change of techn.platform from IBM-i/DB2400 to an Intel WinServer + MS-SQL

[christoph_ostrop]

Hi,

we are running SAP-BW (Netweaver BW 7.01 SPS-06) with attached BW-portal (ABAP+Java Dualstack) on a server IBM-i with i/OS V6R1 and DB2/400.

because of growing data and an increasing number of BW-Users, we are faced to extend the SAP-BW resources and some colleagues propose a platform-transfer to Windows-server and MS-SQL server.

are there any experiences with migrating SAP-BW from IBM-i to an Intel-based Windows-Server IA64/x64 and MS-SQL server 2008 ?

there were statements like:

SAP-BW take advantage of optimized datawarehouse functions of MS-SQL Server

which DB2/400 could not support and do not have,

maybe, there are other companies faced with same considerations and we look forward for a feedback of pro or cons on this subject

Thanks in advance.

[former_member196504]

Hallo Mr. Ostrop,

table partitioning is used the same way on both platforms. Queries to partitioned tables are handled by the SAP BW teh same way on both platforms, they are sent to the database and the database handles the queries. Table partitioning does not bring any performance advantage for queries, it's value is usually with database administration (load table data or delete all data in a specific range).

To optimze the complex database accesses to BW data structures most databases provide specific methods. SQLServer uses the star join which itself may utilize dynamically created bitmap indexes. DB2 for IBM i uses encoded vector indexes (EVIs) that serve the same purpose. Both works the same from the BW user or administrator perspective and there is not advantage or disadvantage for any of the platforms.

MOLAP processing is not used by the current SAP BW implemanetation, maybe you refer to the MOLAP bridge, which is from an outdated release of SAp BW and which is not longer offered.

If you have more technical questions to this matter please ask here, my colleagues (BW specialists) would be happy to answer.

Best Regards, Christian Hölters, SAP on IBM i development.

[former_member196504]

Hello Mr. Ostrop,

could you please provuide some more details on what you actually mean with "... optimized datawarehouse functions of MS-SQL Server which DB2/400 could not support and do not have..."? I was discussing with people that know about this platform and they mentioned table partitioning, star joins and bitmap indexes as the key features in this area. This is all available with SAP BW on IBM i for years (bitmap indexes are called "excoded vctor indexes" - EVI).

Best Regards, Christian Hölters, SAP on IBM i.

[christoph_ostrop]

> Hello Mr. Ostrop,
> could you please provuide some more details on what you actually mean with "... optimized datawarehouse functions of MS-SQL Server which DB2/400 could not support and do not have..."? I was discussing with people that know about this platform and they mentioned table partitioning, star joins and bitmap indexes as the key features in this area. This is all available with SAP BW on IBM i for years (bitmap indexes are called "excoded vctor indexes" - EVI).
> Best Regards, Christian Hölters, SAP on IBM i.

Hi, Christian,

table partitioning handled by SQL-server,

star join optimization, a special kind of optimizing,

MOLAP, work with aggregates,

table partiioning on DB-level,

best regards,