DevOps for SAP

This paper discusses the challenges of traditional SAP installations and presents a solution that leverages DevOps practices and open-source tools to automate the process. The author explains that manual SAP installations are time-consuming, error-prone, and lack the benefits of having resources in code, such as repeatability, centralized knowledge, and auditability.

The paper introduces an open-source project that automates the entire SAP installation process on AWS using tools like Terraform, Ansible, and Jenkins. Terraform is used for infrastructure creation, Ansible for preparation work and SAP software installation, and Jenkins as the central controller. The automation reduces the installation time from months to less than two hours and ensures a consistent, repeatable process.

The author also discusses the challenges encountered during the automation process, such as loading SAP libraries and packages into the Linux PATH variable, and how they were overcome. The paper concludes by highlighting the benefits of automating SAP installations, including increased maintainability, reduced dependency on highly skilled individuals, improved traceability and auditability, and faster feedback loops through intelligent parameter checks.

What's inside

• Speed — Reduce SAP installation time from months to less than 2 hours, saving valuable resources.
• Consistency — Eliminate manual errors and ensure a repeatable, standardized installation process.
• Maintainability — Centralize knowledge and documentation through code, facilitating future updates.
• Agility — Quickly provision SAP environments for sandboxes and training, enabling faster innovation.