Is it must to use SAP MDM with XI.

[Former Member]

Hi All,

Is it must to use SAP MDM with XI.

Regards

Nikhil

[Former Member · Accepted solution]

Hi Nikhil,

XI is a middleware abd used whenever two systems are not able to talk to each other directly.

Hence, in we require a middleware in that case.

IN this case, MDM can understand multiple formats such as XML, Delimited text, Excel, Access, .CSV etc. Hence any system who can provide the data in the above mentioned format can be directly integarted with MDM.

For ex. BI can be integrated with MDM without the use of XI as BI understands .CSV format and MDM too.

However, if w talk about R3, it has data in the form of IDOCS which MDM cant understand. Hence, it is almost mandatory to use XI in that case.

So, it depends upon the landscape in which MDM will be implemented.

Also in the case of Legacy systems( Non-SAP systems), it becomes quite difficult to integrate them with MDM as they dont talk in any common format.

Hence, in that case too, XI is required.

For ex, please refer to the thread below to understand better the role of XI with MDM:

SAP Network Blog: XI Configuration for MDM Integration - Sample Scenario-

Hope it helps.

Thanks and Regards

Nitin Jain

[Former Member]

Hi Nikhil,

It is not mandatory to use XI in case of MDM. It depends on the project requirement.

For example. Suppose we want to transfer data from R/3 Sytem to MDM.

Then can triogger IDOC for the materials. But this IDOC format is not recognized by MDM. Then we have to transfer this IDOC into XML . Because MDM Support XML,XL etc. So to create XML from IDOC and send it to specified target location is taken care by XI and its communication channel.

In case of BI and MDM integration No need to use XI as middleware.

Hope it will help.

[Former Member]

Hey,

you can use XI without MDM.

But in case of MDM if you want to connect to an external system such as R3 or say oracle you need to convert the data from the source system into XML file and then import the file in MDM.

This conversion of data is done by XI.

Aslo if your MDM is source it will provide the XML file and XI will convert this file into the target structure(i.e R3 or oracle or any other system).

regards,

Milan

[Former Member]

Hi Nikhil,

Please refer the following points.

SAP NetWeaver XI is the technology foundation that enables SAP to realize the enterprise services architecture vision. With SAP NetWeaver and the enterprise services architecture, you benefit from the next level of application flexibility, and the power to integrate solutions quickly across the enterprise and beyond.

SAP NetWeaver XI enables users to:

1. Develop cross-system applications that exchange a multitude of system messages using the runtime

infrastructure offering synchronous or asynchronous communication

2. Develop new platform-independent interfaces or connect existing interfaces to the runtime using adapters

Produce a birdu2019s eye view of the collaboration process using business scenarios to derive the interfaces

and mappings required from them

3. Adjust message values and structures for the receiver using mappings

4. Centrally maintain the message flow between logical systems in the system landscape using logical

routing

5. Control system access using logon data

6. Describe the system landscape as the foundation for the description of the collaborative process using

System Landscape Directory content

7. SAP XI is based on general standards to enable external systems to integrate. At the center of the

infrastructure is an XML-based communication that uses HTTP. The application-specific contents are

transferred in messages in a user-defined XML schema from the sender to the receiver using the

Integration Server.

Thanks

Rupesh

[Former Member]

Hi Nikhil,

If you want to establish communication between MDM and R3 i.e. if you want to replicate R3 data into MDM then we need XI in between for extracting Main table data.

We need two types of data:

1. Lookup records (MDMGX)

2. Main Table records. (MDM_CLNT_EXTR)

MDMGX transaction i.e. lookup data extraction can be done without XI with the help of FTP but transaction MDM_CLNT_EXTR i.e. Main table data can be sent to MDM from R3 via XI only.

Just wanted to give you brief description where XI come into picture.

Regards,

Jitesh Talreja

[Former Member]

Hi Nikhil,

Xi is a middle ware used to exchange data to and from MDM to target systems when MDM cannot syndicate data in the target system file format.

MDM Can syndicate data in two formats

- Flat

- XML

So if we are exchanging data with a target system like R/3,ECC or CRM where the file formats are different from the ones MDM can ahndle for eg Idocs,Bdocs etc then we will have to use XI in the landscape.

It is however not mandatory to use XI as some of the data exchange can be done by directly connecting to the target sytem from MDM using API like Java or ABAP.

But XI is recommented as besides bringing about consistency in data exchange it also has other features like monitoring etc which may be required in many cases.

So you can use XI if its not an Overhead to the system landscape and you wish to connect to systems like ECC and need monitoring features.

You can have a look on the below links which will give you are fair understanding on the use of XI with MDM:

/people/harrison.holland5/blog/2007/01/22/testing-and-monitoring-an-interface-between-mdm-xi

Hope It Helped,

Thanks & Regards

Simona Pinto

[Former Member]

If you need to pass the content from MDM to R3/SRM or BI systems then its necessary.Basically it depends on what you want to achieve.Its mandatory with Plan Driven Procurement for SRM.