Adapters are fundamental building blocks in SAP Cloud Platform Integration (CPI) that enable communication between heterogeneous systems and applications. Whether integrating SAP or third-party solutions, correct adapter configuration ensures seamless, secure, and reliable data exchange.
This article explores the essentials of adapter configuration and properties in SAP CPI, highlighting how to effectively configure adapters to meet diverse integration requirements.
Adapters act as protocol translators and connectors that enable SAP CPI to send and receive messages from different endpoints. They handle various communication protocols such as HTTP, SOAP, SFTP, IDoc, OData, JMS, and more, abstracting the complexities of connectivity and message format handling.
SAP CPI supports multiple adapter categories:
Common adapters include:
| Adapter Type | Protocol/Use Case |
|---|---|
| HTTP / HTTPS | Web services, REST APIs |
| SOAP | SOAP web services |
| SFTP | Secure file transfer |
| IDoc | SAP Intermediate Documents |
| OData | RESTful APIs for SAP Gateway |
| JMS | Messaging queues (Java Message Service) |
| AS2 | Secure EDI communication |
Each adapter configuration consists of two layers:
| Property | Description |
|---|---|
| Host Name / URL | The target system’s network address or endpoint URL. |
| Port | Communication port number (e.g., 443 for HTTPS). |
| Authentication | Credentials or key-based methods to secure access. |
| Proxy Settings | Network proxy details if CPI requires proxy access. |
| Message Protocol | Defines SOAP, REST, IDoc, or other protocols. |
| File Paths (for file-based adapters) | Directories for reading or writing files. |
| Polling Interval | For sender adapters, frequency of checking for new messages/files. |
| Timeouts | Connection and response time limits to avoid hanging calls. |
| Retry Mechanisms | Rules for reattempting failed transmissions. |
| Message Size Limits | Maximum message payload size allowed. |
| SSL/TLS Settings | Encryption and certificate management for secure communication. |
| Additional Parameters | Protocol-specific options such as message encoding, headers, etc. |
| Symptom | Possible Cause | Solution |
|---|---|---|
| Connection failures | Incorrect host/port or network issues | Verify endpoint details and network connectivity |
| Authentication errors | Wrong credentials or key misconfiguration | Recheck credentials, update keys in Keystore |
| Message format mismatches | Incorrect protocol or message type settings | Adjust adapter protocol and mapping |
| Timeouts | Long processing or network delays | Increase timeout settings or optimize payload |
| File not found / no data | Incorrect directory or file pattern | Confirm path and filename masks |
Understanding adapter configuration and properties in SAP Cloud Platform Integration is essential for building robust and secure integration scenarios. Correctly configured adapters enable smooth communication across diverse systems, minimizing errors and maximizing performance.
By applying best practices such as secure authentication, parameterization, and thorough testing, integration developers can deliver scalable and maintainable solutions that align with enterprise integration goals.