Upgrading to SAP BI 4.3 can be a daunting task, but it is essential to keep your business intelligence platform up-to-date. SAP BI 4.3 comes with some significant new enhancements from both the Administrator and User perspectives. These could be broken down into the categories of Hybrid, Semantic Layer, Data Connectivity, and Security.

To successfully upgrade to SAP BI 4.3, it is crucial to have a solid understanding of the upgrade process and the necessary preparations. Upgrading to SAP BI 4.3 requires careful planning and execution to ensure a smooth transition. This includes preparing your infrastructure, identifying potential issues, and testing the upgrade process.

After the upgrade, it is important to consider post-upgrade considerations such as testing, training, and ongoing maintenance. This will ensure that your SAP BI 4.3 platform is running smoothly and efficiently. In this article, I will provide an overview of the SAP BI 4.3 upgrade process, key features of SAP BI 4.3, and post-upgrade considerations.

Key Takeaways

• Upgrading to SAP BI 4.3 requires careful planning and execution.
• SAP BI 4.3 comes with significant new enhancements from both the Administrator and User perspectives.
• Post-upgrade considerations such as testing, training, and ongoing maintenance are crucial to ensure a smooth transition.

Understanding SAP BI 4.3 Upgrade

Upgrading to SAP BI 4.3 can be a complex process, and it is important to understand the various options available, as well as the potential challenges that may arise. In this section, I will provide an overview of the upgrade process, including the tools and resources available to assist with the upgrade.

Upgrade Options

There are several options available for upgrading to SAP BI 4.3, including:

• In-place upgrade: This involves upgrading your existing BI 4.x installation to BI 4.3 on the same machine. This option is recommended for smaller installations with fewer customizations.
• Side-by-side upgrade: This involves installing BI 4.3 on a separate machine and using the Upgrade Management Tool to migrate content from BI 4.x to BI 4.3. This option is recommended for larger installations with more complex customizations.

Upgrade Process

The upgrade process involves several steps, including:

1. Planning: Before beginning the upgrade, it is important to plan the upgrade carefully, including identifying any customizations or third-party tools that may need to be updated or reconfigured.
2. Preparation: This involves preparing the environment for the upgrade, including backing up all data and configurations, and ensuring that all prerequisites are met.
3. Installation: This involves installing the BI 4.3 software, either manually or using the Upgrade Management Tool.
4. Migration: This involves migrating content from the old BI 4.x environment to the new BI 4.3 environment, either manually or using the Upgrade Management Tool.
5. Configuration: This involves configuring the new BI 4.3 environment, including updating any customizations or third-party tools.
6. Testing: This involves testing the new BI 4.3 environment to ensure that everything is working correctly.
7. Deployment: This involves deploying the new BI 4.3 environment to production.

Resources

There are several resources available to assist with the upgrade process, including:

• Product Availability Matrix: This provides information on the compatibility of SAP BI 4.3 with other SAP products and platforms.
• SAP BI Upgrade Guide: This provides detailed information on the upgrade process, including step-by-step instructions and best practices.
• SAP BI Community: This is a community of SAP BI users and experts who can provide advice and support on the upgrade process.
• SAP Support Portal: This provides access to SAP support resources, including patches, updates, and technical support.

In conclusion, upgrading to SAP BI 4.3 can be a complex process, but with careful planning and the right resources, it can be done efficiently and effectively. Whether you choose to upgrade in-place, side-by-side, or using an automated tool, it is important to understand the process and the potential challenges, and to leverage the available resources to ensure a successful upgrade.

Preparation for Upgrade

Before upgrading to SAP BI 4.3, it is important to ensure that your environment is ready for the upgrade. In this section, I will outline the steps you should take to prepare for the upgrade process.

Check System Requirements

Firstly, you should check that your system meets the minimum requirements for SAP BI 4.3. You can find the system requirements in the Business Intelligence Platform Installation Guide for Windows. It is important to ensure that your system meets these requirements to avoid any problems during or after the upgrade.

Backup Your System

Before upgrading, it is important to backup your system to ensure that you can restore it in case of any problems during the upgrade process. You can find information on how to backup your system in the Business Intelligence Platform Upgrade Guide.

Check Deprecated Features

SAP BI 4.3 has deprecated some features that were available in previous versions. You should check whether any of these features are being used in your environment and make the necessary changes before upgrading. You can find information on deprecated features in the SAP Note 2884819.

Check Service Packs and Patches

Before upgrading, you should ensure that your system is up to date with the latest service packs and patches. You can find information on the latest service packs and patches in the SAP Support Portal.

Test Performance and Regression

It is important to test the performance and regression of your system after the upgrade. You can use tools such as SAP Enterprise Readiness to test the performance of your system before and after the upgrade.

Check Tomcat Configuration

If you are using Tomcat as your web application server, you should check the configuration before upgrading. You can find information on Tomcat configuration in the SAP Note 2456439.

Check Known Problems and Solutions

Before upgrading, you should check for any known problems and solutions related to the upgrade process. You can find information on known problems and solutions in the SAP Note 2828909.

By following these steps, you can ensure that your environment is ready for the upgrade process.

