data center migration strategies for sap

Data Center Migration Strategies Explained

Frank PowellChief Operating Officer

Wednesday June 2, 1-2pm Central

Download the presentation recording with audio from the Symmetry Knowledge Center

www.sym-corp.com/knowledge-center

http://www.sym-corp.com/knowledge-center?utm_source=slideshare&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=slideshare�

21st Century ERP ModelQuality – proactive support delivered by US-based expertsAccessibility – 24x7 direct access to your support team Affordability – highly competitive, fixed price contracts

Symmetry CorporationEstablished 1996Based in Milwaukee WI100% SAP focus

All SAP applicationsAll platforms

Introducing

Frank PowellChief Operating OfficerSymmetry

AgendaUnderstanding Your Business DriversUnderstanding the Hosting MarketplaceData Center Migration Strategies – Overview of Project Steps

Heterogeneous MigrationHomogeneous MigrationPhysical Migration

Data Center Migration Strategies – Pros and ConsOther Technical ConsiderationsAvoiding the Unexpected

Ensuring Ongoing Management Meets SAP Best PracticesAvoiding Unexpected Server CostsAvoiding Unexpected Disk CostsAvoiding Unexpected Tape CostsAvoiding Unexpected Contractual Costs

Wrap Up

Understanding Your Business DriversReducing complexity?Improving performance?

Looking to include/improve SAP supportAre you considering a platform change?

Reducing costs?Outsource hosting or change hosting providersAre you considering a platform change?Are you willing to spend more now to save in the long run?

Support challenges?Maintaining support staff in an ever changing environmentTraining costs24x7 coverageDeveloping true “expertise”

Be clear on your business drivers and project goals and stick to them!





Wrap Up

Understanding the Marketplace

Traditional hosting providersHosting shop with some SAP experienceShared environmentPer gigabyte fee structureLocked into host’s platform

21st Century ERP hosting modelsSAP shop with hosting expertiseDedicated hosting environmentFixed price fee structure based on rack spaceComplete platform flexibilityAccessible support team

Market Trend Traditional providers are rushing to capitalize on demand and provide offerings for SAP customers.





Wrap Up

Heterogeneous MigrationMigration from the organization’s current platform to the new platform and hardware specified by the hosting provider

Defined as the process of changing either the operating system platform, the database vendor, or bothProcess in a nutshell:

Current Data CenterOS – ADB – A

Hosted Data CenterOS – BDB – BNew Equipment

PlanningOrder new hardwareArrange licensing with SAP (or other vendors)Prep new environmentPerform test migrationPerform data validation testsPlan cutoverMigrate Instances (over several weeks)

HomogeneousHomogeneous migration to new hardware at the new data center

Effectively the process of doing a install and a database restore onto new hardwareProcess in a nutshell:


Hosted Data CenterOS – ADB – A New Equipment

PlanningOrder new hardwarePrep new environmentPerform test migrationPerform data validation testsPlan cutoverMigrate Instances (over several weeks)

Physical MigrationPhysical migration of an organization’s own servers to a new data center

Simply ship servers to new data centerProcess in a nutshell:


Hosted Data CenterOS – ADB – A Old Equipment

PlanningPlanningPlanningPlan cutoverShip servers to new data center (potentially over several weeks)





Wrap Up

Heterogeneous MigrationsBenefits

Get to most current versions of OS and DatabaseEffectively get a database reorganizationCan easily incorporate a Unicode conversion simultaneouslySimple back-out plan, restart source instance

Potential risksMost complex of the optionsData transfer during go-live weekend is critical path event

CostsRequires a complete duplication of hardwareConsulting costs more than a physical migration

DowntimeRuntime of export/import can be an issueGenerally longest productive downtime requirement

Homogeneous MigrationsBenefits

Most straight forward processSimilar to QA refresh or DR test

Generally requires shortest downtimeSimple back-out plan, restart source instanceCan get database reorganization if using export/import method

Potential RisksData transfer during go-live weekend is critical path eventNone of the benefits of export/import if done by backup or file copy

CostsRequires a complete duplication of hardware

DowntimeShortest of three options

Just data shipment and restore of databaseCan even be reduced to minutes by using previous day’s backup and rolling logs forward via wide area network

Physical MigrationsBenefits

No new hardware investmentPotential Risks

Considered most riskyHardware damage during shipment

Poor options for a back-out plan – depending on the issueNone of the benefits of export/import

