Technical system copy for the upgrade
Critical factor: Availability
Regular updating reduces operational risk and improves the quality of the multi-level system landscape. To update the non-productive systems of an SAP landscape, the data must be cloned from the productive system. This is time-consuming and requires very complex rework.
Table splitting reduces the risk of losing a lot of time during export in case of an error. When restarting, the complete table does not have to be exported again, but only a subset. Simultaneous processing of a table by several R3load processes can reduce the total runtime for this table.
Conclusion
On the other hand, such a tool must ensure that traceability or transparency is always available. What happens in the smallest detail during an SAP system copy creation must be visible in whatever form in order to be able to track down possible errors, but also, for example, to optimize the actual copying process or to accelerate it even further, for example by using log files and more.
A SAN enables a system copy during dialog operation. In this way, virtual copies of a logical volume, so-called snapshots, can be created. Data is only copied if it is changed in the original data volume (copy-on-write procedure). When copying from a snapshot to file level, the affected systems remain available. However, this procedure puts a strain on the storage network. If this takes several days, the response times of the productive system deteriorate.
SAP system copy is made much easier by the "Shortcut for SAP Systems" application.
However, when their number reaches the hundreds and thousands, the effort becomes disproportionately high.
It can also be used to export certain data from the database and import it into another system.