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SolMan 7.2 Insight… SAP Support Backbone Update

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If you are running a SAP Solution Manager 7.1 or 7.2 with a Support Pack below 08, here
is important information about the SAP Support Backbone updates that affect SAP Solution
Manager capabilities. Please refer to SAP Support Backbone central landing page on SAP
Support Portal for information about areas outside of SAP Solution Manager that are
affected by the update of the Support Backbone. There are also additional links in the last
section of this post, Where to find more information?

What is SAP Support Backbone?

SAP Support Backbone is the central infrastructure located at SAP that provides technical
support to customers. It consists of several different systems that are used for different
purposes. For example, SAP Solution Manager connects to the Support Backbone to
exchange data with SAP related to SAP Note Download, Maintenance Planner, IT Service
Management, and SAP EarlyWatch Alert to name a few.

The Support Backbone infrastructure has been updated by SAP. However, the legacy
infrastructure remains in place to allow a safe transition for Customers until the end of the
2019.

What SAP Solution Manager capabilities are affected?

SAP Solution Manager is an end-to-end Application Lifecycle Management (ALM) solution
and a solution landscape support platform with connectivity to SAP. Below is the list of SAP
Solution Manager capabilities that are affected by the Support Backbone update.

SAP Solution Manager and Support Backbone Overview – Source: SAP

IT Service Management  Exchange of messages with SAP

Landscape Management  Landscape synchronization with SAP (automatic update

of customer system data, used for Maintenance Planner)
 Remote Service Connection Management from SAP
Solution Manager
 System Recommendations

License Management  Automatic distribution of licenses and maintenance

 certificates

SAP Engagement and  Service Delivery

Service Delivery  SAP EarlyWatchAlert from SAP Solution Manager to
SAP
 Service Content Update

Test Suite  Scope and Effort Analyzer

Additional Information  SAP Note Assistant (SNOTE) and download service in

SAP Solution Manage and all managed systems that have
a direct connectivity to the SAP Support Backbone are
affected.
 Remote connection between SAP Solution Manager and
SAP Support is not affected.

What SAP Solution Manager version is impacted?

The table below lists the SAP Solution Manager product version and the impact.

Product Version Impact

SAP Solution Manager 7.1 (all Support Packs) No connectivity to SAP

SAP Solution Manager 7.2 SP01 – SP04 No connectivity to SAP

SAP Solution Manager 7.2 SP05, SP06 Partial connectivity to SAP

(manual activities required)

Partial connectivity with SP05 and SP06 – Source: SAP

SAP Solution Manager 7.2 SP07 Complete connectivity to SAP

(manual activities required)

SAP Solution Manager 7.2 SP08 Complete connectivity to SAP

What is action required from Customers?

Customers using SAP Solution Manager must transition to the new SAP Support Backbone
infrastructure by end of 2019 in order to ensure continuous connectivity to SAP. Below is
the summary list of actions required to be performed. For more information about each
action, please refer to the central and landing pages listed in the Where to find more
information? section of this blog.

 Upgrade to SAP Solution Manager 7.2 Support Pack 08

 Create/activate Technical Communication Users (SAP Note 2174416).
 Replace generic users with Technical Communication Users in all RFC connections
to SAP (SAP Note 2740667).
 Enable SAP Note Assistant (SNOTE) for downloading and uploading digitally
signed SAP Notes (SAP Notes 2408073, 2546220 and 2508268). NOTE: If SAP
Note Assistant is enabled for Transport-Based Correction Instruction (TCI)
 in the ABAP system, then implement SAP Note 2576306 instead.
 Update ST-PI and ST-A/PI software components on all managed systems that have
a direct connectivity to the SAP Support Backbone to a minimum required version
(Impact on ST-PI and ST-A/PI section on the central landing page).
What happens if Customers do not upgrade by end of
2019?
If customers do not upgrade to SAP Solution Manager 7.2 Support Pack 08 by end of 2019,
there will be an impact to capabilities that require connectivity to SAP. SAP recommends
transitioning to SAP Solution Manager 7.2 Support Pack 08 as soon as possible!

Where to find more information?

 SAP Support Backbone central landing page
 Impact on SAP Solution Manager landing page
 Impact on SAP Note Assistant (SNOTE) landing page
 Impact on ST-PI and ST-A/PI section on the central landing page
 Handling of Technical Communication Users section on the central landing page
 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) page
 Preparation: SAP Support Backbone Update page
 SAP Note 2737826 – SAP Support Backbone Update / upcoming changes in SAP
Service and Support Backbone interfaces (latest) in January 2020
 SAP Note 2740667 – RFC connection SAPOSS to SAP Service & Support
backbone will change (latest) in January 2020
 SAP Note 2738426 – Automated Configuration of new Support Backbone
Communication
 SAP Note 2174416 – Creation and activation of users in the Technical
Communication User application
 SAP Note 2704804 – What’s the difference between a Technical Communication
User (Solution Manager) and a regular S-User ID?
 SAP Support Backbone Update Guide (planned to be released in early Q2/2019)

Until next SAP SolMan 7.2 Insights…

Yuliya