SAP Technical Architecture guide
System Installation & Monitoring
Study SWPM provisioning, SAPCAR, post-installation checks, work-process monitoring, user sessions, logs, dumps, and performance tools.
Provisioning mental model
The demonstrated stack is presentation (SAP GUI), application (SAP NetWeaver AS ABAP), database (SAP HANA) and operating system (Linux). SAPCAR extracts SAP archives; SWPM orchestrates system provisioning. The SWPM service flow is Define Parameters → Review Parameters → Execute Service → Service Completed. Never treat reaching Execute Service as success: check the final status and logs.
| Area | Instance view | System-wide / companion view |
|---|---|---|
| Work processes | SM50 | SM66 |
| User sessions | SM04 | AL08 |
| Application servers | SM51 | Lists the active instances/servers |
| ABAP errors | ST22 | Short dumps; not the system log |
| System messages | SM21 | System log; not short dumps |
| Locks / updates | SM12 / SM13 | Stale locks and failed update requests |
| Performance | ST02 / ST03N / ST06 | Buffers / workload / operating-system resources |
| Database / jobs | DB02 / SM37 | Database statistics / job status and logs |
Post-install verification sequence
Start with System → Status, then run the ABAP installation consistency check (SM28 / SICK as applicable to the landscape). Continue with language/internationalization checks, user validation, SGEN, profile review (RZ10), license installation (SLICENSE), client controls (SCC4) and transport setup. Use SPAM for Support Packages, SNOTE for SAP Notes and SAINT for add-ons. The correct sequence is governed by the current SAP installation guide and your build plan.
Active recall
Test yourself
1. A single instance looks healthy in SM50. Which transaction checks all application-server work processes?
Reveal answer
SM66.
2. Where do you look for an ABAP runtime error versus an operating/system message?
Reveal answer
ST22 for short dumps; SM21 for the system log.
3. What proves that an SWPM run succeeded?
Reveal answer
Service Completed plus successful status/log validation, not simply reaching the execution phase.
Practice this module
This guide maps to 5 questions in the SAP Technical Architecture Top 40 bank.
Open practice