NetWeaver
Encyclopedia
SAP NetWeaver is SAP
's integrated technology computing platform and is the technical foundation for many SAP applications since the SAP Business Suite. SAP NetWeaver is marketed as a service-oriented
application and integration
platform. SAP NetWeaver provides the development and runtime environment for SAP applications and can be used for custom development and integration with other applications and systems. SAP NetWeaver is built using primarily the ABAP
programming language, but also uses C (programming language)
, C++
, and Java EE. It also employs open standards and industry de facto standards and can be extended with, and interoperate with, technologies such as Microsoft
.NET, Java EE, and IBM
WebSphere
.
SAP NetWeaver's release is considered as a strategic move by SAP for driving enterprises to run their business on a single, integrated platform that includes both applications and technology. Industry analysts refer to this type of integrated platform offering as an "applistructure" (applications + infrastructure). According to SAP, this approach is driven by industry's need to lower IT costs through an enterprise architecture that is at once (1) more flexible; (2) better integrated with applications; (3) built on open standards to ensure future interoperability and broad integration; and, (4) provided by a vendor that is financially viable for the long term.
SAP is fostering relationships with system integrator
s and independent software vendors, many of the latter becoming "Powered by SAP NetWeaver".
SAP NetWeaver is part of SAP's plan to transition to a more open, service-oriented architecture and to deliver the technical foundation of its applications on a single, integrated platform and common release cycle.
NetWeaver 7.0, aka 2004s, was made available on October 24, 2005.
(sometimes referred to as WebAS) is the runtime environment for the SAP applications—all of the mySAP Business Suite solutions (SRM
, CRM
, SCM
, PLM
, ERP
) run on SAP WebAS.
SAP has also teamed with hardware vendors like HP, IBM, Fujitsu, and Sun to deliver appliances (i.e., hardware + software) to simplify and enhance the deployment of NetWeaver components. Examples of these appliances include:
see also:
Specifically, ERP is being extended by Business Process Management
Systems (BPMs) and, as BPMs takes hold as the pre-dominant technical platform for new applications, expect to see radical changes to ERP architecture in the years ahead. The technology has been applied to a wide range of industries and applications.
SAP's Netweaver platform is still backwards-compatible with ABAP
, SAP's custom development language.
SAP AG
SAP AG is a German software corporation that makes enterprise software to manage business operations and customer relations. Headquartered in Walldorf, Baden-Württemberg, with regional offices around the world, SAP is the market leader in enterprise application software...
's integrated technology computing platform and is the technical foundation for many SAP applications since the SAP Business Suite. SAP NetWeaver is marketed as a service-oriented
Service-oriented architecture
In software engineering, a Service-Oriented Architecture is a set of principles and methodologies for designing and developing software in the form of interoperable services. These services are well-defined business functionalities that are built as software components that can be reused for...
application and integration
Enterprise application integration
Enterprise Application Integration is defined as the use of software and computer systems architectural principles to integrate a set of enterprise computer applications.- Overview :...
platform. SAP NetWeaver provides the development and runtime environment for SAP applications and can be used for custom development and integration with other applications and systems. SAP NetWeaver is built using primarily the ABAP
ABAP
ABAP , is a high-level programming language created by the German software company SAP...
programming language, but also uses C (programming language)
C (programming language)
C is a general-purpose computer programming language developed between 1969 and 1973 by Dennis Ritchie at the Bell Telephone Laboratories for use with the Unix operating system....
, C++
C++
C++ is a statically typed, free-form, multi-paradigm, compiled, general-purpose programming language. It is regarded as an intermediate-level language, as it comprises a combination of both high-level and low-level language features. It was developed by Bjarne Stroustrup starting in 1979 at Bell...
, and Java EE. It also employs open standards and industry de facto standards and can be extended with, and interoperate with, technologies such as Microsoft
Microsoft
Microsoft Corporation is an American public multinational corporation headquartered in Redmond, Washington, USA that develops, manufactures, licenses, and supports a wide range of products and services predominantly related to computing through its various product divisions...
.NET, Java EE, and IBM
IBM
International Business Machines Corporation or IBM is an American multinational technology and consulting corporation headquartered in Armonk, New York, United States. IBM manufactures and sells computer hardware and software, and it offers infrastructure, hosting and consulting services in areas...
WebSphere
WebSphere
IBM WebSphere refers to a brand of computer software products in the genre of enterprise software known as "application and integration middleware". These software products are used by end-users to create applications and integrate applications with other applications...
