SAP NetWeaver Learning Guide

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Matt Danielsson
Editor

TABLE OF CONTENTS    Introduction to NetWeaver    NetWeaver in the news    NetWeaver planning and integration    Advice on NetWeaver    Using NetWeaver    General resources    More Learning Guides

Introduction to NetWeaver

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"NetWeaver is the technical foundation of mySAP Business Suite solutions, SAP xApps composite applications, partner solutions, and customer custom-built applications. SAP NetWeaver embraces Internet standards such as HTTP, XML, and Web services, ensuring openness and interoperability with Microsoft .NET and Java 2 Platform Enterprise Edition (J2EE) environments such as IBM WebSphere." -- SAP

• NetWeaver - Glossary definition (SearchSAP.com, powered by Whatis.com)
  NetWeaver is an application builder from SAP for integrating business processes and databases from a number of sources while exploiting the leading Web services technologies.


• NetWeaver in a nutshell (SearchSAP.com)
  In a nutshell, NetWeaver is the common brand name for all the SAP products that follow the SAP R/3 ERP software. NetWeaver delivers two completely independent (and incompatible) development frameworks.


• Using IT practices and IT scenarios to understand SAP NetWeaver, part 1 (SearchSAP.com)
  The first installment - In this article we focus on IT practices and IT scenarios – what they are, and how you can use them to understand SAP NetWeaver.


• Using IT practices and IT scenarios to understand SAP NetWeaver, part 2 (SearchSAP.com)
  The second installment - This topic highlights capabilities related to developing and deploying service-based development according to the principles of Enterprise Services Architecture, or ESA.


• Using IT practices and IT scenarios to understand SAP NetWeaver, part 3 (SearchSAP.com)
  The third installment - This topic highlights capabilities related to SAP NetWeaver Process Integration.


• Using IT practices and IT scenarios to understand SAP NetWeaver, part 4 (SearchSAP.com)
  The fourth installment - In this article we focus on the IT practice user productivity enablement.


• Shai Agassi's passion -- NetWeaver (SearchSAP.com)
  Q & A with Shai Agassi - When SAP executive board member Shai Agassi talks about NetWeaver, he speaks of miracles, Red Seas parting and a new belief system. The company's new technology stack, Agassi says, offers salvation for anyone buried under the costs and complexities of integration products.


• NetWeaver: The next business process platform (SearchSAP.com) Henning Kagermann said that 2005 would be a year of significant Research and Development (R&D) investment, with major attention to transforming NetWeaver into a "Business Process Platform" from an "Integration and Application Platform."


• SAP NetWeaver for Dummies - chapter 1 (SearchSAP.com)
  Chapter 1, "SAP NetWeaver: The New Foundation of IT" explains what SAP NetWeaver is, its goals, and the IT world it lives in.


• SAP NetWeaver for Dummies - chapter 3 (SearchSAP.com)
  Chapter 3, "Meet SAP Netweaver" will give you a complete overview of NetWeaver from top to bottom. You will learn about each SAP NetWeaver tool and component, as well as how SAP NetWeaver can benefit your organization.


• SAP NetWeaver (White paper) (SearchSAP.com)
  This white paper describes the SAP NetWeaver technology platform. NetWeaver is a comprehensive integration and application platform that helps reduce your total cost of ownership (TCO).


• NetWeaver featured topic (SearchSAP.com)

NetWeaver in the News

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• Customers to see NetWeaver transformation, says SAP chief (SearchSAP.com)
  SAP plans to use NetWeaver to make all its products service-enabled by 2007, according to SAP CEO Henning Kagermann.


• NetWeaver demands a long, hard look at business processes (SearchSAP.com)
  Service oriented architecture planning and SAP NetWeaver projects are forcing companies to adjust business processes across the board, according to the CEO of IDS Scheer Americas.


• SAP extends adaptive computing to Microsoft platforms (SearchSAP.com)
  SAP is opening its architecture to enable customers to extend adaptive computing capabilities to all Microsoft environments.


• SAP readying BI-boosted NetWeaver update (SearchSAP.com)
  SAP will release an end user query accelerator device and add enhanced search capabilities in the next release of NetWeaver slated to ship this spring.


• SAP vs. Oracle: Users speak out (SearchSAP.com)
  As the battle for business applications supremacy heats up, Oracle users are standing by Larry Ellison and Fusion while SAP customers say that NetWeaver and a time-tested application suite will lead to victory.


