Creating Database Management Systems as Source Systems

Use

DB Connect allows various source system configurations that make it possible to access tables or view from database management systems:

In addition to the SAP default connection, you can open other ones (DBCON) and create source systems for them in order to access tables and views from these databases. When defining the source system, you define the connection data used to identify the source database and to authenticate this with the database, and make these known to the ABAP runtime environment.
Before you can open a database connection, all the connection data used to identify the source database and authenticate the database must be made known to the ABAP runtime environment. You need to specify the connection data for each of the database connections that you want to set up (in addition to the SAP default connection).
For the SAP default connection, you can create schema-specific source systems and access tables or views of the schema defined in the relevant source system configuation.
This option is relevant for Open ODS views with source type Database Table or View.
For a SAP HANA database as the SAP default connection, you can create source systems for using SAP HANA Smart Data Access. When defining the source system, you define which remote source (database) and which schema to access.
This option is relevant for Open ODS views with source type Virtual Table via HANA Smart Data Access.

Prerequisites

You have made the following settings in the Implementation Guide (IMG) under SAP NetWeaver → Business Intelligence Links to Other Source Systems :
- General connection settings
- Perform automatic workflow Customizing
As a rule, system changes are not permitted in production systems. However, connecting a system as a source system to a BW, or connecting a BW to a new source system, results in modifcations to the system change options. Therefore, in the client used in the BW system, make sure that the following changes are permitted during the source system connection:
- Cross-client Customizing and repository changes
  
  In Implementation Guide (IMG), under SAP NetWeaver → Business Intelligence Connections to Source Systems General Connection Settings Assign Logical System to Client , select the client in question and choose Goto Details . In the Cross-Client Object Changes field, select Changes to Repository and Cross-Client Customizing Allowed.
- Changes to the local developments and Business Information Warehouse software components
  
  You use transaction SE03 (Organizer Tools) to set the change options. Choose Set Organizer Tools Administration System Change Option . Choose Execute. On the next screen, make the following settings:.
- Changes to the customer name range
  
  You also use transaction SE03 to set the change option for the customer name range.
- Changes to BW namespaces /BIC/ and /BI0/
  
  You also use transaction SE03 to set the change option for the BW namespaces.
If the source DBMS and BW DBMS are different:
- You have installed the database-specific DB client software on your BW application server. You can get information about the database-specific DB client from the respective database manufacturers.
- You have installed the database-specific DBSL on your BW application server.
In the database system, you have created a user name and password that you want to use for the connection.

See Database Users and Database Schemas.

Procedure

In the source system tree in the Data Warehousing Workbench, choose Create in the context menu of the DB Connect folder.
On the following screen, specify the logical system name (= DB connection) and a descriptive text for the source system. Choose Continue.

Note If you create a source system for an additional database connection, the logical system name corresponds to the name of the database connection where the source system is defined.

The DB Connect Parameters dialog box appears.
The following three options are provided for the connection type:
- Source system = DB connection
  Choose this option if you want to use a database connection other than the SAP default connection as your source system. The system then displays the logical system name that you entered as the DB connection name. If the connection already exists, you can display or change the connection data by choosing . To create the connection data - if it does not exist yet - also choose .
  
  More information: Creating a Database Connection
- One logical system per DB schema
  Choose this option if you want to use a schema in the SAP default connection as your source system, for example if you want to access tables or views belonging to a SAP HANA schema via an Open ODS view or a DataSource. The system then displays the DB Owner/Schema field. You enter the schema here that you want to create the source system for.
  
  Tip You can also create a source system of this connection type directly when creating an Open ODS view.
- HANA smart data access
  This option is only available if the BW system is running on a SAP HANA database. Choose this option if you want your source system to be a source that allows SAP HANA to access the data via Smart Data Access. The system then displays more fields. As Remote Source, choose the source that is connected with SAP HANA via Smart Data Access. In the DB Owner/Schema field, enter the schema of the source that you want to create the source system for. The Remote DB field requires one entry.
  
  Tip You can also create a source system of this connection type directly when creating an Open ODS view.

Result

You have created IDoc basic types, port descriptions, and partner agreements. When you use the destinations that have been created, the ALE settings that enable a BW system to communicate with a database source system are created in BW in the background. In addition, the BW settings for the new connection are created in the BW system, and the access paths from the BW system to the database are stored.

You have now successfully created a connection to a database source system. The system displays the corresponding entry in the source system tree. You can now create DataSources for this source system. For source systems of type One logical system per DB schema and HANA Smart Data Access, you can create Open ODS views.