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Accelerate Data Replication with SAP SLT: Real-time Made Easy!

SLT (SAP Landscape Transformation) is a powerful ETL (Extract, Transform, Load) tool designed to facilitate real-time or scheduled data replication from SAP source systems or non-SAP systems into SAP HANA Database. It employs a trigger-based replication approach, which means that database triggers are activated whenever data is populated in the logging table.

Here are some key details about SLT:

  1. Real-time and Scheduled Replication: SLT enables both real-time and scheduled data replication. It ensures that changes made in the source system are promptly replicated to the target system.

  2. Support for Cluster and Pool Tables: SLT can replicate data from both Cluster tables and Pool tables, allowing for a comprehensive data replication solution.

  3. Real-time Data Transformation: SLT not only replicates data but also provides transformation capabilities to convert the data into the appropriate format for SAP HANA. This ensures that data is readily usable in the target system.

  4. Integration with HANA Studio: SLT is seamlessly integrated with HANA Studio, providing a user-friendly interface for managing and monitoring the replication processes.

  5. Table and Rule Settings: SLT offers flexible table settings and rule settings, allowing for customizable data replication and transformation processes to meet specific business requirements.

  6. Monitoring Capabilities: SLT can be monitored using the SAP Solution Manager, providing comprehensive insights into the replication status and performance.

Architecture of SAP SLT server with SAP as Source System:



  • DB Triggers: SLT utilizes database triggers to monitor events such as inserts, deletes, modifications, and updates that occur in the application table of the source system.

  • Logging Tables: When a database trigger is activated, the modified data is stored in logging tables created on the source system. These logging tables serve as a temporary storage for replicated data.

  • Read Engine: The read engine reads the data from the logging tables and sends it to the SLT Replication server.

  • Mapping and Transformation Engine: This engine handles the structured transformation of data to match the target HANA DB format, ensuring compatibility and consistency.

  • Write Engine: The write engine is responsible for writing the transformed data into the HANA DB from the SLT Replication server.

The installation of SAP SLT Replication Server can be done in two scenarios:

  1. Source System is SAP System: In this case, the SLT Replication Server can be installed either as a standalone system or on the source system itself.

  2. Source System is Non-SAP System: When the source system is a non-SAP system, the SLT Replication Server can only be installed as a standalone system. Additionally, a DB connection is established between the non-SAP source system and the SLT Replication Server, while an RFC connection is used with an SAP source system.

How SLT Works:

The replication process between the SAP source system, SLT Replication server, and HANA DB involves the following steps:

  1. Establish RFC Connection: An RFC connection is set up between the SAP source system and the SLT Replication Server.

  2. Establish DB Connection: A DB connection is established between the SLT Replication server and the HANA DB.

  3. Initial Load: When the replication option is executed for a table for the first time, the system loads the entire data from the application table into the HANA DB.

  4. Replication: After the initial load, the status changes from "Load" to "Replicate." The DB trigger and logging table are created in the source system to store modified data as per the triggers.

  5. Data Read and Transformation: The read engine retrieves data from the logging table and sends it to the SLT Replication server via the RFC connection. The SLT Replication server then performs necessary transformations and formatting to match the HANA format.

  6. Data Writing: The write engine writes the transformed data into the HANA DB using the DB connection, ensuring that the replicated data is securely stored in the target system.

Note :

Replicating archive tables is supported since DMIS 2011 SP11. Supported Source systems for archiving are listed in the two following notes:

2325520 - Installation/Upgrade SLT - DMIS 2011 SP11 2415064 - Installation/Upgrade SLT - DMIS 2011 SP12


While reading about SLT I came across another blog which focuses on a real time use case,

We will focus on a specific use case of SAP Landscape Transformation Replication Server (SLT) that highlights its cost-saving benefits. The author shares their experience of working on a project where the customer was reporting directly against their HANA ECC database using Calculation Views with SAP and non-SAP reporting tools. This required an expensive Enterprise license for the full ECC instance.

To reduce costs, the author suggested an alternative approach. They recommended the customer to stop reporting directly against the main ECC system and instead use a "sidecar" HANA Enterprise instance with replicated data. This solution would help reduce overall costs. Since an SLT runtime license is included with the HANA Enterprise license, implementing SLT for simple replication was the recommended choice.

SLT is positioned as a solution for businesses using HANA as a reporting database. It addresses the need for quick and easy data replication into HANA to facilitate reporting and decision-making. SLT is a suitable option for real-time or schedule-based replication from both SAP and non-SAP sources, whether on-premise or in the cloud. The use cases for SLT mentioned in the blog post include:

  • Real-time provisioning of data for operational reporting and dashboards
  • Batch loading of enterprise data warehouses
  • Reducing administrative effort for high-frequency master data updates
  • Replicating financial data from SAP and non-SAP ERP systems to SAP Simple Finance
  • Synchronizing data between two or more SAP ERP systems
  • Replacing an existing solution with SLT to achieve real-time data replication
  • Handling of all native SAP table formats, including Cluster and Pool tables
  • Integration with HANA Studio for seamless management
  • Monitoring capabilities using SAP HANA Solution Manager
  • Support for non-Unicode and Unicode conversion during load/replication
  • Mobile capability through SLT Replication Manager for monitoring data replication process and system parameters from anywhere using a mobile device connected to the internet

Reference and Relevant Notes:-

Youtube Video : Explaining SLT in detail

Blog inspiration : Sudhir Kumar's Blog

Use Case of SLT in details : Rashi Singal' Blog

1605140 - SAP Landscape Transformation Replication Server (SLT)

3318703 - How to confirm if SLT replication is working properly?

2014562 - FAQ: SAP HANA LT Replication Server (SLT)

1768805 - SAP Landscape Transformation Replication Server (SLT): Non ABAP-based Sources

2372636 - Cannot replicate data when different trigger options exist - SLT

2796027 - How many times can a table be replicated using SLT?

2575237 - What does a Red Status in LTRC mean? - SLT





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