• SAP fills SOA language gap with Blue Titan (SearchSAP.com)
  Blue Titan Inc.'s Network Director software gained certification on the NetWeaver Platform, filling a gap for SAP by integrating XML/SOAP messages between SAP and non-SAP systems.


• Rubbermaid division chooses A2i, ends up with SAP (SearchSAP.com)
  After convincing executives at corporate headquarters, the commercial products division of Rubbermaid ended up with master data management tools from SAP.


• SAP executives seek next-generation ERP (SearchSAP.com)
  SAP CEO Henning Kagermann and Shai Agassi, an executive board member and the company's product and technology lead, say SOA and composite applications will dominate the ERP market.


• New features added to NetWeaver (SearchSAP.com)
  SAP is adding job scheduling and monitoring features to the NetWeaver platform to integrate SAP and non-SAP applications through a single console.


• Ex-Sun exec to beef up NetWeaver expansion (SearchSAP.com)
  SAP has hired a former Sun Microsystems executive to beef up its development community and drive expansion of NetWeaver and the entire SAP technology stack.


• SAP hears call for NetWeaver support (SearchSAP.com)
  Enterprises using NetWeaver for the first time are finding some customized components can result in performance issues. SAP is working with Mercury Interactive Corp. to catch problems before they're put into full production.


• Road to SOA: SAP to address customer pain (SearchSAP.com)
  SAP is hoping a combined services and software package will put its customers on a smoother road to an SOA and a better understanding of its NetWeaver platform.


• SAP's Agassi: Executive realignment boosts NetWeaver (eWEEK)
  "In 2003, at the tender age of 34, Shai Agassi became chief technology developer of SAP AG—a role he assumed from the Walldorf, Germany, company's venerable co-founder, Hasso Plattner. Now, Agassi is again shaking things up at SAP's..."


• SAP manufactures new mySAP ERP, NetWeaver features (eWEEK)
  "For better communications between the shop floor, other company divisions and trading partners, SAP AG is working on a number of manufacturing-oriented enhancements to mySAP ERP and NetWeaver, including at least two new capabilities expected to be released in 2005..."


• Cognos throws support behind NetWeaver 2004 (eBizQ)
  "Cognos, the enterprise business intelligence and corporate performance management solutions provider, announced its support of SAP NetWeaver '04..."


• Forrester recommends SAP customers go NetWeaver (CNET)
  "SAP customers should consider NetWeaver for their next portal-centric or business intelligence projects--and plan to ease into the rest of the NetWeaver stack over time..."

NetWeaver Planning and Integration

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"NetWeaver will be in your architecture. The questions are: 'What stays? What goes? How will it be leveraged?'"
– Dale Young, Capgemini

• NetWeaver deployment demands new game plans (SearchSAP.com)
  First things first: NetWeaver is not an option. Once SAP customers accept that fact, they can get down to the real business of deployment.


• New NetWeaver looms on middleware horizon (SearchSAP.com)
  One product. One price. And now one customer talks about why NetWeaver lives up to SAP's hype.


• NetWeaver for free? Not quite (SearchSAP.com)
  NetWeaver might be included free of charge in major SAP upgrades – but it will likely cost you to use it.


• Yankee: NetWeaver can cut TCO (SearchSAP.com)
  A new Yankee Group study says SAP customers who use NetWeaver together with other SAP products should see substantial benefits.


• SAP, Microsoft firm ties with IDS Scheer (SearchSAP.com)
  "A relatively small developer of business process modeling software could have a big impact on IT if SAP AG and Microsoft Corp. fulfill plans to incorporate the developer's platform..."


• SAP and Microsoft link up (SearchCRM.com)
  The project, code named Mendocino, will link Microsoft's Office products to SAP's ERP systems.


• Extending NetWeaver (SearchSAP.com)
  How can NetWeaver be used to extend existing SAP solutions with custom components? There are several ways...


• NetWeaver, legacy solutions integration (SearchSAP.com)
  How will NetWeaver work with legacy solutions? SAP has a strong commitment to making NetWeaver the be-all and end-all of software architectures, which means it has to play well with legacy solutions. There are a lot of issues to consider in the integration of NetWeaver to the world of legacy applications...


• Interoperability of SAP NetWeaver and IBM WebSphere (SearchSAP.com)
  This white paper explains how, together IBM and SAP will help customers to lower their TCO, protect their investment, and leverage their existing skills.