.
SAP NetWeaver's release is considered as a strategic move by SAP for driving enterprises to run their business on a single, integrated platform that includes both applications and technology. Industry analysts refer to this type of integrated platform offering as an "applistructure" (applications + infrastructure). According to SAP, this approach is driven by industry's need to lower IT costs through an enterprise architecture that is at once (1) more flexible; (2) better integrated with applications; (3) built on open standards to ensure future interoperability and broad integration; and, (4) provided by a vendor that is financially viable for the long term.
SAP is fostering relationships with system integrator
System integrator
A systems integrator is a person or company that specializes in bringing together component subsystems into a whole and ensuring that those subsystems function together, a practice known as System Integration...
s and independent software vendors, many of the latter becoming "Powered by SAP NetWeaver".
SAP NetWeaver is part of SAP's plan to transition to a more open, service-oriented architecture and to deliver the technical foundation of its applications on a single, integrated platform and common release cycle.
History
SAP announced first NetWeaver release, named Netweaver 2004, in January 2003, and it was made available on March 31, 2004.NetWeaver 7.0, aka 2004s, was made available on October 24, 2005.
Composition
NetWeaver is essentially the integrated stack of SAP technology products. The SAP Web Application ServerSAP Web Application Server
SAP NetWeaver Application Server is a component of the NetWeaver solution which works as a web application server to SAP solutions. From the SAP point of view the Web AS is the foundation on which most of their product range runs....
(sometimes referred to as WebAS) is the runtime environment for the SAP applications—all of the mySAP Business Suite solutions (SRM
Supplier relationship management
“SRM is a discipline of working collaboratively with those suppliers that are vital to the success of your organisation to maximise the potential value of those relationships.” - Reference - Overview :...
, CRM
Customer relationship management
Customer relationship management is a widely implemented strategy for managing a company’s interactions with customers, clients and sales prospects. It involves using technology to organize, automate, and synchronize business processes—principally sales activities, but also those for marketing,...
, SCM
Supply chain management
Supply chain management is the management of a network of interconnected businesses involved in the ultimate provision of product and service packages required by end customers...
, PLM
Product lifecycle management
In industry, product lifecycle management is the process of managing the entire lifecycle of a product from its conception, through design and manufacture, to service and disposal...
, ERP
Enterprise resource planning
Enterprise resource planning systems integrate internal and external management information across an entire organization, embracing finance/accounting, manufacturing, sales and service, customer relationship management, etc. ERP systems automate this activity with an integrated software application...
) run on SAP WebAS.
Products
The core products that make up SAP NetWeaver include:- SAP NetWeaver Application ServerSAP Web Application ServerSAP NetWeaver Application Server is a component of the NetWeaver solution which works as a web application server to SAP solutions. From the SAP point of view the Web AS is the foundation on which most of their product range runs....
- SAP NetWeaver Business IntelligenceSAP Business Information WarehouseSAP Netweaver Business Warehouse is the name of the Business Intelligence, analytical, reporting and Data Warehousing solution produced by SAP AG. It was originally named SAP BIW , then abbreviated to SAP BW, but is now known as "SAP BI" at the end user level...
- SAP NetWeaver Composition Environment (CE)
- SAP NetWeaver Enterprise Portal (EP)SAP Enterprise PortalSAP NetWeaver Portal is one of the building blocks in the SAP NetWeaver architecture. With only a Web Browser, users can begin work once they have been authenticated in the portal which offers a single point of access to information, enterprise applications, and services both inside and outside an...
- SAP NetWeaver Identity Management (IdM)
- SAP NetWeaver Master Data Management (MDM)SAP Master Data ManagementSAP NetWeaver Master Data Management is a component of SAP's NetWeaver product group and is used as a platform to consolidate, cleanse and synchronise a single version of the truth for master data within a heterogeneous application landscape. It has the ability to distribute internally and...
- SAP NetWeaver MobileSAP NetWeaver MobileSAP Mobile is SAP's division for SAP Mobile Technologies, including Sybase and SAP BusinessObjects, and Mobile Solutions and Applications from SAP and partners....
