SAP XI/PI Terms, Definitions and Usage

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SAP XI/PI Terms, Definitions and Usage

Most of the time, we do get confused with the terms in SAP XI/PI. This document breifly describes different terms in XI, their definitions and usages in a single place. This will be helpful for the consultants who are not much familier with XI terms.

1)     1) Adapter Engine:

Adapter Engine is used to connect the integration engine to SAP systems (RFCs) and Non SAP systems (External systems). There are various adapters available inside adapter engine which will convert XML and HTTP based messages to the specific protocol and vice versa.

Adapter engine works on the adapter framework. Basically Adapter engines are two types

a)     a. Central Adapter – Software component installed on Integration server

b)     b. Non-central Adapter – Installed in separate host.

2)     2) Integration Server Engine:

The integration server is comprised of two componenets.

a)     a. Integration Engine -  Central Integration server services.Works on message logic and integration logic

b)     b. Business process Engine – Executing and Persisting integration processes

Integration server is responible for receiving messages and controlling how the messages need to be forwarded.

3)     3) Integration Repository

This is a part of the integration builder. Integration repository is usually used during design time.In this, we can define/design the integration scenarios, integration processes, interfaces and mappings independently of a system landscape. These objects are stored in the Integration Repository and are associated with software component versions that belong to a product that is to be shipped.

4)    4)  Integration Directory

This component/service is used during configuration time.We can setup the configuration for  a particular landscape.The configuration data is sctructured,organised and saved in the integration directory in the form of configuration objects.

5)    5)  Advanced Adapter Engine

The functionality of Advanced Adapter Engine is quite similar to Adapter Engine.The added advantage is Using Integrated Configuration you can define a local Message Processing on the Advanced Adapter Engine. The Advanced Adapter Engine provides mapping and routing for this locally. Message Processing is only executed on the Advanced Adapter Engine from one adapter to another without the involvement of the Integration Engine. This gains a great improvement in performance.

6)     6) Enterprise Service Repository

The Enterprise Services Repository (ES Repository) with metadata for the modeling and specification of applications to enable governed, top-down development of service-based applications. Using the ES Repository, you can store all the necessary information for the integration of applications, for example interfaces, data types, and mapping programs, in a central location.

7)     7) Runtime Workbench

Runtime workbench is the central location where we can perform different types and levels of monitoring for a XI/PI system. We can perform Component, Message, cache monitoring.

😎     😎 System Landscape Directory

SLD stores all the information related to the systems in the landscapes. It keeps the information of components, products etc.It works on the standard common information model. It runs on the Web AS Java. SAP XI makes use of the SLD to get the information about techinical systems,business systems etc.

9)     9) Service Registry

The Services Registry is used for registering, locating, and consuming services based on UDDI 3.0

10)  10) SAP XI Cache

SAP XI Cache is the place where the temporary objects are stored. Once the objects are activated , it will move from cache to DB. There are around 2 types of chaches.

a)      a.CPA cache

b)      b.Runtime Cache