• Interactive Forms Based on Adobe Software Technical White Paper (SearchSAP.com)
  SAP AG and Adobe have announced the availability and joint delivery of Interactive Forms as part of the SAP® NetWeaver™ open integration and application platform. Learn about this new solution for streamlining online and offline forms-based processes, extending the reach of SAP solutions, within and beyond the firewall, in XML-enabled Adobe PDF forms.

Advice on NetWeaver

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• Building a business case for SAP NetWeaver (SearchSAP.com)
  Read expert advice on building a business case for SAP NetWeaver in this tip from industry analyst Joshua Greenbaum.


• NetWeaver FAQs answered by Axel Angeli (SearchSAP.com)
  If you have a IDoc/ALE & NetWeaver WebAS development question, check this FAQ first to see if Axel may already have answered it.


• Trimming fat on the NetWeaver diet (SearchSAP.com)
  Expert Joshua Greenbaum tells us why so many people fear SAP upgrades and how NetWeaver can whip you into shape.


• mySAP ERP Q&A (SearchSAP.com)
  This SAP brochure answers some key questions about the mySAP ERP solution.


• Ditch WebSphere and .NET for NetWeaver? (SearchSAP.com)
  An expert answer to the question: "My company has a significant investment in both WebSphere and .NET development, though we will take delivery of NetWeaver as part of our upgrade to MySAP Business Suite later this year. What should we do about these other technologies?"


• Where can NetWeaver be implemented in the industrial scenario? (SearchSAP.com)
  An expert answer to the question: "Where can SAP NetWeaver be implemented in the industrial scenario? How will it score over the existing technologies?"


• Is NetWeaver required to install Web Application Server to use for ESS? (SearchSAP.com)
  An expert answer to the question: "We are about to upgrade to R/3 Enterprise, and we are wondering whether we should continue with ITS or go in for the Web Application Server?"


• Browse answers to user questions about NetWeaver development (SearchSAP.com)
  A database of questions, answered by SAP expert Axel Angeli.


• Get the Java side of NetWeaver development answers here (SearchSAP.com)
  SearchSAP.com's Ask the Experts is a place to get your technical questions answered by leading authorities in the SAP field. Our experts have been chosen by our editorial team for their knowledge of specific technology areas.


• Creating a career in NetWeaver (SearchSAP.com)
  An expert answer to the question: "Can I choose a career path with SAP NetWeaver? I have five years experience in Java/J2EE and have no knowledge of SAP except the basic terms of SAP."


• Should I make a move to NetWeaver? (SearchSAP.com)
  Expert Jon Reed answers the question: Should I make a move to Netweaver based on my career experience?


• Will NetWeaver or WAS certification help advance my career? (SearchSAP.com)
  An expert answer to the question: "We are upgrading to Enterprise and I have been told that I will only maintain the old system. Do you think I should go for WAS or NetWeaver certification on my own?"


• BW or NetWeaver? (SearchSAP.com)
  An expert answer to the question: "Due to rapid new developments in SAP, I wish to enhance my skills into new areas. Please suggest whether BW or NetWeaver would be good for me [...] I have very little understanding of NetWeaver. Could you please guide me?"

Using NetWeaver

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• New Java power for NetWeaver (SearchSAP.com)
  The new Java 'virtual machine container' technology in SAP's NetWeaver can help administrators conduct close monitoring so that Java errors do not duplicate.


• How SAP NetWeaver Helped McKesson Streamline Business Processes (SearchSAP.com)
  Read this case study to learn how McKesson implemented SAP Business Intelligence (BI) which assisted in reducing costs, improving information transparency and streamlining business processes.


• Improve Business Processes with Enterprise Services Architecture
  Learn how to improve processes for product development, sales and marketing and supply chain automation. Read this white paper to discover how to better support business process changes using Enterprise Services Architecture (ESA) and SAP NetWeaver.
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• Business Communication in a SAP NetWeaver Environment (SearchSAP.com)
  This white paper discusses the IT infrastructure challenges that SAP enterprises need to address to improve the efficiency of their business processes. It explores the integral role of documents within business processes, and how SAP R/3 and NetWeaver produce documents to support interaction with other SAP as well as non-SAP systems.


