Thursday, September 18, 2008

Installation and Configuration of SAPGUI for Java on Linux

Based on many questions in my email inbox, asking how to install and configure SAPGUI for Java on Linux, here I’ll explain it briefly.

Prepare these stuffs before you can proceed to installation :

  1. You have to make sure that your Linux system has been installed with JRE (Java Runtime Environment) from SUN Microsystem (http://java.sun.com). If you don;t have it, just download it from here. Some of linux distros such as Fedora, Ubuntu, OpenSuSE etc using JRE from GNU called GIJ (GNU for Java). We can’t use this JRE. We need to replaced it. I’ll show you how to changed it later.
  2. You also need SAPGUI for Java installer. You can download it freely from ftp://ftp.sap.com.





After you have all prerequisite, you can proceed to next step to extract and change your JRE. This step is valid for Fedora, Ubuntu, and OpenSuSE. Please let me know if these doesn’t work for you.

  1. Logon as root
  2. Copy your JRE installer file to /opt folder.Please use .bin extention file.
  3. Change file permission if needed to executable. Use this command : #chmod 755 jre-1.xxx.bin (xxx = refer to JRE version you’re using).
  4. Extract JRE files. Use this command : #./jre-1.xxx.bin
  5. Install JRE you just extracted inside alternatives system. Use this command : #/update-alternatives –install /usr/bin/java java /opt/jre1-xxx/bin/java 2
  6. Update java command configuration on alternatives system. Choose java number 2 because usually GIJ had number 1 position. Use this command : #update-alternatives –config java
  7. Use this command to verify your JRE configuration. You can use this command : #java -version
  8. If you get something like this on your screen then you are succeeded. java version “1.6.0″
    Java(TM) SE Runtime Environment (build 1.6.0-b105)
    Java HotSpot(TM) Client VM (build 1.6.0-b105, mixed mode, sharing)

After you finish this step, you can proceed to SAPGUI for Java installation.

  1. Logon as root
  2. Use this command (on terminal) to install SAPGUI for Java. #java -jar PlatinGUI-Linux-xxxx.jar (Use the latest version).
  3. Installed on /opt folder as default (usually on /opt/SAPClients folder)

Next step is configure your SAPGUI for Java and try to test to SAP R/3 server connection.

  1. Run executable file called guilogon (reside on /opt/SAPClients/SAPGUI700rev1/bin). It willpop up SAPGUI for Java window.
  2. Click New button.
  3. Fill the Description column as you like.
  4. Click Advanced Tab.
  5. Give check (V) to Use Expert Configuration
  6. Fill the connection string. If your server using load balancing configuration, use this connection string conn=/M/(IP_Address_Message_Server)/S/36(system_number)/G/(nama_group) and use this connection string configuration if yor SAP R/3 server are not using load balancing system, conn=/H/(IP_Address_server_SAP)/S/32(system_number).

There you go ! Now, you can use your SAPGUI for Java to access your SAP R/3 server. Comments and suggestions are welcome. I’ll try to update this tutorial as best as I can.