Heterogeneous landscapes of Microsoft and SAP components are the reality in most companies. This book provides readers with in-depth integration advice and details, covering all levels of SAP NetWeaver, and provides developers and consultants with practical examples for all components.

The authors discuss basic technologies like BAPI, .NET Connector and web services, as well as end user integration topics like Desktop Office Integration, Duet and PDK for .NET. In addition, BI interfaces between SAP BW, MS Analysis Services and SQL-Server are also discussed in detail - no relevant aspect of integration is left out - including those at the process level. Learn from comprehensive configuration scenarios exactly how best to develop robust and slender web services with XI and BizTalk.

A special supplementary chapter gives you highly detailed insights on identity management and single sign-on. This comprehensive reference is loaded with step-by-step instruction, including how to configure the LDAP Connector and best practices to set up the ZBV LDAP connection. By reading this book you'll quickly discover how to increase the productivity of your users and decrease the costs of your system operations.

Highlights

• Basis Integration: RFC, BAPI, IDoc, DCOM Connector, SAP Connector for Microsoft .NET, and Web Services
• User Integration: PDK for .NET, Desktop Office Integration, Duet
• Information Integration: BEx Suite, Upload of Data into SAP BW, Open Analysis Interfaces, Open Hub Service, Microsoft SQL Server, Repository Manager, and Portal Drive
• Process Integration: HTTP and SOAP Adapter, Reliable Messaging, BizTalk Adapter for mySAP Business Suite
• User Management: Single Sign-on Scenarios, Active Directory Integration, LDAP Connector, ZBV, etc.

About the Author(s)

Andreas Rohr is a freelance SAP consultant and focuses on the areas of interoperability and interface architecture. Thomas Meigen manages the Collaboration Support Center Microsoft (CTSC-MS), which he built for SAP. André Fischer also works at CTSC-MS where he focuses on single sign-on, identity, knowledge, and process management.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements ... 11

1 Introduction ... 13
1.1 About This Book ... 14
1.2 Integration History ... 15
1.3 Platforms for a Service-Oriented Architecture ... 25
1.4 A Living Partnership ... 31

2 Basis: Integration Tools ... 35
2.1 SAP Legacy Interface Technologies ... 37
2.2 Development Tool SAP Connector for Microsoft .NET ... 55
2.3 Web Services ... 71
2.4 Enterprise Service-Oriented Architecture ... 93

3 User Integration ... 97
3.1 Desktop Integration with Microsoft Office ... 99
3.2 Portal Integration: SAP NetWeaver Portal ... 149

4 Information Integration ... 197
4.1 SAP Business Information Warehouse ... 198
4.2 SAP Knowledge Management ... 227

5 Process Integration ... 243
5.1 Integration with Standard Adapters ... 244
5.2 Industry Standards ... 252
5.3 XI Integration Examples - SOAP Adapter ... 252
5.4 BizTalk Adapter for mySAP Business Suite ... 284

6 Identity Management and Single Sign-On ... 291
6.1 Identity Management and Single Sign-On as a Solution Approach ... 292
6.2 Centralized Identity Management with SAP NetWeaver and Microsoft Active Directory ... 293
6.3 Identity Management Systems ... 311
6.4 How-To Guides ... 314
6.5 Single Sign-On ... 328

7 Future Possibilities ... 343
7.1 SAP and Microsoft in Today's Software Market ... 344
7.2 The Future of Interoperability ... 345

The Authors ... 349
Index ... 352