SAP SOLUTION MANAGER
Posted by crmQ on July 9, 2008
SOURCE – sdn.sap.com – by Sapna Modi
What is SAP Solution Manager:
SAP Solution Manager is a tool, which assists in application management as per ITIL (IT Infrastructure Library) environment. The tool supports the entire lifecycle of solutions mainly having six phases – Requirements, Design, Build, Deploy, Operate & Optimize as per ITIL standard.
It runs in a separate central system to which all the other SAP systems are connected. These other systems are called as Satellite Systems.
Latest Version:
SAP Solution Manager 4.0.
Features of SAP Solution Manager:
· Solution Manager helps in all types of project management like Implementation, Upgrade, Maintenance, Rollout etc. by providing the project specific template.
· It is in line with SAP’s AcceleratedSAP. And provide Roadmaps for the different types of projects.
· It has Business Process Repository, which talks about SAP’s best practice of running the business.
· It has eLearning feature, which offers the training along with feedback over web.
· It has test management feature, which offers the central storage repository for storing the automated eCATT scripts along with manual scripts. The results of testing are centrally stored and always available.
· It has its own standard Helpdesk feature, which is both SAPGUI based and web based.
· The Helpdesk feature is totally linked with Change Request Management, which helps in transport for changes required in production issues.
· It has Solution Monitoring as well as Diagnostic feature, which helps in Operation Phase of project.
· Solution Manager has lots of inbuilt reports, which server the different areas of it.
· It is linked with SAP Service Market Place.
· It can generate Installation/Upgrade key.
· It has its own Knowledge Warehouse for central documentation storage.
· It can integrate with ARIS, a detailed graphical business process modeling tool
· It can also integrate with Mercury tools like QTP for testing in web based environment.
What are AcceleratedSAP (ASAP) Roadmaps:
AcceleratedSAP Roadmaps are the proven procedures for Project Management. Roadmaps provide a methodology for the executing successful SAP projects of any kind like Implementation, Upgrade & Global Rollout. The methodology has a defined framework for different kinds of projects and has lots of tools, services etc. Special Accelerators are available in Roadmap structure, which help in following the best offered practices of project management and hence accelerates the speed of project. Accelerators are in terms of templates, examples, documentation, links etc.
Latest Version of Roadmaps:
Latest version of Implementation roadmaps is V3.6 (December 2006), Upgrade Roadmap is 3.1 & Rollout Roadmap is 3.5. Roadmaps are released in the span of 6-8 months. The latest version at any time can be found on SAP Service Marketplace. (http://service.sap.com/roadmaps ).
Transaction Codes involved in Roadmaps:
· For launching Roadmap: RMMAIN
· For creating Custom Roadmaps(without structure change): RMDEF
Using this option, one can use copy of SAP’s roadmaps with custom contents. No changes can be made to the structure of the roadmap. Only header data like name & attributes (flavors, roles & subject areas) can be defined.
· For creating Custom Roadmaps(with structure change & entry screen): RMAUTH
Using this option, one can define his own structure of roadmap or make changes to copied structure of standard roadmap. The documentation created or changed in terms of accelerators or so is stored in SAP NetWeaver Knowledge Warehouse.
Though the feature is given to create a new or modify copied standard roadmaps, one should be careful in using the custom functionality here. As SAP releases new roadmap, it may become difficult to adjust those parameters in custom roadmaps. So it is recommended to strictly keep track of all changes in standard roadmap and then change the custom roadmap accordingly.
What are different types of Roadmaps:
There are different types of Roadmaps available in SAP Solution Manager, meeting the requirements of different kinds of SAP projects.
· Implementation Roadmaps:
The Implementation Roadmap methodology covers the necessary project management, the configuration of business processes, testing and training aspects as well as technical implementation activities. There are following types of Implementation roadmaps available in Solman.
o ASAP Implementation Roadmap:
The ASAP Implementation Roadmap provides implementation methodology for mySAP Business Suite (mySAP ERP, mySAP CRM, mySAP SCM, mySAP PLM, mySAP SRM), SAP xApps, SAP NetWeaver and SAP Solutions for Mobile Business. 
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o ASAP Implementation Roadmap for SAP Enterprise Portal: 
o ASAP Implementation Roadmap for SAP Exchange Infrastructure: 
o Solution Management Roadmap: The Solution Management Roadmap provides a methodology for the implementation of the technical infrastructure and its operation. The Solution Management Roadmap complements the Implementation Roadmap. 
· Upgrade Roadmap:
The Upgrade Roadmap provides SAP latest upgrade methodology to plan and execute an SAP upgrade. It bundles SAP’s latest knowledge and best-practices for basic project management, functional and technical aspects to upgrade an entire SAP system landscape. 
· Global Template Roadmap:
The Global Template Roadmap describes how to organize and how to run a project in which a corporate template is developed. The Global Template Roadmap is geared to more complex implementation or harmonization projects, typically involving more than one kind of mySAP solution, and a variety of sites, possibly in different countries. The corporate template is rolled out to other sites in a follow-up project. 
SOURCE – sdn.sap.com – by Sapna Modi
