Integrated solution (BASIS)

Introduction

SAP Basis is a set of middleware programs and tools that provide the underlying base that enable applications to be interoperable across operating systems. SAP Basis includes a RDBMS, GUI, and client server architecture.

Beyond the interface aspect of Basis, it also includes such components as a data dictionary as well as user and system administration.

Basis is a business application software integrated solution. Simply, Basis is the administration of the SAP system. It’s a piece of middleware which links the application with the database and the operating system.

Basis is most commonly associated with the GUI interface to the SAP, and the Basis administrator is an SAP, professional who is responsible for configuring the SAP environment, including the GUI screens and SAP application servers.

SAP Basis is the technological platform that supports the entire range of SAP applications, now typically implemented in the framework of the SAP Web Application Server. In that sense SAP Basis can be seen as the “operating system” on which SAP applications run. Like any operating system, SAP Basis contains both low-level services (for example memory management, database communication or servicing Web requests) and high-level tools for end users and administrators. These tools can be executables (“SAP kernel”) running directly on the underlying operating system, transactions developed in ABAP, or Web-based interfaces.

SAP Basis also provides a layer of abstraction between the business applications and the operating system and database. This ensures that applications do not depend directly upon a specific server or database platform and can easily be ported from one platform to another.

SAP Basis currently runs on UNIX (AIX, HP-UX, Solaris, Linux), Microsoft Windows, i5/OS on IBM System i and z/OS on IBM System z. Supported databases are IBM DB2, Informix, MaxDB, Oracle and Microsoft SQL Server.