- SAP NetWeaver Process Integration (PI)
SAP has also teamed with hardware vendors like HP, IBM, Fujitsu, and Sun to deliver appliances (i.e., hardware + software) to simplify and enhance the deployment of NetWeaver components. Examples of these appliances include:
- BW AcceleratorSAP BI AcceleratorIn computing, the SAP BW Accelerator is a computer appliance - preinstalled software on predefined hardware - which is used to speed up OLAP queries. The software was initially known as the BI Accelerater....
- Enterprise SearchEnterprise searchEnterprise search is the practice of making content from multiple enterprise-type sources, such as databases and intranets, searchable to a defined audience.-Enterprise search summary:...
Development Tools
- ABAP WorkbenchABAPABAP , is a high-level programming language created by the German software company SAP...
(SE80) - SAP NetWeaver Developer StudioSAP NetWeaver Developer StudioThe SAP NetWeaver Developer Studio is an integrated development environment for most of the Java part of SAP technology, mainly building business web applications, but also creating SAP Enterprise Portal projects and SAP Interactive Forms by Adobe...
(NWDS) based on EclipseEclipse (software)Eclipse is a multi-language software development environment comprising an integrated development environment and an extensible plug-in system...
for most of the Java part of the technology (Web Dynpro for Java, JEE, Java Dictionary, Portal Applications etc.) - SAP Netweaver Development InfrastructureSAP Netweaver Development InfrastructureThe SAP NetWeaver Development Infrastructure combines the characteristics and advantages of local development environments – as usually provided in a Java environment – with a server-based development landscape that centrally provides a consistent development environment to development teams and...
(NWDI) - Visual ComposerVisual ComposerSAP NetWeaver Visual Composer is SAP’s graphical software modelling tool. This web-based application enables business process experts and developers to quickly create business application components, without coding....
see also:
- Web Dynpro
- SAP Enterprise Portal Content Studio
- SAP Composite Application FrameworkSAP Composite Application FrameworkSAP Composite Application Framework is a composition tool in NWDS and runtime on SAP Web Application Server Java for developing, testing, deploying, running and configuring composite applications...
- an environment for designing and using composite applications
Features
- SOAPSOAPSOAP, originally defined as Simple Object Access Protocol, is a protocol specification for exchanging structured information in the implementation of Web Services in computer networks...
and web serviceWeb serviceA Web service is a method of communication between two electronic devices over the web.The W3C defines a "Web service" as "a software system designed to support interoperable machine-to-machine interaction over a network". It has an interface described in a machine-processable format...
s - Interoperability with Java EE
- Interoperability with .NET (MicrosoftMicrosoftMicrosoft Corporation is an American public multinational corporation headquartered in Redmond, Washington, USA that develops, manufactures, licenses, and supports a wide range of products and services predominantly related to computing through its various product divisions...
) - Integration of Business IntelligenceBusiness intelligenceBusiness intelligence mainly refers to computer-based techniques used in identifying, extracting, and analyzing business data, such as sales revenue by products and/or departments, or by associated costs and incomes....
- xAppsXAppsxApp , is a collective term applied to software products built following the SAP xApps convention and running on a SAP NetWeaver application server. Including a range of software products from SAP AG, solutions by SAP partners and customer made composite applications...
- Duet
Specifically, ERP is being extended by Business Process Management
Business process management
Business process management is a holistic management approach focused on aligning all aspects of an organization with the wants and needs of clients. It promotes business effectiveness and efficiency while striving for innovation, flexibility, and integration with technology. BPM attempts to...
Systems (BPMs) and, as BPMs takes hold as the pre-dominant technical platform for new applications, expect to see radical changes to ERP architecture in the years ahead. The technology has been applied to a wide range of industries and applications.
SAP's Netweaver platform is still backwards-compatible with ABAP
ABAP
ABAP , is a high-level programming language created by the German software company SAP...
, SAP's custom development language.
External links
- SAP Netweaver Information
- SAP NetWeaver Capabilities on SAP Developer Network (SDN) - a comprehensive resource about SAP NetWeaverSAP Developer NetworkSAP Developer Network is an online community for SAP developers. It is a resource and collaboration channel for SAP developers, architects, consultants and integrators. SDN Hosts forums, expert blogs, a technical library, downloads, a code gallery, Elearning catalog , a Wiki and more...
- SAP's Help Documentation Portal
- SAP NetWeaver 2004 Home Page
- SAP NetWeaver 7.0 Home Page
- Download SAP NetWeaver Whitepapers
- BI Expert
- SAP NetWeaver Magazine
- NetWeaver.it - SAP NetWeaver Technology News (English/Italian version)