• Understand everything you need to know: configuration, administration, development, and more
• Learn how to perform tasks efficiently and effectively using step-by-step instructions and screenshots
• Stay up to date with the latest information for release 7.3

An SAP NetWeaver Portal implementation has many stages, and this book will help you every step of the way. From blueprinting, installation, and configuration through portal content development and post-implementation monitoring techniques, you'll find practical explanations and step-by-step instructions that will guide your everyday work. Whether you're new to SAP NetWeaver Portal or want to learn about the new features in the latest release, this reference is your essential companion.

Complete Lifecycle of an Implementation
Understand the lifecycle of an SAP NetWeaver Portal implementation, from conception to completion.

Installation and Configuration
Learn about the process of installing and configuring SAP NetWeaver Portal with step-by-step instructions and detailed screenshots.

Portal Content Development
Create roles, worksets, pages, and iViews with ease, and learn how to manage the appearance of a portal.

Custom Enhancements
Understand the various technologies and steps involved in developing custom content for an SAP NetWeaver Portal implementation.

Up to Date for Release 7.3
Explore the new features of SAP NetWeaver Portal 7.3, such as change recording and creating a portal role based on a backend role.

Highlights

- Architecture
- Blueprinting
- System landscape and configuration
- Portal content development
- Administration and monitoring
- Backup and recovery
- Single sign-on
- Web Dynpro Java and ABAP
- Business Server Pages
- Knowledge Management
- Universal Worklist
- Change recording
- Federated portal networks

The Author

Manish Chaitanya is an SAP consultant and former SAP employee who has been working with SAP NetWeaver and SAP NetWeaver Portal for about nine years. During this time, he has served as a developer, implementation team lead, and architect.

