Course on Process Integration and Process Orchestration

Introduction

• Overview of what will be covered in the course:
  • Definition and importance of Process Integration (PI)
  • Definition and importance of Process Orchestration (PO)
  • Differences between PI and PO
  • Hands-on exercises with various scenarios
• Course structure:
  • Initial theory through slides
  • Hands-on demonstrations in the system

Understanding Process Integration (PI)

• What is PI?

  • Part of the SAP NetWeaver suite
  • Enterprise Application Integration (EAI) platform
  • Integrates SAP and non-SAP applications

• Components of PI:

  • System Landscape Directory (SLD):
    • Central registry of all systems in a customer's landscape
    • Functions like a telephone directory
  • Enterprise Services Repository (ESR):
    • Design time for PI
    • Defines data formats and mappings for interfaces
  • Integration Directory:
    • Configuration time for PI
    • Connects various components defined in ESR
  • Integration Server:
    • Runtime of PI that processes messages
    • Contains:
      • Central Adapter Engine (connectivity layer)
      • Integration Engine (main processing pipeline)
      • Business Process Engine (specifically for CC BPM)

Importance of Process Integration

• Addresses the complexity of multiple applications communicating directly (spaghetti model)
• Provides a governed and structured approach to integration
• Reduces maintenance difficulties and improves upgrade processes through centralized management

A to A and B to B Integration

• Application to Application (A to A) Integration:
  • Integrates applications within a corporate landscape
• Business to Business (B to B) Integration:
  • Integrates applications across different corporate entities

Tools and Interfaces in PI

• Access Methods:
  • SLD: Accessed via a web browser
  • ESR: Java-based client (Integration Builder), browser-based access, or NetWeaver Developer Studio
  • Integration Directory: Accessed using Java Web Start
  • Runtime components: Accessed through SAP GUI
  • Monitoring framework: Accessed via browser

Key Concepts in PI Components

• Enterprise Services Repository Objects:
  • Data types, message interfaces, and various editors for building interfaces
• Managed vs Basic Web Services:
  • Managed Web Services expose ECC services through PI to maintain structure

Cross Component Business Process Management (CC BPM)

• CC BPM:
  • For orchestrating business processes and managing stateful interactions
  • Collects and combines messages from multiple systems before sending them to a target system

Process Integration vs Process Orchestration

• Process Integration (PI):

  • EAI platform for integrating SAP and non-SAP applications
  • Available as:
    • Dual Stack (ABAP and Java)
    • Single Stack (Java only) called Adapter Engine Extended (AEX)

• Process Orchestration (PO):

  • Combination of:
    • Adapter Engine Extended (Java-only PI)
    • Business Process Management (BPM)
    • Business Rules Management (BRM)
  • Single Java-only product with additional features

Conclusion of First Session

• Summary of key components and architecture options of PI
• Transition to hands-on exercises in subsequent sessions, starting with SLD and interface building.

---

This summary encapsulates the key points discussed in the lecture regarding Process Integration and Process Orchestration, providing clarity on their definitions, components, importance, and the tools involved.