ListofSAPSUPPORTPACK/STACKSTYPES

ThispagecontainsthemostimportantinformationconcerningtheuseofSAPSupportPackages.
Nevertheless,werecommendthatyoustudytheonlinedocumentation,whichyoudisplaybyclickingontheinfobutton('i')onthemainscreenofthe
SAPSupportPackageManager(SPAM).
Otherterms
OCS,SPAM,PATCH,SUPPORTPACKAGE
ReasonandPrerequisites
ToimportSupportPackagestoanSAPSystem,weneedtoknowthefollowing:
1.WhatistheOnlineCorrectionSupport(OCS)?
2.WhatarethedifferentSupportPackagetypes?
3.WhatareSupportPackageCollections?
4.HowcanIgetSupportPackages?
5.HowdoIimportSupportPackagesintoatestsystem?
6.HowdoIdistributeSupportPackagestofurthersystems?
7.WhyshouldIincludeSupportPackagesinanupgrade?
8.Generalrecommendations

Solution
Thissectioncoverspoints1to8inmoredetail.
1.WhatisOnlineCorrectionSupport(OCS)?OCScomprisesvarioustools,withwhichyoucanobtainSupportPackagesfromSAPandimportthem
intoyoursystem.Inaddition,addonswithOCStechnologycanbeinstalledandupgradedasofRelease4.0B.YoucanimportSupportPackagesusing
theSupportPackageManager(TransactionSPAM).Youcaninstallandupgradeaddonswiththeaddoninstallationtool(TransactionSAINT).
ThefollowingSupportPackagetypesarecurrentlyavailable:
SPAM/SAINTUpdates
HotPackages(HOT)(forR/3releases<=4.5B)

HRLegalChangePatches(LCP)(forR/3releases<=4.5B)

ComponentSupportPackages(COPorCSP)

AddOnSupportPackages(AOP)

ConflictResolutionTransports(CRT)

FCSSupportPackages(FFDP)

Inaddition,therearethefollowingtypesofaddoninstallationpackages:
AddOnInstallationPackage(AOI)

AddOnUpgradePackage(AOU)

It depends on our SAP Release, which types of Support Packages are available for our system for instance in Release 3.1H, only the types SPAM
Update, Hot Package, HR Legal Change Patches and Conflict Resolution Transports are available, whereas in Release 4.6A only SPAM/SAINT
Updates,ComponentSupportPackages,AddOnSupportPackagesandConflictResolutionTransportsareavailable.

2.WhatarethedifferentSupportPackagetypes?ThevariousSupportPackagetypesarebrieflyexplainedbelow:
SPAM/SAINTUpdates:containcorrectionsandenhancementsoftheSAPSupportPackageManager(SPAM)andtheSAPAddoninstallationtool
(SAINT).
HotPackages(HOT):arepackagesofcorrectionsforsevereerrorsintheR/3RepositoryandABAPDictionaryofanR/3System(withoutcorrections
fortheHRcomponent).ThisSupportPackagetypeisonlyavailableinreleases<=4.5B.LegalChangePatches(LCP):compriseadjustmentstotheHR
component due to alterations to the law in the supported countries. In releases <= 4.0 they also contain all corrections from the corresponding Hot
Package.ThisSupportPackagetypeisonlyavailableforreleases<=4.5B.ComponentSupportPackages(COP):containcorrectionsforerrorsinthe
R/3RepositoryandABAPDictionaryofoneSAPmainsoftwarecomponent(suchasSAP_BASIS,SAP_APO,SAP_HR...).ThisSupportPackage
type is available in releases >= 4.5A.Currently Component Support Packages are available for the following main software components: Comp.ID
Componentname
Support Package++SAP_BASIS SAP Basis Component Basis Support Package (Name:
SAPKB.....)SAP_ABACrossApplicationComponentAppl.Interf.Supp.P.(Name:SAPKA.....)SAP_APPLLogisticsandAccountingR/3Support
Package(Name:SAPKH.....)SAP_HRHumanResourcesR/3HRSupportPack.(Name:SAPKE.....)SAP_BWBusinessInformationWarehouseBW
Support Package (Name: SAPKW..... )SAP_APO Advanced Planning and Optimizing APO Support Package (Name: SAPKY..... )SAP_B2B SAP
B2BProcurementBBPSupportPackage(BBPCRM)(+Cust.RelationsshipManagement)(Name:SAPKU.....)
AddOnSupportPackages(AOP):containcorrectionsforerrorsintheR/3RepositoryandABAPDictionaryofanAddOnsoftwarecomponent,such
asISISorISOIL.
ConflictResolutionTransports(CRT):eliminateconflictswhichmayoccurbetweenaSupportPackageandanAddOnsoftwarecomponentsuchasIS
ISorISOIL.AdditionallytheymaycontainerrorcorrectionsforthisAddOnsoftwarecomponent.Ifthisisthecase,theyareacombinationofapure
CRTandanAddOnPatch.
Component Support Package (CSP):As of Basis Release 6.40, the COP and AOP types were put together for the new CSP type.These Support
PackagescontaincorrectionsforerrorsintheR/3RepositoryandtheABAPdictionaryofasoftwarecomponent,regardlessofthesoftwarecomponent
type.
FCSSupportPackage(FFDP):updatesanFCSsystemtoitsfinalstateyoucanonlyimportadditionalSupportPackagesafteryouhaveimportedthe
FFDP.
3.What is a Support Package Collection?A Support Package Collection is a CD containing all the currently available Support Packages of a certain
release. It is delivered automatically to all customers with maintenance releases (for example 3.1H, 4.0B, 4.5B ...). Moreover, Support Package
CollectionsareawaytoefficientlyprovideyouwithverylargeSupportPackages.ForfurtherdetailsrefertotheReleaseNotesoftheseCollectionCDs.
4.HowcanIgetSupportPackages?TherearetwowaystogetSupportPackages:ServiceMarketplaceandSupportPackageCollectionCDsorDVDs.
5.HowdoIimportSupportPackagesintoatestsystem?CAUTION:BeforeyoustarttoimportSupportPackagesbeawareoftherestrictionsmentioned
inthesection"Generalrecommendations".Otherwise,youriskdamagingyoursystem!ToimportSupportPackagesyouhavetocarryoutfourstepsin
theSAPSupportPackageManager.TheOnlinehelp('i'pushbutton)describestheseSPAMproceduresinfulldetail.
DownloadtheSupportPackages(fromServiceMarketplace)