DowntimeVery dependent on distance to travel (hours to days)

Cost factors Least costly assuming no new hardware needs to be purchased

Combination MigrationsWork toward benefits of different migration types based on landscape and requirementsBalance cost, risk and benefitsLimited hardware investmentHandle non-production systems differently than productionUpgrade only production, roll old PRD hardware through landscapeRefresh landscape (ie. refresh QA or DEV with PRD copy)





Wrap Up

Other Technical ConsiderationsNetworking

Define the requirements up frontSpeedRedundancyLocationsSAPGui, 3rd party apps, printing, DR

SAPGui

Managing SAP Logon Pad through the migrationUse of host names not IP addressesManage through DNS changes

Other Technical ConsiderationsPrinting

Generally a migration has little impact to printingLocation of print spool servers is importantSAP printer definition changes

Active Directory

Where does your AD live?May require AD at hosting facilityDoes AD need to be rebuilt (divestiture or acquisition)?

Other Technical Considerations3rd Party Applications

Where do 3rd party applications live?How do they impact network design (EDI, OSS, email, etc)?Should they be co-located with SAP servers?

Disaster Recovery

How does the move change the DR plan?Do not assume DR is automatically part of hosting arrangement

Lots of redundancy – yesFull DR – probably not

Most likely move will provide enhanced options for DR

Other Technical ConsiderationsSecurity

Will your data be co-mingled?Are you subject to ITAR or like restrictions?Network isolation requirements

Should I Migrate to the cloud?Investigate what the vendor is offering as “cloud computing”Great alternative for smaller environmentsGenerally will not provide true data and network isolationMore cost effectivePhysical migration not a consideration





Wrap Up

Ensuring Ongoing Management Meets SAP Best Practices

Is the hosting provider certified by SAP? Does the hosting provider offer managed services?How many SAP consultants does the provider have on staff?Do they have certified consultants?How many SAP customers do they currently host?If doing a Heterogeneous Migration, do they have that unique certification?Speak to references

TIP – Look for these logos

Avoiding Unexpected Server Costs

Can you choose which equipment to use?Some vendors dictate hardware vendor makes and models

Must you perform a heterogeneous migration to get there?What are the charges for increasing your footprint?

Flat ratesBy “U” countComplete racks or fractional racksWhat services will be charged to install additional equipment?

Do you have to purchase hardware through the hosting provider?

Avoiding Unexpected Disk CostsAre you forced to use their SAN?

Usage charges for some services can get pricy!Per GB charges can become expensiveSAP landscapes tend to grow quickly

ECC, BW, CRM, SCM = Terabytes of storage needed

Cost of downtimeAre you on a shared SAN with other customers?If they need maintenance done will you also be impacted?

Avoiding Unexpected Tape CostsAre you forced to use their backup infrastructure?

Usage charges for some services can get pricy!Per GB charges can become expensive

SAP landscapes tend to grow quicklyECC, BW, CRM, SCM = Terabytes of storage neededCost of downtime

Are you on a shared tape library with other customersIf they need maintenance done will you also be impacted?

Avoiding Unexpected Contractual Costs

Look for charges that start out at a reasonable price, but increase dramatically or go to per usage charges after a certain threshold.

Example: Flat fee for tape usage up to 1TB, then .40 cents per GB thereafter

Find out if there is a predefined outage windowWhen is it?How long is it?What frequency is it required?

Get tips on what to check for in the contract fine print

Avoiding Unexpected Contractual CostsWhat are the details of the SLA?

UptimePerformanceResponsivenessNetwork

What is the termination clause?What financing options are available?

Can they sell you the hardware?Will they build the price into the overall hosting proposal?

Avoiding Unexpected Contractual CostsWhat other services can be included?

Operating system supportDatabase supportSAP Basis supportSecurityNetwork (WAN connectivity)FirewallAny 3rd party application supportActive Directory





Wrap Up

Wrap UpLet business drivers determine if hosting and outsourcing are right for youLook beyond just SAP when evaluating the scopeWhen migrating your SAP environment, ask a lot of questions to determine the right migration methodology, which will hopefully fall into a strategic planRead the fine print to establish a relationship for the long-term

Download the presentation recording with audio from the Symmetry Knowledge Center

www.sym-corp.com/knowledge-center

http://www.sym-corp.com/knowledge-center?utm_source=slideshare&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=slideshare�

Heather [email protected]

Frank [email protected]

data center migration strategies for sap

Technology