SAP 7.20 Downwards Compatible Kernel is Finally Released
The SAP Downwards Compatible Kernel has finally been released after a long testing program. The 7.20 DCK kernel allows customers to greatly simplify their SAP landscape and also allows customers to use some enhanced features.
The procedure for installing the 7.20 is documented in SAP OSS Note:
1636252 - Installing a 7.20 kernel in SAP Web AS 7.00/7.01/7.10/7.11
1. SAP Kernel Versions
Current SAP products have a variety of Basis levels and a variety of different Kernels that are quite confusing.
The 7.20 Downwards Compatible Kernel (DCK) replaces all of these different Kernel versions with a single release. Below are some examples:
SAP Product |
SAP_BASIS release |
SAP Kernel Release |
SAP ECC 6.0 with no EHP |
7.00 |
7.00 |
SAP ECC 6.0 with EHP 4 |
7.01 |
7.01 |
SAP ECC 6.0 with EHP 5 |
7.02 |
7.20 |
SAP Netweaver 7.3 |
7.30 |
7.20 |
SAP PI EHP 1 |
7.11 |
7.11 |
SAP PI with no EHP |
7.10 |
7.10 |
2. How to Deploy the 7.20 Downward Compatible Kernel on 7.xx Systems
When applying the new 7.20 DCK Kernel there are several OSS Notes to review:
Note 1375494 - SAP system does not start after applying SAP kernel patch
Note 1553465 - Prerequisites for running the 720_EXT kernel on Windows
3. How to Update Microsoft Visual C Runtimes
The SAP 7.20 Kernel is delivered in two SAR files:
1. SAPEXE.SAR – this contains all the kernel components for Windows
2. SAPEXEDB.SAR – this contains all the kernel components specific to SQL Server
Inside the archive SAPEXE.SAR will be a file called vcredist_x64.exe. Run this executable on any server that runs SAP kernel components (application server or ASCS)
Microsoft & SAP strongly recommend against using SAP products on 32 bit versions of Windows or SQL Server therefore this blog only documents Intel 64 bit platform. 32 bit Intel and Itanium are not supported for 7.20 DCK
4. Benefits of 7.20 Downwards Compatible Kernel
SQL Server has a maximum number of parameters on a parameterized statement. Example:
SELECT * FROM TABLE WHERE COLUMN1 = PARAM1, COLUMN2 = PARAM2….. COLUMNx = PARAMx
The maximum number of parameters is 2090. However it is possible for a non-parameterized statement to exceed 2090. In such a case the SQL Statement is using “Literals” rather than parameters.
This functionality was not available for ECC 6.0 customers prior to the release of the 7.20 kernel.
More details can be found in this note:
5. 7.20 DCK on Microsoft Cluster Systems
SAP provide three DLLs for Microsoft Cluster Services.
The NTCLUST.SAR contains three DLLs that reside in the C:WindowsSAPCLUSTER directory:
sapclus.dll
saprc.dll
saprcex.dll
6. 7.20 SAP Host Agent Replaces SAPOSCOL
SAPOSCOL should be replaced by SAP Host Agent for 7.20 system. SAPOSCOL should be uninstalled from SAP application servers.
7. SAP Kernel 7.20 on Java or ABAP+Java systems & JDBC Driver Requirements
Please note that the 7.20 Kernel is for ABAP systems only at this time. The newer Java Kernel will come later. Therefore do *not* update Java systems until the 7.20 Java Kernel is released
There are multiple JDBC drivers for SQL Server
JDBC Driver |
SAP_Kernel |
SAP_BASIS |
SQL Server |
JVM |
Comment |
Data Direct JDBC |
7.00 |
7.00 |
- |
1.4.2 |
Do not use |
MS JDBC 1.2 |
7.20 |
7.0x-7.11 |
2005, 2008(R2),2012 |
1.4.2 |
*Must apply KBA 945842 |
MS JDBC 2.0 |
7.20 |
7.10-7.11 |
2005, 2008(R2),2012 |
5 |
|
MS JDBC 2.0 |
7.20 |
7.20 or above |
2005, 2008(R2),2012 |
6 |
|
MS JDBC 3.0 |
7.20 |
7.20 or above |
2005, 2008(R2),2012 |
6 |
NW 7.31 will use JDBC 3.0 |
In all cases it is recommended to update to the SAP JVM. The Sun JVM will be desupported by SAP in 2012.
Review this OSS Note 639702 - JDBC Driver for Microsoft SQL Server
8. SAP JVM 1.4.2 & Kernel 7.20
When updating the SAP kernel it would be also possible to change to the new SAP owned and written JVM for 1.4.2 - Note 1495160 - SAP JVM as replacement for Partner JDKs 1.4.2 This release works with 6.40 and 7.0x systems. During the same downtime for exchanging the SAP Kernel the Sun JVM can be removed and the SAP JVM installed
9. System Copy with new JVM & 7.20 Kernel
The system copy will revert the 720-DCK to the originally shipped kernels for NW releases 7.0, 7.01, 7.10, 7.11 (7.02/7.03/7.20/7.30 was shipped with the 720-kernel already)
The system copy will revert the SAPJVM4 setup for NW releases 6.40, 7.0, 7.01, 7.02 (7.03 was shipped with SAPJVM4 - therefore the copy will install SAPJVM4 again).
After the system copy please update the JVM and Kernel
Comments
- Anonymous
December 08, 2011
The comment has been removed - Anonymous
March 26, 2012
Some customers have noted that the system log is corrupted on 7.20 kernel Please do the following: - set profile parameter rslg/new_layout = 9 - shut down the application server - delete the syslog file D:usrsap<SID><Instance>logSLOG00.LOG - restart the server