Units

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Sample subject outline - Semester 1 2012

Note: Subject outlines often change before the semester begins. Below is a sample outline.

Rationale

SAP Netweaver Systems are fully integrated, off the shelf, open, client/server software systems designed to manage all the business information needs of large enterprises. The efficient functioning of an enterprise utilising SAP Netweaver Systems then can be directly related to the efficient functioning of the SAP Netweaver Systems. As it is the system administrator's responsibility to ensure the efficient functioning of the SAP Netweaver systems, this unit will provide a practical introduction to the essential tasks of the SAP Netweaver systems administrator.

In SAP Netweaver Systems Administration, we will introduce the students to the architecture of SAP Netweaver and the management issues of database management, user management, performance monitoring and tuning, software logistics and quality assurance. We will give the students limited systems access rights to manage the sandbox system. They will be given a set of daily checks to perform and to recommend solutions to problems.

This unit will be conducted using both a lecture and a workshop environment.

Aims

This unit seeks to develop an understanding of the technical architecture of Enterprise Wide Software Applications utilising SAP Netweaver, which is an exemplar integrated Enterprise System which is built upon a relational database system.

This unit aims to develop theoretical understanding of database management, security, systems performance, software logistics, and support. The unit also aims to develop practical skills in managing each of these elements within the SAP Netweaver environments. It does so through discussing some of the theory and showing how the theory is applied in practice.

Through the assessment items, this unit seeks to develop critical thinking, problem solving, and report writing, verbal communication and teamwork capabilities as outlined in the Faculty of Science and Engineering' graduate capability statements for relevant IT degrees offered.

Objectives

The performance objectives for ITB/INN 204 have been developed using the generic QUT graduate capabilities statements and the explicit graduate capability statements for the relevant undergraduate and post-graduate degree courses available

The approach taken to stating the performance objectives has been to make high level statements about the theory and practice performance objectives and then develop a list of performance objectives based on the graduate capability statements, which will be provided to the students with the Week 1 document for this unit.

Theory

1. The technology stacks available in SAP Netweaver
2. The principles of Systems Administration and how they can be applied in SAP Netweaver systems;
3. The principles of database administration and in particular database administration within an Oracle Environment;
4. The principles of security requirements for Enterprise Wide Software Architectures;
5. The principles of the 3 System Landscape and application of Quality Assurance measures to Enterprise Software;
6. Problem solving skills that can be applied to the Systems Administration task; and
7. The tools and functionality provided by SAP within the SAP Netweaver environment that can be applied to Objectives 1 to 6.


Practice

1. The use of tools provided by SAP Netweaver to apply the principles of systems administration identified in theory objectives 2, 3 and 5;
2. Development of problem solving skills that are applied to theory objectives 1 through 6;
3. Development of written and verbal communication skills through completion of tasks associated with practice objectives 1
and 2;

Content

INB/INN 204 will be delivered in a modular fashion with each module concentrating on a particular theory area and including the opportunity to develop systems administration skills through the completion of practical tasks. The individual modules identified are:


Module 1 (Weeks 1 to 3 inclusive) - Introduction to BASIS (WAS) and the SAP NETWEAVER foundation architecture. Introduces the basic architecture of SAP Netweaver showing the client server architecture, the three system landscape architecture, the architecture of transaction processing systems and the different technology stacks used by SAP netweaver (ABAP and Java). Includes the concepts of instance, installation, operating modes, SAP Netweaver work processes, the Internet Communications Framework that SAP Netweaver uses and stopping and starting SAP Netweaver Systems.

Module 2 (Weeks 4 and 5) - Database Administration. Introduces the basic theory of database management focusing on systems backup and recovery. Gives details of the processing of a database request. Includes the concepts of Oracle background processes, Oracle file systems, and the theory of recovery systems. Skills acquisition include transaction codes for scheduling backups, monitoring database performance using transaction ST04 and DBA functions for backup and recovery including use of the BRTOOLS, BRBACKUP, & BRARCHIVE utilities for database administration functions.

Module 3 (Week 6) - Daily Operational Tasks. Introduces the important daily tasks that Systems Administrators must do to ensure the efficient operation of SAP Netweaver Systems. Also introduces the transactions/tools available to perform these tasks in both Web AS ABAP and Web AS Java environments

Module 4(Week 7 and 8) - Systems performance and tuning covering the architecture for memory management. Skills acquisition includes using the transactions for Performance Monitoring (ST03), Buffer Management (ST02) and Operating Systems Monitoring (ST06).

