In SAP BW/4HANA, DataStore Objects (DSOs) are fundamental building blocks for data storage and processing. They play a critical role in data consolidation, cleansing, and transformation within the data warehousing environment. This article explores the types of DSOs in BW/4HANA, their architecture, and best practices for working with them effectively.
DataStore Objects are persistent storage objects in SAP BW/4HANA designed to store detailed transactional data at the lowest granularity level. DSOs enable data integration from various sources, allowing data to be cleansed, harmonized, and stored before further processing or reporting.
Unlike traditional InfoCubes which are multidimensional, DSOs store data in a flat, relational format, optimized for write operations and detailed data storage.
SAP BW/4HANA simplifies the classic BW DSO model and offers mainly Advanced DataStore Objects (aDSOs), which support multiple modeling capabilities based on their configuration:
¶ 1. Standard aDSO
- Used for data consolidation and cleansing.
- Supports all operations: data staging, activation, and reporting.
- Ideal for storing cleansed and harmonized data for further use.
- Designed for fast data loads without activation.
- Mainly used as a staging area before data is processed further.
- Suitable for initial data load phases where data quality checks happen downstream.
- Primarily used for reporting.
- Stores already activated data and optimized for read access.
- Useful for serving data to queries and analytics directly.
- Flexible Modeling: A single aDSO can combine the functionality of classic DSOs and InfoCubes.
- Delta Handling: Supports delta data extraction for incremental data loading.
- Data Activation: Incoming data can be staged first and then activated for reporting.
- Data Versioning: Tracks data changes and provides data consistency.
- Direct Access for Reporting: Enables real-time or near real-time reporting capabilities.
- Integration with SAP HANA: Fully leverages SAP HANA in-memory technology for faster data processing and querying.
- Create an aDSO in the BW Modeling Tools (Eclipse or BW/4HANA Cockpit).
- Define the structure by adding key fields, data fields, and semantics.
- Choose the appropriate aDSO type based on the use case (standard, write-optimized, or data mart).
- Extract data from source systems via DataSources or SAP SLT replication.
- Load data into the aDSO using InfoPackages or Data Transfer Processes (DTPs).
- For standard aDSOs, data is staged first and then activated to ensure data quality and consistency.
¶ 3. Activation and Reporting
- Activate data to make it available for downstream consumption.
- Use CompositeProviders or Open ODS Views to combine data from multiple aDSOs.
- Create queries using SAP BW Query Designer or SAP Analytics Cloud for reporting.
¶ 4. Monitoring and Optimization
- Monitor data loads and activations using SAP BW Administration Cockpit.
- Analyze performance and optimize using BW statistics and SAP HANA tools.
- Implement archiving strategies if required for data lifecycle management.
- Use aDSOs Instead of Classic DSOs: Leverage the simplified, versatile aDSOs for all scenarios to benefit from performance and flexibility.
- Choose the Correct aDSO Type: Match the aDSO type with your data processing needs to optimize performance.
- Optimize Key Fields: Properly design key fields to ensure efficient data storage and retrieval.
- Implement Data Quality Checks: Use staging area data in write-optimized aDSOs for quality validations before activation.
- Combine with CompositeProviders: Use CompositeProviders to build flexible reporting layers by combining multiple aDSOs and other providers.
- Leverage SAP HANA Capabilities: Use HANA-specific features for performance tuning and real-time analytics.
DataStore Objects (DSOs), particularly Advanced DataStore Objects, form the core of data storage and processing in SAP BW/4HANA. Their flexible architecture, combined with the power of SAP HANA, enables efficient data integration, cleansing, and reporting. Understanding how to properly design, load, and use DSOs is essential for building scalable and performant data warehousing solutions on BW/4HANA.
By adopting best practices and utilizing the full capabilities of aDSOs, organizations can streamline their data workflows and deliver high-quality business insights.