SAP Netweaver Interview Questions

   What's the difference between SAP Enterprise Portal and SAP Netweaver Portal ?

Before SAP's strategy turn towards the SAP Netweaver Architecture, what we commonly refer to as "SAP Portal" was called just that or SAP Enterprise Portal. It was just a way to identify this SAP standalone product that was capable (and still is) to connect with all kinds of external systems. These systems could be SAP modules or external systems built on different technologies, such as proprietary client systems or legacy systems. By shifting it's strategy around Netweaver, SAP put the Portal inside the Netweaver platform, arranging its components in order to improve and simplify it's communication with other systems, as well as harmonizing some of its core capabilities and re-utilize those of the Netweaver platform. In a daily basis, we just refer to it as SAP Portal and specify the version (e.g. Portal 6.0, Portal 7.0 or NW Portal).

   How can I check the installed version of ESS/MSS ?

Take note of the following steps in order to find out if indeed you have the ESS and MSS components and in which versions do you have them. Please note that there are alternative ways to check this like, e.g., using the Visual Administrator tool. This is just a way that works for me because most of the times clients won't allow access to the V.A. tool by external consultants.

  What checklist items should I follow to check an ESS Portal installation ?

This must be one of the most asked topics in SDN and there are lots of references in the web. My first recommendation is that you start by reading my post "Employee Self-Services Initial Steps Wiki". This "ESS Initial Steps" wiki intends to provide a hands-on initial contact with the ESS implementation.

   What are the main components of the SAP Netweaver Portal ?

SAP NetWeaver Portal unifies key information and applications to give users a single view that spans IT silos and organizational boundaries. It allows you to take full advantage of all your information resources - and maximize the return on your IT investments. And, its predefined business content accelerates implementation and reduces the cost of integrating your existing systems.

   What's the relation between the Netweaver Portal and the Universal Worklist (UWL) ?

The Universal Work list is for the Netweaver Portal what the SAP Business Workplace is for the ERP system. So if you want to enable any Workflow activities using the Portal, ESS and MSS, you will need to use the Universal Work list so that users receive their tasks and act upon them. The UWL is tied to the backend using a Portal System connector which has to be configured before being able to use it. Many users complain about data refresh issues using the UWL. Even though SAP is aware of this and try to advise some workarounds, like the optimization of the delta pull mechanism, the UWL is still the main functionality to deliver work items and tasks to users in the Portal, coming from SAP Business Workflow or Guided Procedures tasks. The UWL is delivered with a standard configuration but usually SAP consultants customize it to meet the client's and project requirements. See how to configure the UWL for Guided Procedures on Composition Environment.

    What's the difference between a Portal role and an ERP role ?

• This question arises some doubts, mainly in beginners starting to work with Portal. The role assignment function in the portal allows role assignment to users and groups. These roles will reflect the user's or group's function within the company (example: ESS, MSS, HR Administrator, etc.). For a Portal user to run properly, the person responsible for User Management will have to assign both portal roles as well as ERP roles. There are, however, situations for which only an ERP role is assigned.

• Portal roles define how portal content is grouped together and how it is displayed in the portal navigation area. By assigning a portal role to a user or group, you'll define which content is available for a certain user or group.

• ERP roles define a set of authorization objects. By assigning an ERP role to a user or group, you grant the set of authorizations that the role defines to the user or group. In the portal, SAP recommends that you work with portal roles.

   How does the Portal connect to the ERP ?

• The main Portal object which is needed for the Portal to connect to the ERP is what is commonly referred to as a System. Systems are PCD objects, such as folders, pages or iViews. What this means is that Systems must have a unique ID, a prefix (typically com.companyname) and a name. Systems have specific parameters that need to be configured, in order to enable the connection between the portal and the backend (ERP). Ideally, you will have created a customer folder in the PCD and you should create any needed systems in a specific client folder, in a folder name such as 'Systems'.

• Systems can only be maintained using the System Landscape Editor, which is an option which is only available for the under System Administrator role.

• Although systems can be transported through the portal transport mechanism, they don't need to be and, in my opinion, they shouldn't. This is because the systems that are accessed from a development portal are normally different to the systems accessed by QA and production portals - they connect to different backends!