strategy for support package upgradation

[Former Member]

is there any way to calculate on the time for support package upgrdation based on test run (or) is there any other way to estimate that ..

we need to plan for support packages upgradation , all the levels in the current system are vely old of 2 years back ...

i also want to know on the strategy that generally you all follow for support package upgrdation ...is that usually everyone does that 3-4 months once as suggested by SAP ?

Also when we said our senior team that we have planned for support package upgradation , a piece of advice from him is ,

"when you applied support package(specially at component SAP_APPL), it will be conflicted modificated programs ."

i just want to know is the components where conflicts would arise depends on the modules implemented ?

if not so what are the other components that would need our extra attention during upgrade process ?

is components like SAP_BASIS and SAP_ABA will not have any conflicts like this as they do not fall under company specific customizing ?

[Former Member]

Hai,

Upgrading SAP_APPL is not an easy task, by doing this - SAP standard are overwritten with the objects redelivered. Also this will change the functionality of the application.

For example if you are using Finance or some other module this SAP_APPL upgrade will bring in changes which needs Regression testing which ensures that business critical applications function correctly following any system changes. An effective and efficient regression test plan can only be developed if there is a complete understanding of what will change in the system, once a support pack is installed. This should be done before you move on to a Production environment.

Upgrading SAP_Basis and SAP_ABAP is not very dangerous as above, but still you have to test them first in DEV systems and then move forward in the landscape.

The changes to ABAP structures while can be managed with SPDD and SPAU tcodes.

http://help.sap.com/saphelp_nw70/helpdata/en/60/d6ba7bceda11d1953a0000e82de14a/frameset.htm

Normally upgrading support packs depends upon the functionalities you need in the system, or to counter some bugs in the system. You cannot keep on upgrading every 3 or 4 months as SAP says, because this depends on the business.

Regards,

Yoganand.V

Edited by: Yoganand Vedagiri on Feb 20, 2009 2:54 PM