Advantageous multiple use

Open source has long since arrived in the SAP world. The Walldorf-based software group's vote to use only the Linux operating system platform together with SAP Hana and Hana-based application solutions such as S/4 has undoubtedly contributed to this.

The trend towards Linux had already boosted the broad penetration of Linux in NetWeaver-based infrastructures with AnyDB. The latest figures quoted by SAP (as part of this year's Sapphire) on Hana, namely that there are now 50,000 Hana licenses, speak a clear language.

In addition to Linux, other open source solutions are set in SAP environments, so to speak, in connection with Data Science and the use of Kubernetes: Kubernetes for the orchestration of containers in the context of SAP Data Hub environments.

From a technical perspective, the latter plays a prominent role in SAP Data Hub, for example. This is in the form of the Suse solution Container-as-a-Service Platform, or CaaSP for short. It provides flexible, simplified and automated options for the delivery of small-scale services (microservices) using containers, including the use of Kubernetes.

Two worlds, one operating system

As an open source innovator and exclusive Hana development partner, there was no question for Suse early on in its Hana history of making Suse Linux Enterprise Server (SLES) for SAP Applications available not only for the SAP on-premises world, but also in public clouds.

SAP customers are already intensively implementing hybrid multicloud computing with a unified operating system (OS) platform and are benefiting from this type of IT continuity based on a unified code base.

Especially in the IaaS environment. All the extensive and in some cases unique functions of SLES for SAP Applications for mission-critical SAP deployment that can be used on-prem are also available in a public cloud. For example, the Live Patching feature.

This allows security patches to be installed in the Linux kernel without having to restart the system. The bottom line is that it can be used to optimize availability. SLES for SAP Applications can be used in all well-known or relevant public cloud environments. Also in Microsoft Azure.

Suse and Microsoft have enjoyed a strategic partnership for over ten years. Against this background, it is no coincidence that Suse was the first SAP Linux vendor to announce the availability of support for SLES for SAP Applications for SAP Hana Large Instances on Microsoft Azure.

The deployment of SLES for SAP Applications for SAP Hana Large Instances on Microsoft Azure was preceded by various development efforts. Now it is possible for SAP customers to use Hana configurations together with SLES for SAP Applications larger than 0.5 TB via Microsoft Azure. It is planned to operate or support SAP workloads/Hana environments via Azure up to 60 TB (in scale-out).

Close cooperation with Microsoft

In doing so, Suse and Microsoft are particularly meeting a growing need among SAP customers to be able to use large Hana or Hana-based applications as part of their hybrid cloud deployment or in conjunction with IaaS.

For example, in projects to consolidate several SAP ERP/ECC systems into one S/4 system, or in data center modernizations. Suse is also the first Linux distributor and SAP open source companion to fully support Intel Optane DC Persistent Memory in conjunction with Hana, to which Microsoft has also committed itself, with the SLES for SAP Applications operating system platform since mid-January.

For SAP customers, persistent memory technology enables new or optimized applications for data access and data storage compared to traditional technology (using SSDs). Linux and Hana systems can be managed with Suse Manager, which can also be used in Azure.

With Suse Manager, it is possible to manage, monitor and control Hana environments with an increased level of automation, including automation of infrastructure patches and updates.

Other Suse solutions, such as Suse SLES for HPC deployment or Cloud Application Platform, can also be booked in the Azure Marketplace. Incidentally, there are various flexible pricing models for Suse solutions in Azure - right up to Azure Reservations for Suse for a term of one or three years.