Key Features of SAP BI 4.3

As an experienced BI administrator, I have found that SAP BI 4.3 offers a range of new features and improvements that make it a worthwhile upgrade from previous versions. Here are some of the key features that I have found to be most impressive:

Improved Usability

One of the most noticeable improvements in SAP BI 4.3 is the enhanced usability of the BI Suite. The Fiori Launchpad provides a modern, intuitive interface that allows users to access their reports and dashboards quickly and easily. The classic BI Launchpad is still available for those who prefer it, but the Fiorified BI Launchpad is a more modern and user-friendly option.

Upgrade Paths

SAP has made it easier to upgrade to BI 4.3 with clear and concise documentation. The upgrade process is straightforward and can be completed without much downtime. The upgrade process can be done in two ways: running the update installation software of BI 4.3.x on the machine at 4.1/4.2 SPx level or installing BI 4.3 on a separate machine and using the Promotion Management Tool from BI 4.3.x to promote the content from the BI 4.1/4.2 SPx level to BI 4.3.x level.

Web Application Deployment

The new web application deployment feature in SAP BI 4.3 allows administrators to deploy web applications to multiple servers at once, saving time and effort. This is particularly useful for large BI landscapes with multiple servers.

Deprecated Products

SAP has deprecated some products in BI 4.3, including Crystal Reports for Enterprise and Xcelsius. While these products are no longer supported, SAP has provided a report conversion tool to help users migrate their reports to newer versions.

SAP Notes

SAP Notes are an essential part of any BI administrator's toolkit. SAP has provided a range of new SAP Notes for BI 4.3, covering topics such as Peoplesoft, JD Edwards, Siebel, and Oracle EBS authentication. These notes provide valuable information and guidance for administrators.

SAP Analytics Cloud

SAP Analytics Cloud is a cloud-based BI solution that integrates with SAP BI 4.3. This allows users to access their reports and dashboards from anywhere, using any device. SAP Analytics Cloud also provides advanced analytics capabilities, such as predictive analytics and machine learning.

Report Conversion Tool

The report conversion tool is a new feature in SAP BI 4.3 that allows users to convert their Crystal Reports to SAP Crystal Reports 2020. This is a useful feature for users who want to take advantage of the new features and improvements in SAP Crystal Reports 2020.

Enhanced Enterprise Readiness

SAP BI 4.3 has several new features that improve its enterprise readiness. The BI Administrator has been enhanced to provide better management of the BI landscape. The Workspace provides a centralized location for administrators to manage their BI environment. SAP has also improved the security features in BI 4.3 to provide better protection against cyber threats.

Overall, I have found SAP BI 4.3 to be a significant improvement over previous versions. Its enhanced usability, upgrade paths, web application deployment, and advanced analytics capabilities make it a worthwhile upgrade for any BI administrator.

Post Upgrade Considerations

After upgrading to SAP BI 4.3, there are several post-upgrade considerations that should be taken into account to ensure a smooth transition. In this section, I will discuss some of the most important considerations to keep in mind.

User Experience

One of the most important considerations after upgrading to SAP BI 4.3 is the user experience. It is essential to ensure that all users have access to the new features and functionalities of SAP BusinessObjects BI 4.3. To achieve this, it is necessary to provide adequate training to all users and ensure that the new features are well documented.

Upgrade Management Tool

The Upgrade Management Tool (UMT) is an essential tool for managing upgrades in SAP BI 4.3. The UMT automates the upgrade process and simplifies the migration of content from previous versions of SAP BusinessObjects BI. It is recommended to use the UMT to manage upgrades and migrations.

Patching

Patching is an essential part of maintaining SAP BI 4.3. It is essential to keep the system up-to-date with the latest patches to ensure that it is secure and stable. SAP BusinessObjects BI provides regular patches, and it is recommended to install them as soon as they are available.

Performance Testing

After upgrading to SAP BI 4.3, it is essential to perform performance testing to ensure that the system is running optimally. Performance testing should be done to ensure that the system is meeting the performance requirements of the organization.

Regression Testing

Regression testing is an essential part of the upgrade process. It is necessary to ensure that all existing reports, dashboards, and other content are working correctly after the upgrade. Regression testing should be done to ensure that all existing content is functioning correctly.

Configuration

After upgrading to SAP BI 4.3, it is necessary to review the system configuration to ensure that it is optimized for the new version. It is essential to ensure that the system is configured correctly to take advantage of the new features and functionalities.

Promotion Management

Promotion management is an essential part of managing content in SAP BI 4.3. It is necessary to ensure that all content is correctly promoted between environments, such as development, testing, and production. It is recommended to use tools such as 360Suite to manage content promotion.

Product Availability Matrix

The Product Availability Matrix (PAM) is an essential resource for managing SAP BI 4.3. The PAM provides information on the compatibility of SAP BusinessObjects BI with other SAP products and third-party products. It is recommended to review the PAM regularly to ensure that the system is running optimally.

In conclusion, upgrading to SAP BI 4.3 requires careful planning and consideration of several factors. By keeping these post-upgrade considerations in mind, organizations can ensure a smooth transition to SAP BusinessObjects BI 4.3.