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on-premises-architecture

Infrastructure Foundation​

The hardware sizing requires careful calculation based on SAPS (SAP Application Performance Standard) benchmarks, user concurrency, and transaction volumes. You'll need to plan for compute resources with adequate CPU cores, memory (often 1:4 to 1:8 CPU to RAM ratios), and storage performance with proper IOPS capabilities. Network infrastructure should provide low latency and high bandwidth between application and database tiers, typically requiring 10Gbps or higher connectivity.

High Availability and Disaster Recovery​

  • Design for system redundancy using SAP's native clustering capabilities or third-party solutions like SUSE/RedHat clustering.
  • Implement database-level HA through solutions like SAP HANA System Replication, Oracle RAC, or SQL Server AlwaysOn.
  • Plan geographic distribution for disaster recovery with RTO/RPO requirements clearly defined, and establish automated backup strategies with regular restore testing.
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  • RTO (Recovery Time Objective): The maximum acceptable delay between the interruption of service and restoration of service.
  • RPO (Recovery Point Objective): The maximum acceptable amount of time since the last data recovery point.

Security Architecture​

Network segmentation should isolate SAP landscapes from other systems, implementing firewalls and access controls at multiple layers. Identity and access management integration with corporate directory services is essential, along with role-based authorization following least privilege principles. Encryption should cover data at rest, in transit, and potentially at the application level for sensitive business data.

Performance and Scalability

Database performance optimization is crucial, including proper indexing strategies, archiving policies for historical data, and potentially implementing SAP HANA for real-time analytics. Application server load balancing ensures even distribution of user sessions, while caching strategies can improve response times. Plan for both vertical and horizontal scaling capabilities.

Landscape Strategy

Establish clear separation between development, quality assurance, and production environments with appropriate data refresh and transport management processes. Consider sandbox environments for testing and training, and plan for system copy capabilities to support testing scenarios with production-like data.

Integration and Interfaces

Design robust middleware architecture for system integrations, whether through SAP PI/PO, third-party ESBs, or direct RFC/API connections. Plan for message queuing and error handling in integration scenarios, and consider real-time versus batch processing requirements for different business processes.

Monitoring and Operations

Implement comprehensive monitoring covering infrastructure metrics, application performance, and business process monitoring. Establish alerting thresholds and escalation procedures, plan for centralized log management, and ensure proper change management processes are in place for system modifications.

Compliance and Governance

Address regulatory requirements specific to your industry, implement audit trails and compliance reporting capabilities, and establish data retention and archiving policies. Change control processes should ensure proper testing and approval workflows for system modifications.

The key is to align technical architecture decisions with business requirements while maintaining flexibility for future growth and technology evolution. Consider engaging SAP-certified hardware partners and leveraging SAP's sizing guidelines and best practice documentation throughout the planning process.