Installing and Updating SAP DB Software 

Implementation Considerations

You can install or update SAP DB software either interactively, or in the background.

You can install complete installation profiles, or just install or update individual SAP DB software components. The installation program itself decides whether it is dealing with a new installation or an update.

The system logs the installation process.

Before you start the installation or upgrade of the SAP DB software:

·        Make sure you have taken precautions against the most common errors that can cause an installation or update to terminate (Troubleshooting).

·        Inform yourself about the advantages and disadvantages of interactive and background installations.

·        Decide whether you need one or more database instances.

If you plan to run multiple database instances, we recommend a separate (parallel) software installation for each database instance. This makes subsequent updates easier, since any errors will only affect one database instance.

·        Choose an appropriate installation profile, or decide whether, in special cases, you only need to install or update one or more individual SAP SB software components. You can install individual components in the background only.

We recommend that you perform your installation or update with installation profiles. This is a simple and secure way of choosing the SAP DB software installation that meets your needs.

 

Conventions

Variables, supported Operating System Platforms

Interactive Installation/Update

You install complete installation profiles in an interactive installation or update. The installation program SDBINST queries all necessary information, and offers you defaults and options for the installation profiles and installation paths. The program then installs the software package and registers it.

Background Installation/Update

In a background installation or update, you use options to specify the information needed by SDBINST. The actual installation process then runs in the background.

Advantages of Installation in the Background

·        Performing an installation or an upgrade in the background takes less time.

·        You have the option of installing or updating individual SAP DB software components (parts of installation profiles).

·        You can use an embedding in a call script to generate identical software installations on different servers.

Disadvantages of Installation in the Background

·        You must enter all the required options in the call script correctly and completely.

·        The system determines some options from the software packages only at runtime. The system cannot check the completeness of the information at the start of the installation. It starts the installation, and then interrupts it if any information is missing.

Installation/Update with Installation Profiles

You can choose between various combinations of software components, which meet different requirements. You choose the installation profile that is appropriate for your needs, and do not need to worry about the sequence of the installation, or any dependencies between software components. You simply have a fully functioning software installation.

The standard installation or update of the entire SAP DB software package is in the installation profile all.

For a short description of the standard installation or update of the entire SAP DB software package, see the documentation Database Software Installation Guide: SAP DB 7.4

Installation/Update with Software Components

You install individual components of the SAP DB software to update parts of your SAP DB software installation. We recommend this installation in special cases only.

You must take into account the dependencies between the individual software components. Otherwise, you see an appropriate error message, and the system terminates the installation.

Background Installation of the SAP DB Software Component Precompiler (CPC <version>)

You want to update only the C++ Precompiler in your existing software installation. Start the installation of the software component CPC SDK <version>. The system recognizes that this component requires a new version of the software component CPC Base. You are reminded that the package CPC SDK <version> depends on the package CPC Base, which must be installed first. The installation terminates.

If there are many dependencies, you must restart the installation many times (each time with a different installation package).

Avoid this problem by using, for example, the installation profile C Precompiler.

 

Installing and Updating Software on UNIX

Installing and Updating Software on Linux

Installing and Updating Software on Microsoft Windows