SAP Technical Architecture guide
Client Administration
Learn SAP client administration and the differences among SCC4, SCCL, SCC9, SCC8, SCC7, SCC1, SCC3, SCC5, and SCU0.
What a client contains
An ABAP client is a logical, largely isolated business unit inside one SAP system. Client-specific data includes application data, client-specific Customizing and user master data. Cross-client Customizing and Repository objects can affect multiple clients. Therefore a client copy profile determines scope; 'copy the client' never means every object in the whole SAP system automatically moves.
| Tool | Purpose | Critical recall point |
|---|---|---|
| SCC4 | Create/maintain client settings | Client role, change recording, cross-client changes and protection |
| SCCL | Local client copy | Source and target are in the same SID |
| SCC9 | Remote client copy | Reads through an approved RFC destination |
| SM59 | Maintain/test RFC destinations | Type 3 is an ABAP connection |
| SCC8 | Client export | Creates transport files/requests for transport-based movement |
| SCC7 | Client import post-processing | Run in the target client after import as required |
| SCC1 | Copy by transport request | Client-specific Customizing scope, not a full client copy |
| SCC3 | Client copy/transport log analysis | Verify source, target, profile, status, statistics and logs |
| SCC5 | Client deletion | Destructive; Test Mode and deletion scope must be reviewed |
| SCU0 | Client/system comparison | A background job marked Active is still processing |
Copy workflows
Local: prepare and protect the target, confirm space and profile, run SCCL, then inspect SCC3.
Remote: create/test the ABAP RFC destination in SM59, select the approved source/client and profile in SCC9, execute in the allowed window, then verify SCC3.
Export/import: export with SCC8, import the transport through the transport system, then perform required target-client post-processing with SCC7 and verify logs. For comparisons, run SCU0, monitor its background job in SM37, and interpret the completed result: not the Active state.
Active recall
Test yourself
1. Which sequence completes a transport-based client copy?
Reveal answer
SCC8 export → transport import → SCC7 post-processing → log verification.
2. Why is SCC1 not a substitute for SCCL?
Reveal answer
SCC1 copies client-specific Customizing from a transport request; SCCL performs a profile-based local client copy.
3. A SCU0 job is Active in SM37. Can you analyze the final differences?
Reveal answer
Not yet, Active means processing is still underway.
Practice this module
This guide maps to 5 questions in the SAP Technical Architecture Top 40 bank.
Open practice