Defining Systems as Central Systems

Prerequisites

You use SAP NetWeaver 7.0 EHP2, Service Package 08 or higher.

Context

The central system is used to execute tasks on other systems within an ABAP landscape. As soon as a client of an ABAP system is defined as a central system, other systems can pass control to the central system so that different configuration tasks can be carried out in these managed systems from the central system. For example, Web service configuration and Web services health checks can be executed on the managed system from within the central system. The central system can also be used for easy change management. When a system is configured as a central system, it can also be used as a services registry. Note that on the system you select as your central system, you will no longer be able to configure local business scenarios.

Third-party systems can be integrated in your system landscape as Web service provider. To do this, you create a domain system in the central system that represents external Web services. These Web services can then be managed from the central system.

Procedure

In SOA Manager (transaction code SOAMANAGER) on the Management Connection tab, choose Management Connections.
On the Configuration tab, ensure that the connectivity service is enabled.
Define the system as a central system, save your settings, and refresh your web browser.
An endpoint is created for the management connections of other ABAP systems, as well as for the services registry. The following default authentication methods at transport level are allowed:
- User/password
- X.509
- Single Sign-On
The title SOA Manager now indicates that your system is a central system. Within the central system, the systems it manages are represented as domain systems.
On the Technical Administration tab, choose Domain Systems.

As the central system also manages itself, a domain system to represent the central system is created within the central system.
Select the domain system that represents the central system itself.
Provide credentials for WSIL and WSDL access.
On the Business Applications tab, choose Retrieve Business Applications.
Save the changes.

Results

Your system is defined as a central system, allowing other systems to be managed by it. For this purpose, the following entities must be maintained in the central system:

Domains and domain systems

Domain systems are automatically created in the central system as soon as a system establishes a management connection to the central system. Using this management connection, a system allows the central system to configure it centrally. For third-party systems, you have to create domain systems manually. Domains are created in the central system to group domain systems according to security settings.
Central design time cache
Change processor to distribute changes from the central system to its domain systems

Next Steps

Creating a Domain in a Central System