Hy there, I'm done!

Passed!
So now I am SAP certified Technology Consultant:


Hurray!
And to my readers: Thank you so much for your participation, for your emails, and for your hints - certification would have been much harder without it.

My next course is the classroom training TADM70, incl. Certification C_TADM70_04:

• Location: SAP Walldorf/Germany
• Subject: SAP-System OS/DB Migration
  
• Date: Mai 2009
• Costs: EUR 1,710.00 plus Tax

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One last word
I have received so many mails asking me all the same: "hey, please send me a copy of the SAP training PDFs" (that's the main reason why I finally removed my contact data from this blog...).
Since I only have original printed manuals, there was no chance to share them. But also I definitely NEVER EVER would share SAP copyright related material. Why? Huh, you never read the SAP exam policies , did you? Extract:

Infringements of the Examination Rules

• In the event of a serious infringement of the examination rules, all certificates that have been awarded to the candidate will be revoked and the candidate will be excluded from further examinations. The candidate will be requested to return all certificates to SAP without delay.
• Infringement of copyright and other unlawful harm to SAP will be treated as a serious infringement of the examination rules and will result in the actions indicated above. SAP will use proper judgment and fairness in deciding whether an infringement is serious or minor. The candidate concerned will receive written notification of the actions with justification of this action.

The Exam is in Sight

Despite my former thoughts, and after having some "insider talks", I give the TADM51 (DB: Oracle) a wide berth and focus on TADM50 (DB: MaxDB):

C_TADM50 - SYSTEM ADMINISTRATION (MAX DB)
vs.
C_TADM51 - SYSTEM ADMINISTRATION (ORACLE DB)

During the last month, I gathered a broad knowledge which will be the foundation of my next career in SAP Consultancy - but that's just one side of the coin. More important is to pass the exam - and therefore I'm starting a complete review in:

• TADM10
• TADM12
• ADM515

More than 4.000 pages, spiced up with countless exercises.

For the exercises, I've set up an testing environment with one Linux-Server SAP WAS 6.40 and one Windows2003-Server SAP NW APAB 7.0.

I plan to take the exam in Feb.2009.

F.A.Q. - becoming SAP basis certified

Dear Visitors,
there are some reiterate questions I receive from time to time - and here are some answers:

Q: What is the current name of the SAP basis certification?
A: The current name is "SYSTEM ADMINISTRATION WITH SAP NETWEAVER 7.0", specified by the database you are expert in:
C_TADM50_70 - SYSTEM ADMINISTRATION (MAX DB)
C_TADM51_70 - SYSTEM ADMINISTRATION (ORACLE DB)
C_TADM53_70 - SYSTEM ADMINISTRATION (MS SQL DB)
C_TADM56_70 - SYSTEM ADMINISTRATION (DB2)

Q: Do you recommend self study?
A: I've never heard of a newbie becoming certified just by self study. I guess it's virtually impossible - and even if you pass the exam, no one will ever hire you, because you are working at the core of an enterprise and there's no place for experimental games.
But, if you have years of experience with SAP software and already visited some SAP courses, self studying shouldn't be a obstacle.

Q: What books should I purchase?
A: I recommend the Original SAP course handbooks.
But this book is also fine, it covers the whole subject:

SAP NetWeaver AS ABAP System Administration (Hardcover)
by Frank Fose

Hardcover: 646 pages
Publisher: SAP (2008)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1592291740
ISBN-13: 978-1592291748

Q: How hard is it to study for the certification and as a beginner how long do you think it will take me?
A: To study for the certification is very hard because the questions are exceptionally tricky - the exam questions require both practical experience and theoretical knowledge.
As a beginner, I guess it will take at least three month intensive training to have a small chance in passing the exam. But only a small chance.

Q: Do you know of any schools that are cheaper than the SAP.com training?
A: Yes: Real job experience! For instance, if you are a developer with proven ability at the SE80, no one will ever ask you for the certification.

Video Guide: NetWeaver 7 Installation for SAP Beginners

On a weekly base, I receive emails where I am asked to explain how to install SAP.
WTF??

Ok, for all the brutal newbies out there - I've created a youtube-video for you...
The tutorial guides you throught the complete process, from downloading, installing and finally to the first steps.



I installed the SAP NW7 in a virtual machine (VMware Workstation) with these specs:
- Win XP SP2
- 1GB RAM
- 30GB HDD

VMware has a "capture movie"-feature, so I grabbed the procedure and spiced it up with some annotations. It's my first video ever, so please excuse any noobishness...

