Refresh of database (UNICODE to NON UNICODE).

[Former Member]

We would like to refresh our BW Production database to our BW LAB database.

The BW Production database is NON UNICODE and the BW LAB is UNICODE.

Please see information below:

BW LAB system SID: BWP (same SID as BW production)

Installation mode: REstore from BWP before we converted database to UNICODE

BW Production system SID: BWP

Installation mode: SAP NW EHP1 7.0 SP5 (Installation from scatch as NON UNICODE)

Can I refresh the oracle database of BWP (Production) to the BWP (Lab)?

Thank you in advance.

[nils_buerckel]

Hi,

please describe how you want to restore the data ?

You can of course always copy your BW production system (using system copy or Backup and restore system) and use it as lab system.

Best regards,

Nils Buerckel

[Former Member]

Nils,

We are going to restore the BWP production data to the BWP Lab using sapinst.

[daniele_dutra]

Hi Margie,

Database refreshes (assuming both source and target systems are already installed and you will only copy the database content of the source and restore in the target) are not supported for 7.0x releases even when both systems are identical.

If one system is non-unicode and the other is unicode it is even worse. That will leave your target system inconsistent, as the system will be expecting unicode data but the database will be loaded with non-unicode (or vice-versa).

To ensure consistency of your system, you should perform a System Copy as per the guides for your system release (www.service.sap.com/instguides). That is, you should first uninstall completely the existing target system (BW Lab, if I understood correctly). Then export the data from the source PRD system and import it during the "Target System Installation" phase of the System Copy.

That way, your new BW Lab will be installed with the same data code page of the source system.

Best Regards,

Daniele

[Former Member]

Thanks Daniele, this is what we were thinking. Thanks for the confirmation!