Table of Contents

• ... Introduction ... 13
• 1 ... SAP NetWeaver Portal Basics ... 17
• 1.1 ... General Introduction to Enterprise Portals and SAP NetWeaver Portal ... 17
• 1.1.1 ... Enterprise Portal Services ... 17
• 1.1.2 ... Key Terms for Understanding SAP NetWeaver Packaging ... 19
• 1.1.3 ... Mapping of Use Cases to Installable Software Units ... 20
• 1.2 ... Features of SAP NetWeaver Portal ... 22
• 1.2.1 ... Portal Platform and Framework ... 22
• 1.2.2 ... Knowledge Management ... 23
• 1.2.3 ... Collaboration ... 27
• 1.2.4 ... Unification ... 29
• 1.2.5 ... Federated Portal ... 32
• 1.2.6 ... External-Facing Portal ... 33
• 1.2.7 ... Enterprise Workspaces ... 34
• 1.2.8 ... Web Page Composer ... 37
• 1.2.9 ... Wikis ... 39
• 1.3 ... Summary ... 40
• 2 ... Architecture ... 41
• 2.1 ... AS Java Architecture ... 42
• 2.1.1 ... Cluster Architecture ... 42
• 2.1.2 ... Java Instance ... 43
• 2.1.3 ... Central Instance ... 43
• 2.2 ... Server Administration Tools ... 45
• 2.2.1 ... Management Console ... 45
• 2.2.2 ... SAP NetWeaver Administrator ... 48
• 2.2.3 ... Offline Configuration Tool ... 52
• 2.2.4 ... Telnet ... 54
• 2.3 ... Portal Runtime ... 56
• 2.3.1 ... Portal Runtime Container ... 56
• 2.3.2 ... Request Handling by the Server ... 57
• 2.3.3 ... Request Handling by Portal Runtime ... 59
• 2.3.4 ... Starting and Stopping SAP NetWeaver Portal ... 60
• 2.4 ... Network Architecture ... 63
• 2.5 ... Summary ... 65
• 3 ... Installation and Configuration ... 67
• 3.1 ... Preparation for Portal Installation ... 67
• 3.1.1 ... Disabling the Windows Server 2008 Firewall ... 67
• 3.1.2 ... Performing Basic Windows Preparation Steps ... 68
• 3.1.3 ... Required User Authorization for Running SAPinst ... 69
• 3.1.4 ... Preparing the SAP System Transport Host ... 69
• 3.1.5 ... Preparing the Installation Media ... 70
• 3.2 ... SAP NetWeaver Portal Installation Steps ... 70
• 3.2.1 ... Prerequisites for Installation ... 72
• 3.2.2 ... Steps for Installation ... 72
• 3.3 ... Post-Installation Steps ... 73
• 3.3.1 ... Updating Database Statistics ... 73
• 3.3.2 ... Logging On to the Application Server ... 74
• 3.3.3 ... Logging On to SAP NetWeaver Portal ... 74
• 3.3.4 ... Installing the SAP License ... 74
• 3.3.5 ... Secure Sockets Layer Protocol for Database Server Communication ... 75
• 3.3.6 ... Ensuring User Security ... 75
• 3.4 ... Transport Layer Security Configuration ... 77
• 3.4.1 ... Configuration of SSL for SAP NetWeaver Portal ... 78
• 3.4.2 ... Configuration of SNC for Securing AS Java to AS ABAP Connections ... 80
• 3.5 ... User Management Configuration ... 82
• 3.5.1 ... The User Management Engine (UME) ... 83
• 3.5.2 ... Configuration in SAP NetWeaver Portal ... 84
• 3.6 ... System Landscape ... 87
• 3.6.1 ... System Landscape Overview ... 88
• 3.6.2 ... Creating Systems ... 88
• 3.6.3 ... System Aliases ... 89
• 3.7 ... Universal Worklist (UWL) Configuration ... 90
• 3.7.1 ... Basic Configuration of the UWL ... 91
• 3.7.2 ... Customizing UWL Views ... 96
• 3.7.3 ... Item Launch Configuration ... 99
• 3.8 ... Transports and Change Recording ... 104
• 3.8.1 ... Transports ... 104
• 3.8.2 ... Change Recording ... 107
• 3.9 ... Summary ... 109
• 4 ... Integration with SAP Backend Systems and Single Sign-On ... 111
• 4.1 ... Single Sign-On (SSO) ... 111
• 4.1.1 ... Configuring SAP NetWeaver Portal to Issue Logon Tickets ... 113
• 4.1.2 ... Configuring SAP NetWeaver Portal to Accept Logon Tickets ... 117
• 4.1.3 ... Configuring the SAP Backend System to Accept Portal Logon Tickets ... 122
• 4.1.4 ... Configuring SSO with User Mapping ... 124
• 4.2 ... Uploading Roles from ABAP-Based SAP Systems ... 126
• 4.3 ... Role Distribution to ABAP-Based SAP Systems ... 130
• 4.4 ... Summary ... 134
• 5 ... Implementation Planning ... 135
• 5.1 ... Blueprinting ... 136
• 5.1.1 ... Scoping Questionnaire ... 136
• 5.1.2 ... Sizing ... 145
• 5.2 ... Choosing the Technology ... 148
• 5.2.1 ... Custom Development ... 148
• 5.2.2 ... Maintenance and Supportability ... 155
• 5.2.3 ... Designing the Solution ... 155
• 5.3 ... Summary ... 156
• 6 ... Portal Content Development ... 157
• 6.1 ... Roles, Worksets, Pages, and iViews ... 158
• 6.1.1 ... Creating an iView ... 164
• 6.1.2 ... Creating a Page ... 165
• 6.1.3 ... Creating a Workset ... 170
• 6.1.4 ... Creating a Portal Role ... 170
• 6.2 ... Portal Content Translation ... 174
• 6.2.1 ... Creating a Translation Worklist ... 176
• 6.2.2 ... Adding Content and Releasing a Translation Worklist ... 177
• 6.2.3 ... Loading and Translating a Translation Worklist ... 179
