Object Link and SAP Archiving Interface

Table of Contents

Overview

Install the Object Link 

Set Up Object Link for SAP Archiving Interface

Add a Client

Create a Site

Link SAP Archiving Interface to the Object Link

Overview

The Object Link for SAP Archiving Interface is an implementation of SAP ArchiveLink (protocol 0045) which provides an interface between SAP R/3 and the content store iDataAgent.

The Object Link for SAP Archiving Interface provides a mechanism to store SAP contents such as scanned invoices, print lists, outgoing documents or SAP Data archive files. These documents/data are stored using the content store iDataAgent and made accessible to SAP R/3 on demand. The content store iDataAgent would essentially handle all of SAP document storage needs using our optimized storage solution.

In customizing SAP, the customer can choose certain image documents reflecting the Business Objects be archived in a particular content repository. The ArchiveLink is the generic interface for archiving; almost all SAP application areas use this interface by customizing the generic business object service for archiving in the given SAP application.

Install the Object Link

For information on how to install the Object Link, refer to section: Deployment - Object Link.

Set Up Object Link for SAP Archiving Interface

Once the content store iDataAgent is installed, you must configure it to act as a repository for files to be uploaded to the Object Link server. To configure the iDataAgent, you must add a Object Link Client to the CommCell and create a subclient defined with sites for the repository. After the site and subclient are configured, user can configure the Object Link to link to the SAP Archiving Interface.

Add a Client

This section describes how to add a client for the Content Store iDataAgent in order to define the repository on the server.

Prerequisites

The content store iDataAgent requires the following licenses:

To add a client:

 
1.
  • From the CommCell Browser, navigate to Client Computers
  • Right-click on the client computer node, and select New Client.
2.
  • From the Add New Client dialog box, select Content Store Client.
  • Click OK.
3.
  • From the New Content Store Client dialog box, enter name of the Content Store client, which is how it will appear in the CommCell Console.
  • Select the member server, which is the client computer on which the Content Store iDataAgent is installed.
  • Click OK. 

 
4. The Content Store client will now appear as a client computer node in the CommCell Browser.
 

Create a Site

You need to first create a subclient before you create a site. Follow the steps given below to create a Object Link subclient and link it to the defined site:

 
1.
  • From the CommCell Browser, navigate to Client Computers | Content Store
  • Right-click the default BackupSet | All Tasks | New Subclient
 

 

 
2.
  • From Subclient Properties | General, enter the name of the subclient and a description if desired.
  • Select the Storage Device tab.

 
3.
  • From the Data Storage Policy tab, select the storage policy to associate with the new subclient. 
  • If necessary, click the Create Storage Policy button to create a new storage policy for this subclient.
  • Click OK to save the subclient.
  • Note that the subclient created has no content, since it has not yet been linked to a site.

 
4.
  • Once the Content Store subclient is defined, the Backup Schedule dialog box is automatically launched so that you can create the schedule for the data protection operations.
  • Select Schedule from the options provided to specifically schedule the backup for the Content Store subclient. 
  • Click OK.
5. From the Backup Options dialog box, click Configure to create the schedule pattern. 

 

 
6.
  • From the Schedule Details dialog box, select the type of schedule.
  • You can create a daily schedule for the backup operations of the Content Store subclient, which only supports incremental backups. An incremental backup is extremely beneficial because it contains data that is new or has changed since the last backup, consuming less media.
  • Click Options.
7.
  • From the Advanced Schedule Options dialog box, select the pattern options.
  • With incremental backups, you can schedule backups to occur hourly by selecting the Repeat field, and specifying the values accordingly.
  • Click OK.
8.
  • The defined schedule and pattern will appear on the Backup Options dialog box.
  • Click OK.

 
9.
  • From the CommCell Browser, navigate to Client Computers | Content Store
  • Right-click the Content Store iDataAgent | All Tasks | Manage Site
  • The Manage Site dialog box appears with the following information:
    • Site: Displays the name of the site
    • Subclient: Displays the name of the subclient associated with this site
    • Site Path: Displays the URL or path to the site
  • Click the Add Site button to define a content repository. 
10.
  • From the Add Site dialog Box, enter the following information:
  • URL: Enter the directory path of the site. This is the repository on the server where the files will be uploaded. Note that the URL must be entered in the following format:  /finance_site1.
  • Site Name: Enter the friendly name for the site. 
  • Security XML: is required for the site that is created. Below is an illustration for SAP:

  • <?xml version=\"1.0\" ?><SapCS_SAPCSDocHeader docStatus=\"running\" boundary=\"test Content Repository\" docProt=\"crud\"></SapCS_SAPCSDocHeader>

