SAP NetWeaver: Architecture 

Purpose

SAP NetWeaver integrates various different technological concepts and previous platforms in a single solution:

This section provides an overview of the different areas of SAP NetWeaver and references detailed architecture documentation, where available.

Integration

IT Scenarios and Usage Types

The following concepts, which are new for SAP NetWeaver 2004s, help you to better understand what SAP NetWeaver is, and how it works:

·        IT Scenarios
Since the range of business uses in which SAP NetWeaver can be applied is so vast, and because these business uses can extend to cover various different areas, it is increasingly difficult to approach SAP NetWeaver from just a single area. For this reason, the business uses have been divided into IT scenarios: Each IT scenario describes a use case in which you can apply SAP NetWeaver. In this way, the answers to the question “which IT scenarios does SAP NetWeaver support” lead you to the details, namely, what the various different functions of SAP NetWeaver are, and how you can use them.

·        Usage Types
Usage types enable you to simplify the installation and configuration landscapes of SAP NetWeaver: Instead of having to install a plethora of components, you now just select those usage types that you require for the IT scenarios that you want to implement from just a handful of usage types. You generally require multiple usage types to implement a single IT scenario.

To give you an overview of the business uses of SAP NetWeaver, the following sub sections cover each different usage type. Note that a single usage type does not usually constitute a self-enclosed unit of functions.  You must always assume that each IT scenario will require multiple usage types. For an overview of IT scenarios and the usage types they require, see: IT Scenarios at a Glance.