Why automate SAP client copy with Avantra?

Whether you’re making a local client copy in the same system to create multiple test or training clients, copying a client from a remote system, exporting a client from one system to another or exporting it in order to later import that client post a system refresh, SAP's client copy tools have been a mainstay of SAP BASIS operational and project teams since the 1990s. 

Avantra now provides the ability to fully automate these scenarios, with additional functionality to create the new target client and also delete any old clients. 

With Avantra 24.3 we now deliver two automation Add ins that support all these client copy scenarios:

• Client maintenance (legacy tools) - transactions SCCL, SCC7, SCC8, SCC9
• Client maintenance (new tools) - transactions SCCLN, SCC7N, SCC8N, SCC9N

All these automations support systems with Avantra agents installed and systems using Avantra remote agents with the exception of “Import of the exported transports” which is not supported for remote agents.

Client maintenance (legacy tools)

The legacy tools that support transaction SCCL, SCC5, SCC7, SCC8 and SCC9 have been deprecated from SAP versions >= 758. The new tools were first introduced from SAP versions >= 754 therefore for earlier release the legacy tools are the only option (refer to SAP Note: 2962811 New Client Copy Tool: General Information).

The Avantra platform’s client maintenance (legacy tools) Add in supports the following tasks:

• Creation of a new target client (transaction SCC4)
• Local client copy (transaction SCCL)
• Remote client copy (transaction SCC9)
• Export of a client to transports (transaction SCC8)
• Import of the exported transports
• Post import processing of the client export transports (transaction SCC7)
• Deletion of a client (transaction SCC5)
  

Client maintenance: new SAP Client Copy Tools

Note: The new tools are those that support transactions SCCLN, SCC5N, SCC7N, SCC8N, SCC9N and the updated SCC3. For more specific information on the new SAP tools please refer to SAP Note: 2962811 New Client Copy Tool: General Information.

The traditional SAP Client Copy Tools (transactions SCCL, SCC5, SCC7, SCC8 and SCC9) had some features that made performing the task challenging. 

For example:

• The Client Copy had to be performed in any newly created target client by user SAP* which would mean having to set the ABAP parameter to enable SAP* and then finding a maintenance window to restart the application server in order for the parameter to work.
• The legacy tools were slow and not optimized when running on a HANA system.
• The Client Copy log (SCC3) was not a great user experience in terms of reading and using it.

SAP addressed these challenges with the development of the new Client Copy Tools based on a completely different architecture and leveraging the power of HANA. 

The new tools provided many improvements such as:

• Execution is no longer required in the target client but can be done in another client on the same system.
• SAP* is no longer required, which removes the need to restart application servers.
• Faster run times due to HANA optimization; i.e. local client copy can be 10 times faster and remote copy up to 5 x faster when compared with the legacy tools.

The Avantra platform’s client maintenance (new SAP Client Copy Tools) Add in supports the following tasks:

• Creation of a new target client (transaction SCC4)
• Local client copy (transaction SCCLN)
• Remote client copy (transaction SCC9N)
• Export of a client to transports (transaction SCC8N)
• Import of the exported transports
• Post import processing of the client export transports (transaction SCC7N)
• Deletion of a client (transaction SCC5N)

Below is a comparison of the output from Avantra for a local client copy (SCCLN), comparing the log header with what is shown in SAP GUI’s SCC3 log:

Then, we have a comparison of the output from Avantra for a remote client copy (SCC9N), comparing the options with what is shown in SAP GUI’s SCC3 log:

Finally, this is a comparison of the output from Avantra for a client export (SCC8N), comparing the table statistics with what is shown in SAP GUI’s SCC3 log:

Benefits of client copy automation

Below are some of the use cases of how the Avantra platform’s client copy automations can provided benefits to businesses:

• As an enterprise with a large SAP landscape, or as a Managed Service Provider (MSP) working with many SAP systems, Avantra automates client copies remotely and efficiently. 
• Enhance your system refresh scenarios by integrating the client export and import automation with Avantra System Refresh automation. This involves exporting a client to transport(s) as a pre step. Performing the system refresh then importing the exported client into a new target client as a post system refresh step.
• Easily perform routine client copies for training clients.
• Integrate client copy automation based on the results of a check, for example if a backup was ok triggering a client copy via the Avantra notification framework. 

Conclusion

With Avantra 24.3 the client maintenance Add ins give you the ability to not only perform the client copy tasks remotely but also you can use the wider features of the automation engine to schedule these copies freeing up your time to address other high priority tasks. 

All that is required is to upgrade/install 24.3 (including the latest automation transports), then install the required Add in(s), and finally, follow the information provided in the related solution documents.

Got an idea to make Avantra better?

At Avantra, we are delighted when our customers tell us about their experiences. Let us know what you are looking for in Avantra by creating an idea at ideas.avantra.com, emailing us at support@avantra.com or speaking to your customer success manager.

Talk to an Avantra expert and find out how Avantra can transform your SAP landscape.