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Video-Software: Sony Vegas Pro 8.0
Length: 9:03 min


Project settings:
Video
(Template: Custom: 480x360)
Field order: None (progressive scan)
Pixel aspect ratio: 1,000 (Square)
Frame rate: 30,000 (30 FPS, not 30 000)
Pixal format: 32-bit floating point
Compositing gama: 2,222 (Video)
Full-resolution rendering quality: Best
Motion blur type: Gaussian (assymetric)
Deiterlace method: Blend fields
Audio
Master bus mode: Stereo
Sample rate (HZ): 48 000
Bit depth: 24
Resample and stretch quality: Best

Rendering settings:
Dateityp
MainConcept AVC/AAC (*.mp4)
Template > Project
Video rendering quality: Best
Template > Video
Frame Size: 640x480
Profle: Baseline
FrameRate: 30
Pixel aspect ratio: 1
Number of reference frames: 1
Bitrate: Variable bit rate, max. 1500000 bps, avg. 1350000bps
Template > Audio
Sample rate: 48.000
Bit rate: 128.000

Relevant Transaction Codes for SAP System Administration

Three weeks ago I've recommended the book SAP R/3 System Administration, and now I finally had the time to go through it.
This book is absolute amazing, a complete compendium which covers every single aspect of the SAP administration (aside from RDBMS).

It doesn't offer exercises, but I voluntary followed the content/description on my own SAP MiniWAS System - and written down the relevant transaction codes for every important chapter:

• First steps
• Software Logistics
• Client Administration
• User & Authorization
• Background Processing
• Update
• Output Configuration & Administration
• Data Archiving
• Data Transfer & Exchange
• Instance Maintenance
• System Monitoring
• Monitoring Architecture
  

So here it is (drum roll...):

The ultimate List of Relevant Transaction Codes for SAP System Administration.

PDF-File.
Rightclick on the link, option "Save target".

SAP on your PC. Chapter 2 of 2 from "What it takes to be a self-directed SAP learner"

After reading the first chapter of my little series 'What it takes to be a self-directed SAP learner', The Beginning, you now should be aware of your future career in SAP.

Of course it's no easy ride to become a SAP Consultant. For example, to pass the certification, you have to memorize the content of the training manuals - around 4,000 pages. No chance to cheat. It takes an extraordinary will to archive that goal (like e.g. this young Lady). If you don't have that mindset, I promise, you will fail.

But, there's a second condition: Practical experience.
The certification exam is very underhand, without proper understanding of the coherence it's simply not possible to answer the questions.

Therefore, every chapter of the SAP training manual is spiced up with concrete exercises.

So you obviously do need an exercising environment - but, you guess it, SAP is not just another program. In fact, it's a three-tier client/server architecture, consisting of this layers:

• Database
  
• Application
• Presentation
  

And each layer typically runs on an own Server/PC.
But don't dispair, SAP has an solution for you :-)

The SAP Developer Network (SDN) is a vibrant online community for SAP developers, analysts, consultants, integrators, and administrators. SDN members enjoy a robust collection of technical content on a range of SAP topics.

Visit SDN (http://sdn.sap.com), become a member (free of charge) and go to the download section.
In the "Free Download Catalog", chapter "Software", click on the link "SAP NetWeaver Main Releases".


There, I suggest to choose the "SAP NetWeaver 7.0 (2004s) - ABAP Trial Version".


Check the System Requirements, start downloading (2.7GB).


It sounds incredible, but this download offers a complete RDBMS (MaxDB), the SAP Application Server and also the SAP GUI - all you need to run a complete SAP System on your own PC/Notebook.
It's a 30-days-trail, but the license can be extend troube-free for 90 days, multiple times.

The installation procedure is absolute hassle free, just decompress the downloaded files, open the [Start] HTML-file with your browser (Firefox or InternetExplorer) and follow the instructions.

That's it - the foundation of your new career!

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See also:

• What it takes to be a self-directed SAP learner (1 of 2):
  The Beginning

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By the way, nearly every beginners SAP training starts with the course SAPTEC:

• The architecture of SAP Web Application Server (SAP Web AS) is presented in detail. SAP Web AS is the central component of the SAP NetWeaver application platform.
• You will learn effective techniques for navigating.
• You will receive an overview of the development process in SAP system
  

You should consider it, too.
The cover of the original training manual looks like this:

The Beginning. Chapter 1 of 2 from "What it takes to be a self-directed SAP learner"

So you're sitting in front of your PC, asking yourself "dude, how do I start learning SAP?"

Easy, slow down.
First of all, you have to realize that your current job is the foundation of your SAP career - understand SAP as an extension of your existing profession!

Due to this fact, it's very easy to make your choice about the destination of your SAP career, because SAP only offers three different types of SAP Professionals:

• Solution Consultants resp. Application Associate
  
• Technology Consultants resp. Technology Associate
  
• Development Consultants resp. Development Associate
  

Some examples:

Are you a good developer? You have the coderz gene? You have proved your talent in some OpenSource projects? No doubt, pick the "Development Consultant" education path.

