Process Integration and Process Orchestration

Course Overview

• Objective: Understand process integration, process orchestration, and the differences between them.
• Structure: Initial theory followed by hands-on exercises.
• Key Terms: PI (Process Integration), PO (Process Orchestration), EAI (Enterprise Application Integration), ESB (Enterprise Service Bus).

Introduction to SAP PI

• Part of SAP NetWeaver suite.
• An EAI platform to integrate SAP and non-SAP applications.
• Acts as an ESB providing a governed means of integrating applications.

Why PI is Needed

• Avoid Spaghetti Model: Direct connections between systems lead to complex, unmanageable landscapes.
• Centralized Integration: PI provides a cleaner, maintainable architecture.

Key Concepts

• A2A Integration: Application to Application within a corporate landscape.
• B2B Integration: Business to Business, across corporate boundaries.

Components of SAP PI

1. System Landscape Directory (SLD)

• Acts as a directory listing all systems in the landscape for PI to connect.
• Comparable to a telephone directory.

2. Enterprise Services Repository (ESR)

• Design Time Component: Where interface design occurs, including data and mapping definitions.

3. Integration Directory

• Configuration Time Component: Where interfaces are configured using design-time objects.

4. Integration Server

• Runtime Component: Processes messages through three engines:
  • Central Adapter Engine: Connectivity layer.
  • Integration Engine: Main pipeline execution.
  • Business Process Engine: Executes ccbpm (Cross Component Business Process Management).

Monitoring Framework

• Runtime Workbench & PI Monitoring: Tools for message monitoring and tracking.

Tools and Access

• System Landscape Directory: Accessed via browser.
• Enterprise Service Repository & Integration Directory: Java web start-based client (Integration Builder) or NetWeaver Developer Studio.

Managed vs Basic Web Services

• Managed Web Services: Use PI for controlled, structured integration.
• Basic Web Services: Direct access, leading to potential unstructured landscapes.

Architecture Options

Dual Stack PI

• Combination of ABAP and Java stack.

Single Stack PI

• Java-only, called Adapter Engine Extended (AEX).

Process Orchestration (PO)

• Combines three products:
  • Java-only PI (AEX)
  • Business Process Management (BPM)
  • Business Rules Management (BRM)

Differences Between PI and PO

• Process Integration: Primarily for integration tasks.
• Process Orchestration: Includes PI capabilities and adds BPM and BRM.

Summary

• PI provides structured application integration avoiding chaotic landscapes.
• Essential components: SLD, ESR, Integration Directory, Integration Server.
• PI can be deployed as dual stack or single stack.
• PO enhances PI with additional BPM and BRM capabilities.

Next Steps

• Hands-on with SLD and beginning with interface building.

End of Session: Move to next session for practical exercises.