DefineaSupportPackagequeue

ImporttheSupportPackagequeue

Checkthelogs
ConfirmtheSupportPackagequeue

TodownloadSupportPackagesfromtheServiceMarketplace,proceedasfollows:
EntertheURLhttp://service.sap.com/swdcinyourWebBrowser.YouarriveattheSoftwareDistributionCenter.Heretherearevariouswaysto
obtaintheSupportPackagesthatinterestyou.

IntheDownloadarea,youcannavigate(hierarchically)totheSupportPackages(andpatches,forexamplekernelpatches)forthevariousapplication
components.
UnderSearchyoucanviewthevarioussearchpossibilitiesfortheSupportPackgesthatinterestyou.
UsingOrderingSAPSoftwareyouarriveattheSAPSoftwareShopwhereyoucanorderSAPSupportPackagecollectionsonDVD.
UnderAdditionalInformationmoreinformationisavailableaboutSupportPackagestacksthathaverecentlybeenmadeavailableformanyproduct
versions.ThereyouarriveatspecialdownloadpagesthatmakeiteasiertodownloadSupportPackagesandpatchesfromSupportPackagestacks.
IfyouhavefoundorselectedtheSupportPackagesthatyouneedyoucaneitherdownloadthemindividuallydirectlyonyourlocalcomputeror
youcanmakeanoteofthemintheSAPDownloadManager,sothattheyaredownloadedtogether.

The SAP Download Manager is a Java program that can be installed and executed on any system. It allows a number of Support Packages to be
downloadedtogether,wherebythedownloadcanberesetandcanbeplannedforacertaintime.SincetheSAPDownloadManagercanalsorunonan
applicationserver,itispossibletoloadtheSupportPackagesdirectlyontheapplicationserverwithoutadetourontheworkcentercomputer.
SinceSAPsoftwareisusuallydeliveredinCARorSAPCARarchives,thearchivedownloadedfromtheServiceMarketplacemuststillbeunpacked
with the Support Packages and the contained EPS files (files that end in .PAT) must be put in the EPS Inbox. The EPS Inbox is usually in the
$(DIR_TRANS)/EPS/indirectory($(DIR_TRANS)=Transportdirectory).SincetheEPSfilesaregenerallypackedwiththerelativeEPS/inpathinthe
archives,thearchivesshouldbeunpackedinthetransportdirectory,sothattheEPSfilesautomaticallylandinthecorrectdirectory.
NowstarttheSupportPackageManagerinClient000withanyuserexceptSAP*.
Select the menu path "Support Package > "Load packages" > "from application server". All new Support Packages are uploaded from the EPS/in
directorytotheSAPsystem.ThenalistisdisplayedwithalloftheSupportPackagescontainedintheEPSInbox.
ThesefunctionsarenotinReleases<=3.1.ExecutetheRSEPSUPLreporttouploadtheSupportPackages.
TodefineaSupportPackagequeue,proceedasfollows:
ChooseF4(inreleases=3.1)orthebutton"Display/define"(inreleases>=4.0)nexttothe"Queue"field.
AdialogboxappearsinwhichyoucandefinetheSupportPackagequeue.Fordetails,clickthehelpbuttononthiswindow.
ToimporttheSupportPackagequeue,proceedasfollows:
MakesurethattheSupportPackageManagerSettings("Extras>Settings")meetyourrequirements(seetheonlinehelp).
MakesurethatthelatestSPAM/SAINTupdateshavebeenimported.
Select "Support Package" > "Import Queue" to start the import of the defined Support Package queue. While the Support Package queue is being
imported, the status line at the bottom of the screen displays the current SPAM steps. As of Release 4.0B it is also possible to monitor individual
processesusingawiderSupportPackageManagerinstance.
Ifproblemsoccurduringtheimport,theindividualprocessisstoppedandtheSupportPackageManagerpresentsanerrormessage,andifapplicable,it
alsopresentsnotestosolvetheproblem.Aftertheproblemhasbeensolvedtheimportcanbecarriedout,whichtheSupportPackageManagerdoes
automaticallyinthecorrectlocation.
If you have already modified any SAP objects, that are contained in any of the Support Packages in the queue, you must execute a modification
adjustment(SPDDforDDICobjects,SPAUforRepositoryobjects)toadjusttheseaccordingly.Ifnecessary,theSupportPackageMangerasksyouto
dothis.
Tocheckthelogfiles,proceedasfollows:
AfteryouhavesuccessfullyimportedtheSupportPackagequeue,select"Goto">"Importlogs">"Queue".
Checkthatallthelogshaveareturncodeof0(=noerrors)or4(=warnings).
ToconfirmtheSupportPackagequeue,proceedasfollows:

