- Fast and Easy Implementation—Installation Wizard
Look for features such as an installation wizard—an automated, end-to-end installation framework that makes deploying SAP solutions faster and easier, requires fewer SAP and Linux skills to set up a working system, and reduces the time and errors associated with a manual installation. An SAP-validated stack also eliminates the risk of incompatibility issues.
- Enables High Performance of Large Workloads—Page Cache Limit
For the huge business benefits that can come directly from improving performance, choose a platform that supports large workloads via features such as page cache limit, which is a kernel parameter that allows SAP administrators to optimize the kernel's paging behavior. This feature is crucial for SAP applications to gain performance improvements. This feature is described in SAP Note 1557506.
- High Availability Included
Choose a Linux platform specifically for SAP mission-critical applications that offers the OS and the clustering software together. This ensures that the whole stack is 100% compatible and reduces administration overhead and the time spent trying to track down OS versus clustering software issues. Also look for HA Certification by SAP which ensures smooth integration of the clustering software with the new SAP clustering interface.
- Reduced Risk—Endorsed by SAP
Endorsement from SAP is key. Choosing an SAP primary software development reference platform ensures that there will have been the greatest level of scrutiny on patches and fixes. It guarantees robustness, reducing the possibility of incompatibilities when patches are applied. Also look for SAP Certification and a proven history of customer success.
- Easy to Support and Manage
Look for a platform that offers you a support service that seamlessly integrates through the SAP Solution Manager into the SAP global support backbone, and enables you to initiate a support request via regular SAP escalation channels: telephone, web front-end, CSN or SAP Solution Manager.
- Update Cycle that Fits Your Needs
Updating your SAP software stack is something that you probably don't want to do too often. Ensure that your Linux OS service pack update cycle requirements don't dictate that you do it outside of your normal update cycle.
- Future Proof—Is It Cloud Ready?
Choose a Linux platform that is proven in the cloud and selected for use with SAP Cloud Solutions. Also select a Linux distributor that has a strong relationship with the virtualization market leaders—VMware, Microsoft and Citrix—and works with a broad ecosystem of Cloud Service Providers.
