... 172
... 6.3 Loading Data from the R/3 System ... 183

Part II: Performance Optimization in SAP CRM Middleware

7. Introduction to Performance Optimization ... 187

8. Inbound Queues ... 197
... 8.1 The Number of Inbound Queues Is Too High ... 199
... 8.2 The Number of Inbound Queues Is Too Low ... 208
... 8.3 Hardware Bottlenecks ... 209
... 8.4 Performance Analysis for Processing Single Records ... 215
... 8.5 Dependencies Between Inbound Queues ... 231

9. Replication Model and R&R ... 235
... 9.1 Basic Principles ... 236
... 9.2 Optimizing the Replication Model ... 239
... 9.3 Parallelizing the Queues ... 256
... 9.4 Optimizing the Access Path ... 259
... 9.5 Special Optimization Options in R&R ... 264
... 9.6 Mass Changes ... 265

10. Outbound Queues ... 269
... 10.1 System Optimization ... 274
... 10.2 Minimizing the Number of Outbound BDocs ... 277

11. XML in Optimization ... 297
... 11.1 Exchanging Data Between SAP R/3 and SAP CRM via XML ... 297
... 11.2 Data Exchange Between the CRM Server and a Mobile Client via XML ... 300

12. Reorganization ... 307
... 12.1 Reorganizing the Middleware ... 307
... 12.2 Avoiding Object Links ... 315

13. Performing Optimized Mass Changes ... 317
... 13.1 Optimal Parallelization of the Middleware ... 318
... 13.2 Organizational Measures ... 326
... 13.3 System Monitoring and Analysis Roadmap ... 330
... 13.4 Immediate Actions When Things Really Go Wrong ... 347

14. A Look Ahead ... 359
... 14.1 Improvements in R&R ... 359
... 14.2 BDoc Merge ... 364
... 14.3 Changes in the Administration Console ... 365
... 14.4 bgRFC ... 367

A. SAP CRM Middleware at a Glance ... 369
... A.1 The Flow ... 369
... A.2 Inbound and Outbound Processing ... 370
... A.3 BDocs ... 371
... A.4 Adapters and Services ... 372

B. Glossary ... 375

C. Transactions and Menu Paths ... 381

D. Coding Examples for Chapter 6 ... 385
... D.1 Extracting the Book Data from the R/3 System ... 385
... D.2 Mapping the Extracted Data to the BAPIMTCS Container in SAP R/3 ... 388
... D.3 Mapping in SAP CRM ... 389
... D.4 Validating Received Book Data in SAP CRM ... 391

E. Analysis Roadmaps ... 393
... E.1 Checklist ... 393
... E.2 Analysis Roadmaps ... 394

F. Authors ... 399