Static Vs Dynamic profile parameters

How do I know if a profile parameter is dynamically changeable or static? If it is static it will require a restart of the system once changed. Do the colors red or black in rz10 indicate this?

The complete list of the dynamically switchable parameters can be found in the table TPFYPROPTY. Follow the steps below:
1) Run Tcode SE112) Insert TPFYPROPTY in the 'database table' column and click on 'display'3) In this screen click on 'contents'4) Insert 'X' in the field 'DYNAMIC' and then execute
You fill find the list of parameters that are dynamically switchable.Hope this helps.

SAP Notes Vs Support Packs

What is the difference between SAP notes and support packages?

NOTES When a user of SAP system finds a bug in the SAP product he reports the same to SAP support, SAP developers check the same and develop a correction for the same. This correction is sent to the customer in the form of a SAP NOTE.
SUPPORT PACKS If the same or similar bug is reported by multiple clients or end users, then SAP recognizes such bugs, corrects them and collects all these corrections in one place and adds some enhancements to the earlier version of SAP and then calls this as a SUPPORT PACK. In simple words collection of SAP NOTES is a SUPPORT PACK.

MMC not starting

Today, when I started my machine I am unable to start the SAP MMC console. Also, I am not able to see any sub links which are usually there to right-click and start my server.
How can I get back those sub links in the SAP MMC console?

It seems that the SAP services (i.e. SAPOSCOL and SAPSERVICE) are not running. Start the services and change the "startup type to "Automatic".

Customizing Vs Workbench Requests

Why are transport requests classified into workbench and customizing? What does this classification indicate?

All customizing changes (changes to SAP functionality) are collected in customizing requests. Changes to the SAP repository and data dictionary (customers development or changes to SAP standard objects) are collected in workbench requests.

Configuration V/s Customization

Configuration vs. Customization When considering enterprise software of any type, it is important to understand the difference between configuration and customization.The crux of the difference is complexity. Configuration uses the inherent flexibility of the enterprise software to add fields, change field names,modify drop-down lists, or add buttons. Configurations are made using powerful built-in tool sets. Customization involves code changes to create functionality that is not available through configuration. Customization can be costly and can complicate future upgrades to the software because the code changes may not easily migrate to the new version.Wherever possible, governments should avoid customization by using configuration to meet their goals.Governments also should understand their vendor's particular terminology with regard to this issue since words like "modifications" or "extensions" often mean different things to different vendors.

Troubleshooting Printing Problems

The following is the list of possible steps to perform when you notice printing problems in the system:

• Check and monitor the spool work process from the Process Overview transaction as well as from the OS Spool (Print daemon or Print manager). Also, check that the message server is working properly.
• Particularly, check that you can print normally from the OS.
• Find which printer is causing the problems. Use transaction SP01 SYSTEM Services Output Controller. Check the output request attributes, the log files and the size of the print job.
• For remote printers check the network connection.
• If a print job has been printed out but contains unreadable characters, check whether the device type is the most appropriate, whether the printer is working in emulation mode, and what the access method is for the device.
• When nothing is output at the printer and the output controller is in wait status, check the system developer traces and the system log and look for timeout messages. Check that all application servers running spool work processes are reachable.
• If the job has status Complete or Problem and nothing is output at the physical printer, it might be related to wrong output device definition, a problem in the host spooler, the physical printer, or the SAP LPD transfer program. Check the access method.
• If printing is very slow, possible causes might be lost indexes in the SPOOL tables, too many SPOOL table entries, slow WAN connnections or incorrectly defined access methods. Often, you will need to review the printing strategy about distribution of output devices in several application servers according to that expected volume and size of print jobs. Refer to the SAP online documentation and the SAP service marketplace about some interesting planning strategies for the SPOOL system.
• Additionaly, check the SPOOL profile parameters.

Basis Interview Questions

The standard list of t-codes is pretty much
SM50, SM51, SM66, SM12, SM13, SM21, DB01, DB02, DB13, ST01, ST02, ST03, ST04, ST05, ST06, SU01, SUIM, PFCG, SCC4, SE01, SE09, SE10, SPAM, SM35, SM36, SM37, SPAD, SP01 SCC3, SCCL, SCC9 this are pretty much you heavy hitters for monitoring and support.

DB01: Oracle Lock Monitor

SM13:Update Requests initial screen SM12: Select Lock Enteries DB02 : Database Performance : Table and Indexes

Describe how to setup a printer in SAP or where they would look to research why a user/users can not print?

SPAD, SP01, SM50, SU01

SPAD

SP01SM50
SU01

Keep the interview to 3 general areas:

DB (what is the directory structure/ where are the files kept oracle alerts, init.ora, redo logs, archive logs, etc.; possibly some basics stuff like what to do "high level" when the archive directory fills up, etc. Keep this minimal as from a SAP basis admin point of view Oracle is just a big giant bit bucket and SAP can handle to the daily monitoring and maintenance itself.