  • In the XML string above:
    • The docStatus must always be in the "running" mode.
    • The boundary can be any valid string so that the xml  format is fixed. For example: "test content repository".
    • The docProt value can be a blank string, c, r, u, d or any combination of 'crud'.
  • External Identification: Enter the third party identifier here.
  • Retention Days: Specify the retention period for the site. The retention period will apply to all the contents within the repository. Note that this retention period can be overwritten by the subclient's associated storage policy copy's defined retention if defined for a longer period, unless it is overwritten by pinning the job.
  • Subclient: Displays a list of the available subclients, select the one to be associated with this site. The site will be added in the selected subclient.
  • Click OK.
11.
  • To verify if the site you added is displayed, go to the Path windowpane of the Subclient Properties - Content tab.
  • Click OK.
  • The Content Store subclient is linked to the defined site as the repository.
 

Link SAP Archiving Interface to Object Link

This section describes how to configure the Object Link to be also used as a SAP Archive repository, in order to manage SAP data. Before customizing the Object Link for SAP Archiving Interface to use the Object Link for storing data, user must have already created a site and subclient in the Object Link repository.

 
1. Double click the SAP Logon icon.

From the SAP Logon select the Systems tab. Double-click on the MBS SAP Archivelink option. 
2. From the SAP Login window enter valid credentials for Client, User, Password and Language.

To change your password click the New password icon.

Click the ENTER icon located at the top right corner of the screen. 

 
3. From the SAP R/3 System window,  click on Start SAP Easy Access.

This initiates the SAP Easy Access program.

 

 
4. From the SAP Easy Access window, click on the Favorites folder, to select the existing transactions.

If no transactions have been created, click on Insert icon and select the Transaction option to manually invoke the required transaction. 

 
5. Clicking on Insert --> Transaction opens the Manual entry of a transaction pop-up window.

Enter the value oac0 for the Transaction Code.

Click the OK icon. 

 
6. The SAP Easy Access window now has the CMS Customizing Content Repositories as part of the favorites folder.

Double click the CMS Customizing Content Repositories to create, view or edit the content repositories.

 

 
7. From the Change Content Repositories: Overview window, you can create a new content repository, edit or delete an existing repository.  

To Update an existing repository: Click on the Display/Change icon (shortcut key: CTRL+F4). Double click the repository you want to update. The Change Content Repositories: Detail window opens allowing you to edit the content.

To Delete a repository: Click on the Display/Change icon (shortcut key: CTRL+F4). Select the content repository you want to delete and hit the Delete icon (shortcut key: Shift+F2).

To Create a new repository: Click on the Display/Change icon (shortcut key: CTRL+F4)Now click on Create icon (shortcut key: F5). The Change Content Repositories: Detail window allows you to create a new content repository.      

8. From the Change Content Repositories: Detail window create a new content repository.
  • Enter the Content Repository name in the Content Rep. field. Note that the Content Repository name should be same as the 'Site Path', created in the Create a Site section.
  • Provide a short description to the Content Repository added, in the Description field.
  • Select ArchiveLink from the Document Area drop down.
  • Select HTTP content server from the Storage type drop down.
  • Enter the version number in the Version no. field.
  • HTTP Server: Provide the URL to the content store webservice.
  • Enter the Port Number of the content store webservice.
  • The HTTP Script will be ObjectServer/resources/SAP.
  • In the Transfer drctry field, enter the path to a valid directory in the machine running the SAP GUI.

Save the newly created Content Repository via the Save button (floppy icon).

A Content Repository for SAP data will be created in the defined HTTP server URL provided.
9. After entering all the values as detailed in Step 8, you can validate the connection by clicking on the Test Connection icon.

Click on the Status Information icon to view the server status information of all the content repositories hosted on the HTTP Server.

Every new SAP R/3 client using the content store, has to send a certificate of acceptance by clicking the Send Certificate icon.

Note: Test Connection, Status Information and Send Certificate icons are highlighted with a red circle in the image.

Click on the  -->CS Admin to navigate to the Content Server Administration-Change window and approve the certificate just created.

 

 
10. From the Content Server Administration window, select the Certificates tab.

Click on the Display<-->Change icon to enable changes.

Select the certificate you created from the Certificate Properties list by checking the box.

Now activate the certificate by clicking on the Activate icon. Make sure all credentials are checked before activating/approving the certificate. User is not given the option to deactivate a certificate.

The Deactivate icon is currently disabled.

Any changes made in this page should be saved using the Save button (floppy icon).
The statistics tab in the Content Server Administration - Change window is currently under development.

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