IftheSupportPackagequeuewasimportedwithouterrorsandyouwanttoendtheimport,select"SupportPackage">"Confirm".

6.HowdoIdistributeSupportPackagestofurthersystems?Toprovidefurthersystems(qualityassurance,production)withSupportPackages,itmakes
moresensetodistributethesepackagesfromthetestsystemthantodownloadthemagainindividuallyforeachsystem.ToimportSupportPackagesto
furthersystems,proceedasfollows:
Copythe*.ATT(for3.xsystems)and*.PATfilestotheEPS/indirectoryofyourtargetsystem(possiblyusingFTP).Youcanleavethisstepout,ifall
systemssharetheEPS/indirectory.
Inthetargetsystem,executetheuploadfunctionasdescribedabove.
ImporttheSupportPackagestothetargetsystemasusual.
Ifrequired,importthemodificationadjustmentsyoucreatedinthetestsystem.
7. Why must I include Support Packages in the upgrade?Generally, a new release contains all the Support Packages of previous releases that were
availableatthetimetheupgrade/installationassemblywascreated.Afterthat,newprogramcorrectionswillbeputintoSupportPackagesdedicatedtothe
new release.During the upgrade, the Repository is replaced, which means that without having taken further action, all Support Packages from the
previousreleasesthatwerefirstcreatedafterthecreationoftheupgrade/installationassemblygomissing.Soasnottoriskadowngradeduetothe
maintenancelevel,includetheSupportPackagesforthenewreleasedirectlyintheupgrade.TheSupportPackageisthenimportedaspartoftheupgrade
procedure.Aswellasavoidingadowngrade,thishastheadvantagethatyouonlyhavetoexecuteonemodificationadjustment,andthedowntimeis
reducedcomparedwithimportingSupportPackagesseparately.
8.Generalrecommendations
Itisadvisednottoignoretherecommendationsbelow.Otherwise,seriousproblemsmayoccurduringandaftertheimport.
AlwaysimportSupportPackagesintoyourtestsystembeforeyoustarttoimportthemintoyourproductionsystem!
MakesurethatyouhaveimportedthelatestSPAM/SAINTupdatebeforeyouimportanyotherSupportPackages!
ReadthenotesthatdescribeknownproblemswithSupportPackagestoidentifyandavoidpotentialproblemsbeforeyouimportSupportPackages.As
ofRelease4.0B,theSupportPackageManagerdisplaysthethenotevalidfortherespectivereleaseinadialogboxatthebeginningoftheimport.
Never import Support Packages directly with tp! If you have modified SAP objects, these modifications will be overwritten without warning and
thereafteryouwillnolongerbeabletoadjustyourmodificationstothenewSAPstatususingmodificationadjustment(TransactionsSPDDandSPAU).
In addition, you risk serious inconsistencies, since the Support Package Manager import process is modified compared with the standard tp import
process.
ApplySupportPackagesonlywhennousersareworkingproductivelyinthesystem.Furthermore,donotrunanybackgroundjobsduringthistime.
Since Support Packages can potentially makes changes in any area of an SAP system, progam terminations or data inconsistencies are possible. In
addition,deadlocksituationscanoccur,whichcanleadtotheterminationoftheimportprocess.Youshouldminimizetheprobabilityoftheseproblems
occurring.
IfyoumakemodificationswhenyouimportSupportPackagesintoatestsystem,ensurethatyoudonotimporttheresultingchangerequestintofurther
systemsuntilyouhaveappliedthesameSupportPackagestothesesystems.
Furthermore,youmustnotimportanyothertransportsinthesystemwhenyouareimportingSupportPackages.Sincetheunderlyingprocessesarethe
same, the two types of imports can influence each other, which can lead to unintentional side effects, and you may not be able to use the system at
all.Importingtransportordersisonlypossible,iftheimportphaseoftheSupportPackageimportprocesshasended(asofphaseRUN_SPAU_?).
IfyouencounteranyerrorswhenyouareimportingSupportPackages,refertothecorrespondingnote.Ifyouneedfurtherassistance,donothesitateto
contactSAPSuuportunderthecomponent"BCUPGOCS".