What is a Profile? 
What is a Profile?
Definition
A profile is an operating system file that contains instance setup information. This profile file is structured as follows:
# This is a comment in a SAP profile:
Parametername1 = Value1
Parametername2 = Value2
Parameter names that logically belong together have a common root. For example, the root of parameters that control the dispatcher within an application server is:
rdisp/ .
The parameter
The SAP profiles are stored in a special file directory. This directory can be made accessible from all hosts depending on current needs:
UNIX systems
: /usr/sap/<SID>/SYS/profileWindows NT systems:
\<SAPGLOBALHOST>\sapmnt\<SID>\sys\profile\(
<SID> = SAP system name and <SAPGLOBALHOST> = name of the NT machine on which the global profile directory is physically located)All hosts in an R/3 System can access these profiles. It is possible for several R/3 instances to use a single profile simultaneously. Separate profiles are not required for each R/3 instance.
From Release 3.0A, you can maintain your setup profiles from the Computing Center Management System (CCMS). You should therefore not edit the active profiles directly at operating system level.
See also:
Why are Profiles Needed? Substitute Variables in Profile Values Maintaining Profiles Activating and Importing a Profile Profile Types