Service Pack 2 Features & Installation Tips

Jay RiddleSAP BusinessObjects Certified ConsultantConsultancy by Kingfisher, Inc

BusinessObjects Administration

What’s New in SP2

• New Features

• Important Docs

• SP2 Download

Installation Tips

• Best Practices

• Known Issues

• Silent Installation

Live Dem

os

• WebI Input Controls

• LifeCycle Mgr SP2

SP2

Introduction

Release Life-Cycle (Maintenance Roadmap)

XI R2 SP1 •2007•CHF11 – CHF20

XI R2 SP2 •2007•FP2.1 – 2.9

XI R2 SP3 •Nov. 14, 2008•FP3.1 – FP 3.9

XI R2 SP4 •May 30, 2008•FP4.1 – FP4.7

XI R2 SP5 •Dec. 3, 2008•No FP

XI 3.1 •Oct. 7, 2009•FP1.1 – 1.8

XI 3.1 SP2 •July 23, 2009•Hot Fix (July 31, 2009)

What about “Edge” 3.1?

• SP2 not released for Edge– In fact no Fix Packs released, either.

What’s New?

Overview: New Features

Translation Manager

Live Office

Data Access

QaaWS

Universe Designer

Web Intelligence

LifeCycle Manager

• Web Intelligence No Backward Compatibility Input Controls BI Services Query on Query New Locale Formulas PDP-API Exposition Fold & Unfold Query Filters on QaaWS

& Live Office

• LifeCycle Manager Improved Security Management Improved Version Management Supports New Info-Objects Promote Application Rights Improved Navigation

Important Documents

• What’s New in BusinessObjects XI 3.1 SP2– xi31_sp2_whats_new_en.pdf

• XI 3.1 Service Pack 2 Fixed Issues– xi31_sp2_fixed_issues_en.pdf

• XI 3.1 Service Pack 2 Release Notes– xi31_sp2_release_notes_en.pdf

• BusinessObjects XI 3.1 SP2 Update Installation and Deployment Guide– xi31_sp2_install_en.pdf

• BusinessObjects Enterprise XI 3.1 SP2 Web Application Deployment Guide for ‘platform x’ (eg. Windows)– xi31_sp2_webappdd_win_en.pdf

Document Locales

• SAP HELP PORTAL– http://help.sap.com

• SAP SUPPORT PORTAL– https://websmp108.sap-ag.de/support

Requires a Customer “S-ID” and Password.

No “S-ID” required

Software Downloads

http://service.sap.com/bosap-downloads

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Software Downloads BOE XI 3.1 ServicePack 2 (Server + Client) BOE XI 3.1 ServicePack 2 (Client Tools)

6.

7.

Installation Tips

Best Practices – Pre-Installation

• Backup, Backup, Backup!– WAR files– File Store (Input & Output FRS)– CMS System & Audit Databases– Virtualized? Take a SNAPSHOT!

• Ensure all client and server systems on the same version before upgrading

• Ensure plenty of disk spaceNote: Reference the XI 3.1 SP2 Installation & Deployment Guide for more info…

Known Issues (SAP Note: 1371325)

Problem: Universes based on SAP Bex Query become corrupted (OLAP)Cause: BOE XI 3.1 SP2Resolution: Download & Install HotFix for BOE XI 3.1 SP2 (7-31-2009)

Known Issue (SAP Note: 1374386)

Problem: Installation Slowness (3-18+ hours reported)Cause: Bug with Windows Installer (MSI)Resolution: Perform silent installation of BOE XI 3.1 SP2

To install or Not to install?

“ “Nice new features, another good step forward for WebI especially... However, shame about the release build. It would be very difficult for my clients to negotiate sufficient downtime with the business to justify the install. Let alone change management testing for a back-out strategy.”

- SAP Consultant

“ “We were aware of this issue… but decided to go ahead and release it to make the benefits of the latest Service Pack immediately available to Windows platform customers as well. The issue is documented in the release notes.”

- Franz Aman, VP of Platform Product MarketingSAP BusinessObjects

Install may be slow, but appears to install successfully Work-around available through silent installation

Silent installation workaround only good for MSI 3.x (not 4.x) Problem will be resolved in Service Pack 3 release

How to find the version of your Windows Installer

Start->Run: msiexec /?– Windows Server 2008 defaults to 4.x (often 4.5)– Can’t roll back version of Windows Installer unless you re-

install Windows

Silent Installation – How ToRefer to the BusinessObjects XI 3.1 SP2 Update Installation and Deployment Guide – aka: xi31_sp2_install_en.pdf and refer to page 21.

Silent Installation – Response File1. Extract the installation files to your temp directory

Cancel once complete. Do not proceed to GUI installation.2. Open a command line and enter the directory containing the setep.exe3. Create a “Response File” ini file with the command line:

setup.exe -w <response filepath>\<filename>.ini

Silent Installation – Record Responses

A “Response File” records actions into the *.ini file which is read during a silent install.

Silent Installation – Run with switch

4. Next, run the silent install with the command line: setup.exe -r <response filepath>\<filename>.ini where <response filepath> is the path to the .ini file you created in step 1.

5. Run the silent install with the commandline: setup.exe /qn+

FYI: Running the silent install will take up more disk space than the GUI install.The default GUI install takes up 1.7 GB, alone.

/qn+ = Prompt when installation complete or fails

Silent Installaltion - Tips

• Out of space?– Change the temp directory

Live Demo

Quick Review – WebI Input ControlsQuickly filter content from within the document

Analyze “What If” scenarios

Apply filters directly to measures

Measure changes over time (eg. Slider)

Input Controls

Quick Review – Some LCM SP2 ChangesGranular Application Security(ie. Silo off VMS security)

Lock/Unlock info-objects within the VMS & Export versioned objects locally

Promote Application Rights (like the Import Wizard)

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BUG: Add *\bin to end of Install Path under Admin Options of LCM > VMS Settings

Scott Bitter

404.531.4116 x203

Scott.Bitter@Kingfish

erInc.com

Questions?

Remember to check

the “What’s New”

doc for a full list of

New Features !!!