OS (what is the directory structure (what is NFS mounted and why / where are the message files contained for the OS error log; basic commands for the OS eg. Unix, mv, cp, ls, grep, ps-ef, df-k, etc. That is pretty much all the SAP basis admin will need to know. Client/Server architecture.

SAP (what is the directory structure / where are files located ie. profiles - start, instance, default (what are they and what is the order of precendence) start is for statup only, instance is the first to be read then the default and if a given parameter cannot be found in the instance or then the default then the internal standard is taken from RZ10 setting.

You can ask them to ran Transaction codes to you. Menus constanly change so go with T-codes. He should have a good knowledge of the following areas; transports, user / print / spool / batch management, monitoring, client tools and copies, support packages, kernel patches, workload analysis, Roles and Security, etc.

Basis interview questions

Describe how SAP handles Memory Management?
ST02 / ST03 In general via table buffers, you could go into the whole Work Process, roll in, roll out, heap (private) memory, etc. however just as a Unix or DBA admin would know, is you look this up when needed for the exact specifics.

ST02

ST03

Describe where you would look at the buffer statistics, and what steps you would use to adjust them?

ST02 and RZ10

RZ10

SAP : Systems, Application and Products In Data Processing

QUESTION 1: Why is SAP ?

Answer: SAP incorporates all the functions of business into one system; it is also referred as an integrated software system. Each department in the business needs to share their information with different departments SAP solves data sharing problem by incorporating all of these different functions into one system. Therefore, SAP makes available of information from one department to another immediately. This data sharing helps the organization to run the business smoothly and become more universal.

Question 2 : What is SAP?

Answer : Five IBM employees founded SAP which stand for “ Systems, Applications and Products in Data Processing” in Germany in 1972. These employees presented their idea to IBM who in turn refused to research and develop their product. These men and their company are now the 4th largest software company in the world. They are the largest provider of Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) packages.

Question 3: What are the things involved in the SAP ?

Answer : SAP is user friendly because of the industry solution. Industry solutions are different areas that relates to the specific needs of each individual business. A few examples includes SAP Automotive, SAP Banking, SAP Healthcare and SAP Insurance. Each business has 4 main business process, they are manufacturing planning, making procurement (buying), customer order management (SD) and Finance/Management accounting and reporting (Accounting).

Question 4: Why SAP, not other packages like PeopleSoft, BAAN, OF/OM, JDEDWARD, Mainframe etc ?

Answer : SAP takes all of making, buying, selling and accounting processes and make them a complete functional chain in all departments have all company information available immediate. This availability of information is called real time. Other software programs use a system called batch time. Batch time requires that the information be made available to database in batches that are then swapped during non business hours instead of immediately. Business decisions are the matter of minute which is real time therefore speed is required with accuracy.

Advantages of SAP:

1. SAP is Euro enabled. This allows the company to do business with European Countries.

2. It is real time. The information is made available immediately rather than having process information available overnight.

3. There is only one single comprehensive database. This help in flow of data in streamline and also provides management with wealth of information.

Disadvantages of SAP

1. SAP is very expensive and time consuming for implementation.

2. There is also a chance that it may need to be installed many times before everything works properly.

3. SAP imposes its own logic on the company. Sometimes gives generic solutions to complicated problems.

4. It requires a company to implement radical changes.

Question : What is SAP R/3 ?

Answer : SAP R/3 is the client/server version of the software. The “3” in R/3 stands for the three – tiered architecture. SAP R/2 is the mainframe version of the software. The “2” in R/2 stands for two-tiered mainframe architecture. There are several releases of R/3, ranging from 2.x.. In R/3 architecture

1. Presentation Server

2. Application Server

3. Database Server

SAP R/3 terminologies:

Clients : The client is the highest level in R/3 system hierarchy. Each client is self contained unit which has separate master and a complete set of tables and data. Users must enter a client key and have a user master record in the client in order to log to the screen. Clients are used to divide data in a SAP system into various data areas for various purposes. For example, if a company wants to use its SAP system for both test and training purposes a client is created for each purpose. A client is identified via a three character code. Data can be moved via transport and correction from one client to another. When logging on to the system, the user has to select a client in which he wants to work. The users can then only access data in this client.

Company Code : A company code represents an independent balancing / legal accounting entity. The smallest organization element for which a complete self contained set of accounts can be drawn up. An example would be a company within a corporate group. Balance sheet and profit & loss statements required by law can be created at the company code level. Therefore, a company code is the minimum structure necessary in R/3. In an international business, operations are often scattered across numerous countries. Since most government and tax authorities require the registration of a legal entity for every company, a separate company code is usually established per country.