Ever experienced the crash of a productive system with hundreds of employees picking their nose for the rest of the day (and hopefully you are not guilty of…)? Select the "Technology Consultant" profile.

The "Solution Consultant" certification (new name: Certified Application Associate) is your choice if you aren't a computer geek, but you possess several years of practical experience in (for example) Financial Accounting or Retail, Sales, Logistics, HR and so on.

So when you are conscious about the rough destination, I guess it's time to do some homework:

Visit the SAP education website and check out the [Find a certification] box

Click on "Please select focus area" and choose one of the three profiles to evaluate the available Certification Roles.

For the German Folks out there: Visit this Website (German), download the PDF "Schulungsplan Consultant Academy" and jump to page 114.

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See also:

• What it takes to be a self-directed SAP learner (2 of 2):
  SAP on your PC

SAP Courses & Certifications for SAP Basis Admins

My goal is the SAP Basis Certification!
Of course experience is valued higher than (theoretical) knowledge, but especially in the SAP world the certification is your must-have entrance ticket to verify your skills.

I know what you're thinking about... Braindumps.
From my previous exam as Microsoft Certified Professional I know the value of brain dumps, but in the matter of an SAP exam you can forget cheating:

• even in the deepest and darkest corners of top insider discussion forums, there are no secret guides for SAP Certifications available
  
  
• the level of relevant certification knowledge is so broad, that without a very deep understanding of the theme you'll just waste money for the exam
  
  
• and finally you can't cheat at work - every SAP Basis job requires comprehensive knowledge, without you'll be fired after your first day. Promised!
  

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Have a look at this certifcation path to become a SAP Certified Technology Consultant (SAP Basis Admin):


TADM10 (description here) is mandatory not only for the Basis Administrator, but also i.e. for the education path to XI/PI consultants.
Together with TADM12 (description here), both courses covers following separate available courses:

• ADM100: SAP Web AS Administration I
  
• ADM102: SAP Web AS Administration II
• ADM200: SAP Web AS Java Administration
• ADM110: Installation SAP ECC 6.0
• ADM325: Software Logistics
• ADM315: Workload Analysis
  

After TADM10&12, you have to decide which DBMS you'll work with.
I will take the path to Oracle = TADM51 (description here)

Again, TADM51 covers some separate available courses:

• ADM505: Database Administration Oracle I
  
• ADM506: Database Administration Oracle II
  

TADM51 also includes the final certification examination (for TADM10, TADM12, TADM51).

The basics: Books

If you are starting with SAP Basis, there are at least two books you must study:

• SAP R/3 System Administration
  German title: SAP R/3 Systemadministration
  
  
• SAP Performance Optimization Guide
  German title: SAP Performanceoptimierung
  

The books are available in both german and english.
Also for both books there is a newer edition available - you have to decide on your own, which edition you choose. Since I was working with old, old, old systems, I guess it's ok for me to take the old edition, also I got them for free. But if I had to spend money, I am pretty sure that I would have bought the new edition...



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Since a lot of daily work has to do with SE01, STMS, STMS_QA a.s.o., I also get this book:

• SAP Change and Transport Management
  German title: SAP Änderungs- und Transportmanagement
  

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During the 90th, I was a well-known data security author here in Germany, so I couldn't resist to get this book. Another reason is that I plan to pass the SAP Security Certification (ADM940, ADM950, ADM960) later this year.

• SAP Security and Authorizations
  German title: Sicherheit und Berechtigungen in SAP-Systemen
  

About me and this blog

I am German, working in IT since 1989.

Although talent-free when it comes to coding, since last year I am Application Developer (ABAP) for SAP NetWeaver - this fine training (total value est. $ 14,000) was sponsored by the German Employment Office.

For SAP newbies like me, it's very difficult to step into the professional SAP world, so for me the primarily purpose of this course was to serve as a kind of door opener.

And now, after first real live SAP job experiences, I do know where I belong to...

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I had a temporary job in SAP Basis - and realized that my skills are evidently 120% compatible with this kind of job.

So I borrowed the SAP training manual from the SAP course ADM100: SAP Web AS Administration I - and like an addict I absorbed these pages.

As NetWeaver Developer, I have some experience with SAP courses (I already passed the ABAP courses BC400, BC401, BC402, BC430, BC405, BC410, BC414, BC425), but for me, every single (developer) course was such a pain in the arse, the whole training was so frustrating because of my absence of any coding skills.

Maybe you can imagine my surprise with the ADM100 content: Absolute successful, I even passed the enclosed "proof your knowledge"-tests with a result of 100% (compared to 10-20% in the ABAP tests).

So despite my expensive SAP developer training, I decided to make a switch to the technology / admin subject. And this blog is about my attempt to get the Holy Grail for SAP Admins, the so called Basis Certification.

Thank you for your attendance

Klaus