Module 5 (Week 9) - Security. Reviews the concepts of Physical Security, Network security and Operating System Security. Focuses on Management of Users, Authorisations and Profiles, use of automated system administration tools provided with SAP Netweaver. Covers the theory of Authorisation and profiles as well as the transaction codes and profile generator tools necessary for the setup of authorisations and profiles.

Module 6 (Week 10)- Software Logistics in SAP Netweaver Systems. Reviews the systems architecture and examines the means to transport changes from development to test, and eventually to production through the 3 system landscape. Introduces the concept of client copies.

Module 7 (Weeks 11 and 12) - SAP Solution Manager and SAP Enterprise Portal. Introduces SAP Solution Manager and how it can be integrated with SAP Netweaver Systems to monitor extensive SAP Netweaver Landscapes. Covers Concepts of CCMS Monitoring and Central Systems Administration including Central Systems Monitoring, Business Process Monitoring and Early Watch Alert Reports. Also introduces students to the SAP Enterprise Portal which can be used as a browser based environment to access SAP Netweaver solutions deployed in the Enterprise.

Approaches to Teaching and Learning

This unit is based on experiential learning, augmented through discussion and readings. The student is given introductory theory relating to the specific module. This theory is applicable in all relational database application systems. The theory is then made specific to the SAP environment and you develop practical skills through a workshop environment, guided by experienced SAP Systems administrators.

The workshops give the student a structured opportunity to acquire the practical skills in the unit. Attendance at the workshops is compulsory. Each session is designed for the student to do activities in the PC laboratories. This involves both individual and small group work. The workshops include self-discovery activities, during which time the student will develop their understanding of the concepts that relate to applying relevant theory to practice. The student will formalise their understandings through the development of a professionally structured Systems Administrators Manual. This manual will summarise the practical component of the course and contain elements from each module. This manual will be partly developed through group interaction in the first 5 weeks of the course. The student will then complete their personalised Systems Administrators Handbook.

Assessment

TBCTBC

Assessment name: Systems Admin Handbook Project
Description: Developing a systems administrator's manual for specified transactions. This requires the student to use industry accepted documentation formats for this type of user manual as well as appropriate academic referencing techniques. In addition to the documentation of the 8 specified transactions the students will also be required to complete problem solving exercises by researching and developing solutions to 16 systems errors that can be solved using the 8 nominated transactions.
Relates to objectives: All
Weight: 60%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: Week 11

Assessment name: Examination (written)
Description: 1 Hour Exam covering the key theory concepts in Weeks 6 through 12. The exam will consist of 30 Multiple Choice questions and 2 Short Answer.
Relates to objectives: Discipline Knowledge and Practice Performance Objectives
Weight: 20%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: Scheduled Final Exam

Assessment name: Mid Semester Exam
Description: Multi-choice and short answer quiz covering the content of the lectures/workshops for weeks 1 to 6.The quiz ensures an early mastery of basic theory necessary to appreciate the advanced concepts given in the latter modules.
Relates to objectives: Theory Objectives 1,2,3
Weight: 20%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: Week 6

Academic Honesty

Academic honesty means that you are expected to exhibit honesty and act responsibly when undertaking assessment. Any action or practice on your part which would defeat the purposes of assessment is regarded as academic dishonesty. The penalties for academic dishonesty are provided in the Student Rules. For more information you should consult the QUT Library resources for avoiding plagiarism.

Resource materials

Reference Materials

Book:
Author: Föse F, Hagemann, S and Will, L
Title: SAP Netweaver Web AS System Administration
Publisher: SAP PRESS
Year Published: 4th Edition 2012
ISBN: 978-59229-411-4

Risk assessment statement

There is minimal health and safety risk in this unit. It is your responsibility to familiarise yourself with the Health and Safety policies and procedures applicable within the campus areas and laboratories.

Disclaimer - Offer of some units is subject to viability, and information in these Unit Outlines is subject to change prior to commencement of a semester.

Last Modified: Thursday 12th January, 2012

Please note: Please refer to the week one document and the unit outline. The following items of assessment are nominated for the ¿40% rule¿ on items of assessment and students who achieve less than 40% of the marks allocated to those items of assessment will have their final passing grade reduced by one level on the grading system:

1. Assessment Item Number 4: Systems Administrator Handbook Project
2. Assessment Item Number 5: Group project to develop a support and disaster recovery plan
3. Assessment Item Number 6: The Final Exam.

Disclaimer - Offer of some units is subject to viability, and information in these Unit Outlines is subject to change prior to commencement of semester.

Last modified: 21-Feb-2012