SAP Web Application Server
Encyclopedia
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.
All ABAP application servers including the message server represent the application layer of the multi-tier architecture of an ABAP-based SAP System. These application servers execute ABAP applications and communicate with the presentation components, the database, and also with each other, using the message server.
Presentation layer : In the presentation layer, the user interface can be developed with Java Server Pages (JSP), Business Server Pages (BSP), or with Web Dynpro
technology. The underlying business layer provides the business content in Java or ABAP.
Business layer : The business layer consists of a J2EE certified run-time environment that processes the requests passed from the ICM and dynamically generates the responses. The business logic can be written either in ABAP or in Java based on the J2EE standard. Developers can implement business logic and persistence with Enterprise JavaBean
s (EJB) using the J2EE environment. Developers can also access the business objects of applications running in the ABAP environment to benefit from their business logic and persistence.
Integration layer : The local integration engine is an integral part of SAP Web AS and allows instant connection to SAP XI. The local integration engine provides messaging services that exchange messages between the components that are connected in SAP XI.
Connectivity layer : The Internet Communication Manager (ICM) dispatches user interface requests to the presentation layer and provides a single framework for connectivity using various communication protocols. Currently, modules are available for Hypertext Transfer Protocol
(HTTP), HTTPS
(extension of HTTP running under the Secure Socket Layer (SSL)), Simple Mail Transfer Protocol
(SMTP), Simple Object Access Protocol (SOAP), and Fast Common Gateway Interface
(FastCGI).
Persistence layer : The persistence layer supports database independence and scalable transaction
handling. Business logic can be developed completely independent of the underlying database and operating system. Database independence is also made possible by support for open standards. The database interface ensures optimized data access from within the ABAP environment through Open SQL. SAP propagates the outstanding capabilities of Open SQL for ABAP to Open SQL for Java and offers a variety of standard Application Programming Interface
s (APIs) to application programmers, such as SQLJ
. Other technologies, such as Java Data Objects
(JDO) and container managed persistence (CMP
) for EJB, or the direct use of the Java Database Connectivity
(JDBC) API, are also supported.
which is required for encrypted communications via Secure Socket Layer. It is possible to enable SSL using the SAP Cryptographic Library. If a company is running with traditional SAP systems that only uses RFC
and DIAG protocols, Secure Network Communications
is required for encrypted communications as well
NetWeaver
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...
solution which works as a web application server to SAP
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...
solutions. From the SAP
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...
point of view the Web AS is the foundation on which most of their product range runs.
All ABAP application servers including the message server represent the application layer of the multi-tier architecture of an ABAP-based SAP System. These application servers execute ABAP applications and communicate with the presentation components, the database, and also with each other, using the message server.
Architecture
The architecture of SAP Web Application Server can be separated into 5 areas:Presentation layer : In the presentation layer, the user interface can be developed with Java Server Pages (JSP), Business Server Pages (BSP), or with Web Dynpro
Web Dynpro
Web Dynpro is a proprietary web application user interface technology developed by SAP AG and exists in a Java and an ABAP flavor. Both have in general the same functionality, but usually one flavor is improved after the other, so temporary one flavor is more advanced than the other...
technology. The underlying business layer provides the business content in Java or ABAP.
Business layer : The business layer consists of a J2EE certified run-time environment that processes the requests passed from the ICM and dynamically generates the responses. The business logic can be written either in ABAP or in Java based on the J2EE standard. Developers can implement business logic and persistence with Enterprise JavaBean
Enterprise JavaBean
Enterprise JavaBeans is a managed, server-side component architecture for modular construction of enterprise applications.The EJB specification is one of several Java APIs in the Java EE specification. EJB is a server-side model that encapsulates the business logic of an application...
s (EJB) using the J2EE environment. Developers can also access the business objects of applications running in the ABAP environment to benefit from their business logic and persistence.
Integration layer : The local integration engine is an integral part of SAP Web AS and allows instant connection to SAP XI. The local integration engine provides messaging services that exchange messages between the components that are connected in SAP XI.
Connectivity layer : The Internet Communication Manager (ICM) dispatches user interface requests to the presentation layer and provides a single framework for connectivity using various communication protocols. Currently, modules are available for Hypertext Transfer Protocol
Hypertext Transfer Protocol
The Hypertext Transfer Protocol is a networking protocol for distributed, collaborative, hypermedia information systems. HTTP is the foundation of data communication for the World Wide Web....
(HTTP), HTTPS
Https
Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure is a combination of the Hypertext Transfer Protocol with SSL/TLS protocol to provide encrypted communication and secure identification of a network web server...
(extension of HTTP running under the Secure Socket Layer (SSL)), Simple Mail Transfer Protocol
Simple Mail Transfer Protocol
Simple Mail Transfer Protocol is an Internet standard for electronic mail transmission across Internet Protocol networks. SMTP was first defined by RFC 821 , and last updated by RFC 5321 which includes the extended SMTP additions, and is the protocol in widespread use today...