• 6.2.4 ... Publishing and Testing a Translation Worklist ... 181
• 6.3 ... Portal Branding ... 183
• 6.3.1 ... Logon Page ... 183
• 6.3.2 ... Framework Page ... 193
• 6.3.3 ... Themes ... 196
• 6.3.4 ... Portal Desktop ... 198
• 6.4 ... Integrating SAP and Non-SAP Content ... 201
• 6.5 ... Implementing Business Packages ... 203
• 6.6 ... Summary ... 205
• 7 ... Development for SAP NetWeaver Portal ... 207
• 7.1 ... Introduction to Portal Component Development ... 208
• 7.1.1 ... SAP NetWeaver Developer Studio ... 208
• 7.1.2 ... Portal Application Structure ... 213
• 7.2 ... Creating a Portal Component ... 217
• 7.2.1 ... Creating an AbstractPortalComponent ... 218
• 7.2.2 ... Creating a JSPDynPage ... 227
• 7.2.3 ... Using Native JSP ... 232
• 7.2.4 ... Portal Services ... 234
• 7.3 ... Web Dynpro Java ... 240
• 7.3.1 ... Web Dynpro Java Concepts ... 242
• 7.3.2 ... Creating and Enhancing a Web Dynpro Application ... 251
• 7.4 ... Web Dynpro ABAP ... 263
• 7.4.1 ... Creating a Web Dynpro ABAP Application ... 264
• 7.4.2 ... Creating a Web Dynpro ALV Application ... 274
• 7.4.3 ... Integrating Adobe Interactive Forms with Web Dynpro ABAP ... 283
• 7.4.4 ... Integrating a Web Dynpro ABAP Application with SAP NetWeaver Portal ... 292
• 7.5 ... Summary ... 296
• 8 ... Federated Portal Network Implementation ... 299
• 8.1 ... Types of Content Sharing ... 301
• 8.1.1 ... Remote Role Assignment (RRA) ... 301
• 8.1.2 ... Remote Delta Links (RDL) ... 302
• 8.1.3 ... WSRP Application Sharing ... 303
• 8.2 ... Preparing the Portals ... 304
• 8.2.1 ... Setting Up Trust Between Portals ... 304
• 8.2.2 ... Setting Up a Registration Password ... 308
• 8.2.3 ... Setting the Root Browse Folder for Remote WSRP Usage ... 309
• 8.2.4 ... Setting Default Connection Values ... 311
• 8.3 ... Managing FPN Connections ... 311
• 8.3.1 ... Creating an FPN Connection ... 313
• 8.3.2 ... Registering/Unregistering FPN Connections ... 315
• 8.4 ... Managing WSRP Connections ... 316
• 8.4.1 ... Manage WSRP Producers ... 316
• 8.4.2 ... View WSRP Producers ... 318
• 8.4.3 ... View WSRP Consumers ... 319
• 8.5 ... Exposing Content ... 320
• 8.5.1 ... Remote Role Assignment Usage ... 320
• 8.5.2 ... Remote Delta Link Usage ... 321
• 8.5.3 ... WSRP Application Sharing Usage ... 321
• 8.6 ... Consuming Content ... 323
• 8.6.1 ... Remote Role Assignment Usage ... 323
• 8.6.2 ... Remote Delta Link Usage ... 323
• 8.6.3 ... WSRP Application Sharing Usage ... 324
• 8.7 ... Summary ... 325
• 9 ... Backup and Recovery ... 327
• 9.1 ... Downtime and High Availability ... 328
• 9.1.1 ... Planning Downtime for SAP NetWeaver Portal ... 330
• 9.1.2 ... SAP NetWeaver Portal Services and Unplanned Downtime ... 331
• 9.2 ... Backup and Restore Strategy ... 342
• 9.3 ... Backup of SAP NetWeaver Portal ... 343
• 9.4 ... Restore of SAP NetWeaver Portal ... 344
• 9.5 ... SAP NetWeaver Portal Database Backup ... 345
• 9.5.1 ... Backup Templates and Data Carriers ... 345
• 9.5.2 ... Backing Up Data ... 349
• 9.5.3 ... Backing Up Log Entries ... 353
• 9.6 ... SAP NetWeaver Portal Database Restore ... 356
• 9.7 ... Summary ... 357
• 10 ... Monitoring Technology and Logging ... 359
• 10.1 ... Using SAP NetWeaver Administrator for Monitoring ... 359
• 10.1.1 ... System Overview ... 360
• 10.1.2 ... Resource Monitoring ... 362
• 10.2 ... Activity Reporting ... 376
• 10.2.1 ... Portal Activity Report ... 377
• 10.2.2 ... Activity Data Collector ... 382
• 10.3 ... Logging and Tracing ... 388
• 10.3.1 ... Log Configuration with SAP NetWeaver Administrator ... 389
• 10.3.2 ... Log Configuration with the Config Tool ... 392
• 10.4 ... Viewing Logs ... 399
• 10.4.1 ... SAP NetWeaver Administrator ... 399
• 10.4.2 ... Command Line ... 400
• 10.4.3 ... Management Console ... 401
• 10.5 ... Logging for SAP NetWeaver Portal PCD Objects ... 403
• 10.5.1 ... Configuring Portal Content Directory Objects Logging ... 404
• 10.5.2 ... Configuring Admin Traceability Service ... 405
• 10.6 ... Troubleshooting ... 407
• 10.6.1 ... Personalization Data Cleanup ... 407
• 10.6.2 ... PCD Cache Release ... 408
• 10.6.3 ... Security Zones Checker ... 409
• 10.6.4 ... Support Role ... 409
• 10.7 ... Summary ... 411
• ... Appendices ... 413
• A ... Blueprinting Questionnaire Sample ... 415
• B ... Useful Resources and Products ... 429
• B.1 ... HTTPWatch ... 429
• B.2 ... Internet Explorer Developer Toolbar ... 432
• C ... Upgrading Applications for SAP NetWeaver Portal 7.3 ... 435
• C.1 ... Web Dynpro Java Applications ... 435
• C.2 ... Portal Applications ... 436
• D ... Useful SAP Notes ... 439
• E ... The Author ... 443
• ... Index ... 445