SUM 1.0 vs 2.0

The Software Update Manager (SUM) is SAPs’ system maintenance and software delivery tool. It replaces old tools like SAPup, SAPJup and JSPM. SUM is used to upgrade the systems (release upgrades, EHP installations, SP/SPS updates etc) and help with transition to SAP HANA (database migrations, conversion to S4HANA). SUM is used for all SAP NetWeaver based systems.

SAP offers two versions of SUM parallelly — SUM 1.0 and SUM 2.0. It is important to understand which version is needed for which scenario. SUM 2.0 is used for single stack ABAP systems starting with BASIS level 7.50 and system conversions. If the new advanced feature of Zero Downtime Option — ZDO (S-note 2163060) is used, also for lower releases. For all other scenarios (lower version of ABAP stack, JAVA stack, dual stack), 1.0 must be used.

SUM is a standalone tool and is constantly updated by SAP. Therefor the latest version should always be downloaded. As of writing this post in March 2018, latest version is SP01 patch 3. It can be downloaded separately, but planning you maintenance in Maintenance Planner also adds the SUM archive (and usually the correct and latest version) automatically to your software package. It is recommended to patch the SAP Host Agent to the latest level before starting SUM.

Before starting with the actual update process, collect and review all the important information from SAP. In SAP Support Portal all the information about system maintenance is under the Software Logistics Toolset page: http://support.sap.com/sltoolset S-note 2472850 is the central note for SUM 2.0. Get the relevant SUM guide for the needed OS/DB combo from http://service.sap.com/~sapidb/012002523100011180232017E

After downloading the archive, login to the system with adm user and unpack it directly in the destination system. It is recommended to do this in /usr/sap/ folder, but other paths can be used with some limitations. For example, on Windows systems, access control list must be given to the SUM directory from PowerShell. See SUM guides for details. Extracted SUM directory is approximately 1GB, but during the actual upgrade, the folder will grow up to 20–40GB depending on the updated software components. Always extract a new SUM directory for all systems and SUM runs and don’t reuse it. When you run into some problems with SUM in the first phases, it might be a good idea to delete the SUM folder altogether and start again with a fresh extract.

To start up the SUM, register it with SAP Host Agent.
For Linux systems enter under root:
/abap/SUMSTART confighostagent

For Windows systems run as administrator:
:\\abap\SUMSTART.BAT confighostagent

After that SUM can be opened with a browser and authenticate with adm.
For SSL use: https://:1129/lmsl/sumabap//doc/sluigui

For HTTP use: http://:1128/lmsl/sumabap//doc/sluigui

This can be accessed from anywhere inside the company network and from multiple locations at the same time. This gives flexibility for the administrator to access SUM and/or any other involved parties to follow up on the progress. Just make sure you have clear work processes in place with who is allowed to operate inside the SUM.

Opening page for SUM:

First you have enter the stack.xml file and then SUM starts with all the next phases.

On the right side there are “Task List”, “Logs” and “Breakpoints”. Task List is populated after the stack.xml file is given and can be used to see the progress, but there are many tasks and most with a very technical name. Still, this can be useful when comparing systems and their progress. From Logs, all the logs written during the SUM process can be accessed without the need to go into OS level. Breakpoints let you set breakpoints to stop the upgrade at certain points. During the upgrade, some important alerts will pop up also on the left side of the screen. Under “More” in the top right corner also the menu for “Utilities” can be opened to configure SUM and later analyse.

To sum up the whole process of using SUM:

  1. Collect and review S-notes and guides
  2. Plan your maintenance in Maintenance Planner
  3. Download SUM and files
  4. Unpack SUM to the installation folder under adm
  5. Register SUM in Host Agent (also upgrade Host Agent if needed)
  6. Open SUM from your browser
  7. Start your upgrade project by giving the stack.xml file
  8. Follow SUM steps to execute the upgrade

ProductSUM1.0SUM2.0SAP ERPup to EHP7EHP8SAP CRM up to EHP3EHP4SAP SCM up to EHP3EHP4SAP SRM up to EHP3EHP4SAP NetWeaverJAVA & dual-stack systems; ABAP up to 7.40ABAP 7.50 and higherSAP Solution Manager use SUM1.0not supportedSAP S/4HANA not supported use SUM2.0

Juuljus Jõgar

Juuljus Jõgar is SAP ALM Expert and SAP Operations team lead at blue.works in Estonia. He has worked as a SAP Basis administrator and SAP Solution Manager for 10 years. Juuljus' expertise include Focused Insights, Configuration Validation, Data Volume Management and Custom Code Lifecycle Management. He holds a Bachelor of Applied Sciences degree in IT Systems Administration.