(SMTP), Simple Object Access Protocol (SOAP), and Fast Common Gateway Interface
FastCGI
FastCGI is a protocol for interfacing interactive programs with a web server. FastCGI is a variation on the earlier Common Gateway Interface ; FastCGI's main aim is to reduce the overhead associated with interfacing the web server and CGI programs, allowing a server to handle more web page...
(FastCGI).
Persistence layer : The persistence layer supports database independence and scalable transaction
Database transaction
A transaction comprises a unit of work performed within a database management system against a database, and treated in a coherent and reliable way independent of other transactions...
handling. Business logic can be developed completely independent of the underlying database and operating system. Database independence is also made possible by support for open standards. The database interface ensures optimized data access from within the ABAP environment through Open SQL. SAP propagates the outstanding capabilities of Open SQL for ABAP to Open SQL for Java and offers a variety of standard Application Programming Interface
Application programming interface
An application programming interface is a source code based specification intended to be used as an interface by software components to communicate with each other...
s (APIs) to application programmers, such as SQLJ
SQLJ
SQLJ is an ISO standard for embedding SQL statements in Java programs.Whereas JDBC provides an API, SQLJ consists of a language extension...
. Other technologies, such as Java Data Objects
Java Data Objects
Java Data Objects is a specification of Java object persistence. One of its features is a transparency of the persistent services to the domain model. JDO persistent objects are ordinary Java programming language classes ; there's no requirement for them to implement certain interfaces or extend...
(JDO) and container managed persistence (CMP
CMP
- Medicine :* Cardiomyopathy, a heart muscle disease* Chondromalacia Patellae, a degenerative condition of the knee cap * Chronic myofascial pain, also known as Myofascial pain syndrome, a condition associated with hypersensitive muscular trigger points...
) for EJB, or the direct use of the Java Database Connectivity
Java Database Connectivity
Java DataBase Connectivity, commonly referred to as JDBC, is an API for the Java programming language that defines how a client may access a database. It provides methods for querying and updating data in a database. JDBC is oriented towards relational databases...
(JDBC) API, are also supported.
Authentication
The SAP NetWeaver AS can accept multiple forms of authentication:- SAP Logon TicketSAP Logon TicketSAP Logon Tickets represent user credentials in SAP systems. When enabled, users can access multiple SAP applications and services through SAPgui and web browsers without further username and password inputs from the user...
with appropriate configuration . - Other single sign-onSingle sign-onSingle sign-on is a property of access control of multiple related, but independent software systems. With this property a user logs in once and gains access to all systems without being prompted to log in again at each of them...
technology that utilizes x.509X.509In cryptography, X.509 is an ITU-T standard for a public key infrastructure and Privilege Management Infrastructure . X.509 specifies, amongst other things, standard formats for public key certificates, certificate revocation lists, attribute certificates, and a certification path validation...
certificates and the combination of Secure Network CommunicationsSecure Network CommunicationsSecure Network Communications is a software layer in the SAP system architecture that enables the use of stronger authentication, encryption and single sign-on mechanism. SAP provides SNC for server to server communications only...
(SNC) and Secure Socket Layer (SSL) for one standardize authentication platform.
Communications
The SAP NetWeaver Application Server's connectivity layer supports HTTPSHttps
Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure is a combination of the Hypertext Transfer Protocol with SSL/TLS protocol to provide encrypted communication and secure identification of a network web server...
which is required for encrypted communications via Secure Socket Layer. It is possible to enable SSL using the SAP Cryptographic Library. If a company is running with traditional SAP systems that only uses RFC
Remote Function Call
Remote Function Call is the proprietary SAP AG interface for communication between a SAP System and other SAP or third-party compatible system over TCP/IP or CPI-C connections...
and DIAG protocols, Secure Network Communications
Secure Network Communications
Secure Network Communications is a software layer in the SAP system architecture that enables the use of stronger authentication, encryption and single sign-on mechanism. SAP provides SNC for server to server communications only...
is required for encrypted communications as well
See also
- Comparison of application serversComparison of application serversProprietary application servers provide system services in a well-defined but proprietary manner. The application developers develop programs according to the specification of the application server...
- Secure Network CommunicationsSecure Network CommunicationsSecure Network Communications is a software layer in the SAP system architecture that enables the use of stronger authentication, encryption and single sign-on mechanism. SAP provides SNC for server to server communications only...
- Secure Socket Layer
- x.509X.509In cryptography, X.509 is an ITU-T standard for a public key infrastructure and Privilege Management Infrastructure . X.509 specifies, amongst other things, standard formats for public key certificates, certificate revocation lists, attribute certificates, and a certification path validation...
- Single Sign-OnSingle sign-onSingle sign-on is a property of access control of multiple related, but independent software systems. With this property a user logs in once and gains access to all systems without being prompted to log in again at each of them...
External links
- Application Development and Composition on SAP Developer Network (SDN)SAP 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...