• SAP NetWeaver - The need for tactical solutions on the road towards strategic goals, part 1 (SearchSAP.com)
  This is the first in a series of white papers on SAP NetWeaver and the need for tactical solutions on the road towards strategic goals. This paper presents an overview of NetWeaver.


• SAP NetWeaver - The need for tactical solutions... part 2 (SearchSAP.com)
  This paper will tell you why you might need NetWeaver.


• SAP NetWeaver - The need for tactical solutions... part 3 (SearchSAP.com)
  This paper presents tools for fitting NetWeaver into your strategic architecture.


• SAP NetWeaver - The need for tactical solutions... part 4 (SearchSAP.com)
  This paper presents some NetWeaver functionalities.


• SAP NetWeaver - The need for tactical solutions... part 5 (SearchSAP.com)
  This paper presents a plan for migration to NetWeaver.


• SAP NetWeaver - The need for tactical solutions... part 6 (SearchSAP.com)
  This is the sixth and final paper in a series of white papers on SAP NetWeaver and the need for tactical solutions on the road towards strategic goals.

General resources

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• Creating high impact BW workbooks (SearchSAP.com)
  So you've purchased and installed SAP BW at your company and you've created some basic reports. So far, so good -- but now it's time to take BW to the next level. This checklist...


• ESA, XI & a new era of integration (SearchSAP.com)
  NetWeaver gurus Axel Angeli and Lynton Grice -- created a brand new quiz for SearchSAP.com that will challenge your ESA knowledge and your XI expertise.


• SAP NetWeaver Business Task Management: Understanding how users interact with SAP NetWeaver Business Process Management (SearchSAP.com)
  This presentation introduces the various NetWeaver functionalities that enable users to interact with business processes throughout their day.


• Netweaver Web Application Server administration (SearchSAP.com)
  An 'SAP Higher Education' tip written by instructors at SAP Education.


• SAP's NetWeaver fuels RFID race (SearchSAP.com)
  A Forrester Research report says SAP is leading the RFID race, with Oracle Corp. and IBM nipping at its heels. Read this exclusive article for details about the report.


• Understanding SAP NetWeaver: Part 1 (ZDNET)
  "The Bottom Line: Putting the confusing marketing of its parts aside, NetWeaver constitutes SAP's new services-oriented architecture. Customers should approach and regard NetWeaver in much the same way as they approached (or should have approached) the shift to client-server..."


• NetWeaver from A-Z (Intelligent Enterprise)
  "At its recent collaborative solutions industry summit, SAP updated Ventana Research on the progress of its NetWeaver application platform and the plans for 2004. SAP made significant progress in the evolution of the technology and the uptake in customer and partner adoption..."


• Do I need ABAP/NetWeaver certification? (SearchSAP.com)
  An expert answer to the question: "Will training and certification assist me in getting a job as an ABAP developer?"


• From Java to NetWeaver or ABAP? (SearchSAP.com)
  An expert answer to the question: "As a Java person, is it good to learn NetWeaver or better be an ABAPer and learn BW stuff like that?"


• NetWeaver for Dummies word scramble (SearchSAP.com)
  Think you know NetWeaver? Try your hand at NetWeaver terminology by unscrambling these NetWeaver-related terms.


• Answers to NetWeaver for Dummies word scramble (SearchSAP.com)

More Learning Guides

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• SAP Certification Learning Guide (SearchSAP.com)


• Application Security Learning Guide (SearchSAP.com)


• SAP CRM Learning Guide (SearchSAP.com)


• ERP guide for the midmarket (SearchSAP.com)


• SAP Security Learning Guide (SearchSAP.com)


• SAP Career Advancement Learning Guide (SearchSAP.com)


• SAP Job Seeker's Learning Guide (SearchSAP.com)


• SAP BW Learning Guide (SearchSAP.com)


• Business Intelligence (BI) Learning Guide (SearchSAP.com)


• SAP HR Learning Guide (SearchSAP.com)


• SAP XI Learning Guide (SearchSAP.com)


• SAP RFID Learning Guide (SearchSAP.com)


• BAPI Learning Guide (SearchSAP.com)


• Basis Learning Guide (SearchSAP.com)


• Sales Effectiveness Learning Guide (SearchCRM.com)


• Wireless Learning Guide (SearchMobileComputing.com)


• Marketing Effectiveness Learning Guide (SearchCRM.com)


• XML Learning Guide (SearchWebServices.com)


• Linux basics for Windows pros (SearchEnterpriseLinux.com)