Linux Eases the Migration Path to SAP S/4HANA

Guest blog by Naji Almahmoud, Vice President Global Alliances, Solutions and Business Development at SUSE

Capture the Benefits Before the 2025 Deadline

SAP managers can’t afford to ignore SAP S/4HANA projects for two key reasons.

First, the maintenance window for SAP Business Suite will close in 2025. Second, SAP’s new generation of products offers companies a huge potential for developing their business processes. To take advantage of SAP S/4HANA, you need to move to the open source technology Linux. See how Linux can simplify the migration path to SAP S/4HANA.

SAP S/4HANA is at the forefront of the minds of decision makers at companies with SAP infrastructures. Resting on the in-memory power of the SAP HANA database and harnessing SAP Fiori user experiences, SAP S/4HANA is intended to serve as a real-time platform for transactional and analytical workflows that can help companies leverage innovative technologies such as big data, Industry 4.0, and the Internet of Things (IoT). And with the knowledge that SAP’s support of its legacy ERP suite will end in 2025, the clock is ticking for companies to convert to SAP S/4HANA.

But it’s not just about the looming deadline. SAP S/4HANA can offer companies big potential for refining their existing business processes and developing entirely new ones. And while a project to overhaul an ERP installation can seem daunting, companies can achieve quick wins and time to value by undergoing a simple migration with Linux.

 Simple Migration with Linux

Many large ERP projects require nearly incalculable costs and effort — and since SAP S/4HANA involves not just a software upgrade but an overhaul of existing IT infrastructure, it might seem as if such a project would be even more resource-intensive. These fears are unfounded, however, because SAP HANA runs exclusively on the Linux operating system. Linux ensures a simple, long-term, sustainable move, even for companies that still rely on UNIX and for traditional Microsoft-only shops.

As an open-source technology, Linux is built to be interoperable by its very nature. This makes it better able to support the increasing complexity of the modern data center, which must handle business models that depend on mobility, cloud computing, and IoT devices. Linux already leads enterprises’ shift to the cloud, as most applications in the cloud run on Linux, so it’s a natural choice for organizations that are considering databases that support big data, such as SAP HANA.

Taking the First Step in the SAP S/4HANA Journey

Moving to SAP S/4HANA provides a perfect opportunity for organizations to take advantage of the benefits of Linux. Since 2011, SUSE and SAP have been jointly improving the scalability and high availability of SAP HANA database technology, and SUSE offers products and services to help companies that are making the switch to Linux through an adoption of SAP S/4HANA. SUSE Linux Enterprise Server for SAP applications offers numerous functions that make it easier for companies to take the first step toward SAP S/4HANA, such as an SAP system installation wizard, automated recovery for SAP HANA systems, and SAP HANA system replication, which can help ensure high availability and disaster recovery.

While 2025 looms as a likely conversion deadline, there’s no reason to wait until the last minute. Switching to SAP S/4HANA now can allow companies to achieve practical benefits and competitive advantages. For more information, visit www.suse.com/programs/transitioningtosap.

Originally featured on SAPInsider, April 2018

By Naji Almahmoud, Vice President Global Alliances, Solutions and Business Development at SUSE

About the Author:
Naji brings more than 28 years of experience in Information Technology, strategic
alliances, technical services, IT management and software development. He carries
responsibility for public cloud program, independent software vendor relations,
solutions and strategic alliances including Amazon Web Services, Cisco, Dell, Fujitsu,
Google Cloud Platform, Hitachi, HPE, IBM, Intel, Lenovo, Microsoft, SAP and VMware.
Naji leads strategic corporate initiatives with a focus on partnership and ecosystem development for new solutions and technologies.