The installation
The installation of SAP DMS is a easy task if you came from infrastruture or see Linux servers as a buddy. But, if you aren´t a infra guy, or Linux isn´t your best friend, the instalation of the SAP DMS will not be too easy as the SAP manual tells it is. Of course, if you have background with Linux it will be easy, but, strong background with Operational Systems and Database as well, it is not a “pre-requisite” to be a Basis guy.
I buit this little and simple manual to help you to install SAP Content Server (called by the old school as “SAP DMS”) and turn your life more simple and easy. But do not forgeth: Always use the SAP networks, Forums and notes before start any instalation. Thousands of new notes are released every single day and maybe, the way you judge is the right, isn´t anymore.
Preparation
As part of a SAP product, the installation must be prepared. If your infrasture guy is smart and he if he did any instalation for SAP products before, maybe the server will be ready to the instalatio. But belongs to the BASIS as normal activities, revision of the server instalation and if it is compliance with SAP requirements. Here I will describe the most importants:
Hostname
Check if the hostname has equal or less than 13 characters. Check SAP Note 611361 – Hostnames of SAP servers
Swap
Check if the server has enough SWAP configured. Check SAP note 1597355 – Swap-space recommendation for Linux
Linux
Check if the Linux is supported by SAP. Check SAP note 171356 – SAP Software on Linux: General information
Language
Check if the Linux is installed using English as default language.
Updates
Check if the server is updated.
Midias
Check if all midias for the installation are available. It is better if it is copied to local folder/mount point. For the Content Server, it will be necessary:
- SWPM
- MAXDB RDBMS
- Files for install of the Apache webserver (available http://www.apache.org/dyn/closer.cgi)
Enough space
Of course, you need to check if there is enough space for the instalation and for mainly for save your documents in according of the Size done for the amount of the documents. A simple way to check it is using the command df-kh
This is an example of disks configuration for DEV server. For this landscape, it is not necessary large disks because that´s no reasons to use this server to save all documents, but for production servers, consider use scalable large disks
Installation
The instalation procedure has three phases:
- Users creation
- Apache installation
- SWPM
Following I will describe in details each one.
Users creation
For instalation of SAP Content Server over Linux, the first step is to create the credentials that Apache will use to run. Avoid run apache under root credentials due security issues.
These credentials that will be created now is for use of the Apache HTTP. The recommendation is create the user with home folders. Later, the Apache will be installed on these users Home. These credentials don´t need special PIDs or functions and the naming you decide that. For convenience, create the users in a way you can remenber the proposal for that. On this example, I created the user CSDCS. Let me explain the name:
- The first 2 letters refers to SAP Product
- D refers for development; Following this idea, Q for QAS and P for Production
- CS for Content Server. The Content Server product is compounded by Content Server and Cache Server. The both will have his own Apache and Databases.
This is just a way to create, but you deal.
If you plan to install cache server, you must create the user for cache server apache. Here an example for user creation for Content Server and Cache Server.
Apache installation
Get the Apache instalation files from Apace foundation. Extract the source files and change the owner of it for the users you´ve created.
I decided to use the following folders structure
Where:
SRC_APACHE is the folder where resides the source of the Apache (in the future can be removed).
HTTP is the folder where the Apache will be installed and run.
Note that each one CSDCS and CCDCS have the same structure.
Once you have extracted the files, enter in the folder and run make and before make install
Check the results of these commands and if no error message occurs. If no error found, its time to install the Apache on the home folders. To do that, run the command:
./configure –prefix=/<where you want to installApache instance> –enable-mods-shared=most –with-mpm=prefork
Do that for the Cache Server user as the same way.
SWPM
The SWPM is the tool developed by SAP to install his softwares. From now, you just ask the tool with the informations you have been collected for the install.
| Open the SWPM and select Content Server and Cache server on Generic Instalation Options. This will install Content Server and Cache server on the server. |
| The next window, the SWPM will ask you if the both or each one product will be installed. Select as your needs Note that you must choose the SID for the database and size for datafile. |
| Here, inform to SWPM where are the media files for the instalation of Content Server. |
| This is a very important step: Remember the folder you installed the Apache for each instance? Use the folder of the installation on this screen. It is very important the executable for Apache being available on this folder, otherwise SWPM will complains this is not the right place for Apache installation. |
| Inform the SWPM where are the files for MaxDB. Different from Oracle install, the instalation of MAXDB is done by SWPM. |
| This step is an optional area to store the files. For content Server, you have two ways to store files: on Maxdb as part of a database or on file on the file system. Here is the folder if you decide to store the files on File system. It is important you take notes about http port that will be configured for SAP. You need to configure this ports on ECC. |
| Define the password for the Software Owner. This user has owner rights on the Maxdb. |
| Define here where MaxDB will be installed. |
| Define password for superdba and control. Take notes for these users and passwords. They will be required for administration. |
| Define this variables according the project needs. |
| Define here where the Logs of MaxDB will be located. Not that this isn´t like Oracle that the logs are files and can be manipulated but they are datafiles from MaxDB and could not be move without proper commands. |
| Define where the Datafile for the database of Content Server will be saved. As the same way you are configuring it for Content Server, you do it for Cache Server. |
| Define password for owner of Cache server on MaxDB. |
| Define the passwords for superdba and control. Note that these users are different from CSD. There are two different scheemas on MaxDB and the superdba from the scheema “A” is different from the scheema “B”. |
| Define this according the project needs |
| Define where the Logs for Cache server will be saved. |
| Define where the data files for Cache server will be saved. |
| Well done! It is time to test the instalation. |
If everything done right, you can test the Content Server by opening in the browser the application.
Try to open:
http://<IP for the server>:<port>/ContentServer/ContentServer.dll?serverinfo
If you got this message, congratulations! The server is runnig fine.
