Installing SAP Exchange Infrastructure (PI)

After the short description of the SAP XI components it's time to start with how to install and configure the SAP usage type PI (former Exchange Infrastructure).

In the first place you should know that all installation-related guides can be found at http://service.sap.com/instguides. In the left panel you will find SAP NW 7.0 (2004s) version which we will use. There, under Installation you will find the Master Guide that you must read. There are a few steps that must be done before proceeding with the installation.

1. First you check the hardware and software requirements.
2. You need to check the Windows File System (NTFS is a must).
3. You need to check the size of the file cache.
4. You must install the Java Development Kit (JDK). I would recommend version 1.4.2. Also, the installation tool (SAPINST) requires the JRE to function. So, install JDK + JRE.
5. Install your chosen database (Oracle, MSSQL etc). Be sure to check the master guide before installing because for example Microsoft SQL Server 2005 is required to have a certain collation (Unicode collation SQL_Latin1_General_CP850_BIN2) to work with SAP. This collation is not installed by default so you must manually change it in the installation process.
6. Prepare the installation DVDs or download from SAP site.
7. Before you start the installation, make sure to download from the Sun site the Java Cryptographic Extension Policy Archive (JCE_policy) for the JDK version that you installed earlier.
7. When you install a new PI System you can either register the PI System in a local or in a remote System Landscape Directory.

So after the SAPINST has finished installing the SAP PI, you need to make a couple of post-installation steps.

Firstly, you need to map the Security Role to User:

• Log on to the Visual Administrator of the J2EE engine of the SLD host. You'll find the path to look like this: "X:\usr\sap\\DVEBMGS00\j2ee\admin\go.bat"
• Choose Cluster --> Server --> Services --> Security Provider.
• In the Runtime tab, you must choose Policy Configurations and then the column Components, and select the component.
• Switch to the Security Roles tab to display the assigned nodes.
• Select role LcrInstanceWriterLD. You should see the user SLDAPIUSER.
• Use the Edit mode and add user PIAPPLUSER with the same role LcrInstanceWriterLD.

Secondly:

• Log on to SAP XI System with user DDIC and call the transaction SLDAPICUST. You will see the Maintain SLD Access Data screen.
• Choose Display --> Change and:

1. Replace the existing SLDAPIUSER with PIAPPLUSER;
2. Make sure your entry is marked as Primary;
3. Save the settings;

Well, now we have performed the post installation steps and we must move on to the configuration steps. There are 2 options to do this: either using the template (which i advice against), and doing the steps manually, which i recommend.

So here we will maintain the configuration steps manually.


..to be continued..