Release Notes for iPlanet(TM) Application Server Enterprise Connector for R/3, Version 6.5


PN 817-0415-10
Last Updated December 4, 2002




These release notes contain important information concerning the Version 6.5 release of the iPlanet(TM) Application Server Enterprise Connector for R/3. New features and enhancements, installation notes, known problems, and other late-breaking issues are addressed here. Read this and associated documents before you begin using iPlanet Application Server Enterprise Connector for R/3.

This document contains the following sections:


What's New in the iPlanet Application Server Enterprise Connector for R/3

There are no new features in the iPlanet Application Server Enterprise Connector for R/3, version 6.5

Note

Be sure and read the important information concerning Post-Installation Issues.



Product Certification of Enterprise Connector for R/3 6.5 on iPlanet Application Server EPE 6.5 and 6.5 SP1

The following iPlanet Application Server EPE 6.5 products have been certified to run on versions 6.5. and 6.5 SP1.


Platform Summary

The iPlanet Application Server Enterprise Connector for R/3 supports the following platforms:


Documentation

All Sun Microsystems product documentation can be found a the following site:

http://docs.sun.com/

This section contains the following:

iPlanet Application Server Enterprise Connector for R/3 Documentation

In addition to these release notes, the iPlanet Application Server Enterprise Connector for R/3 includes an entire set of documentation. This section contains a brief synopsis of each document.

Referenced Documentation

References to specific pieces of referenced documents are provided within the Enterprise Connector for R/3 6.5 documentation.


Software and Hardware Requirements

This section deals with the requirements for both Application Server platforms: Solaris and Windows.

Software and hardware requirements are grouped to whether they apply to both Windows and Solaris systems or are specific to one of the systems.

Application Server Platform

Patches

All patches are located on the iPlanet Application Server EPE 6.5 CD or in the download. For more information see the section "Required Patches" in the iPlanet Process Manager, 6.5 Release Notes:

http://docs.sun.com/source/816-6356-10/index.html.

Solaris and Windows Systems

The following software must be installed before you can install the Enterprise Connector for R/3 6.5:

Patches

iPlanet Application Server EPE 6.5 requires the Maintenance Update 2 (MU2) patch. This patch is not required when you install the 6.5 SP1 version.

Solaris

Patches

iPlanet Application Server EPE 6.5 requires the JDK 1.3.1_04 patch. This patch is not required when install the 6.5 SP1 version.

Windows NT/Windows 2000 server SP2

All iPlanet Application Server EPE, versions 6.5 and 6.5 SP1 components and the Unified Integration Framework, version 6.5, must be installed on the server machine before the Enterprise Connector for R/3 6.5 is installed. The Enterprise Connector for R/3 6.5 must be installed on the same machine as the iPlanet Application Server EPE.


Installation Notes

Installation of the product is as follows:

Post-Installation Issues

The following post-installation issues must be addressed:

Memory Consumption

Problem—The change in the JVM default arguments on iPlanet Application Server EPE versions 6.5 and 6.5 SP1, causes the Enterprise Connector for R/3 6.5 to have high memory consumption on Solaris\NT\Windows2000 platforms.

The default JVM arguments on iPlanet Application Server EPE versions 6.5 and 6.5 SP1, are as follows:

-server -Xss512k -Xms128m -Xmx1024m -XX:NewSize=42m -XX:MaxNewSize=342m

-XX:+DisableExplicitGC -Xconcurrentio

Refer to http://java.sun.com/docs/hotspot/VMOptions.html for details on VM parameters.

Solution—The workaround to resolve the high memory consumption is to set flags to force the garbage collector to clean up the memory as described in the following section:

Solaris:

On Solaris modify the iasenv script to change the flags.

The file, iasenv.ksh, is in the following directory: <ias_inst_dir>/ias/env

Set the following flags:

GX_ARGS : JAVA_GX_ARGS="-DGX.cleaner.enabled=yes

(By default Disabled)

JAVA_ARGS : Enable Explicit GC

Remove -XX:+DisableExplicitGC flag from JAVA_ARGS to enable Explicit GC

(By default Disabled)

JAVA_ARGS : Reset the Max Heap Size from 1024 MB to 512 MB

Windows:

On Windows use kregedit to modify iPlanet Application Server EPE registry to change the flags.

Modify JavaArgs by appending -XX:+DisableExplicitGC=no to existing JavaArgs

Figure 1 shows the iPlanet Application Server EPE tree structure.

Figure 1    iPlanet Application Server EPE 6.5 Tree Structure.



Note

The memory flag settings are explained in more detail in the iPlanet Application Server EPE 6.5 release note at the following URL:

http://docs.sun.com/source/816-6373-10/index.html

in section: Compatibility with Previous Releases/Memory Settings.



Upgrade from iPlanet Application Server Enterprise Connector for R/3 6.0 SPx to Version 6.5

In order to upgrade the iPlanet Application Server Enterprise Connector for R/3 for version 6.0 SPx, you must also upgrade the iPlanet Application Server EPE 6.0 SPx to version 6.5 or 6.5 SP1 and the Unified Integration Framework from SPx to Version 6.5.

To Upgrade the iPlanet Application Server Enterprise Connector for R/3 from Version 6.0 SPx to Version 6.5.

  1. Export the Unified Integration Framework Repository "bsp" node using Repository Browser

    1. Go to ".../APPS/bin and run "bspbrowser.sh"

    2. Export the Repository "bsp" node by selecting "Export Root".

      You must perform this step when upgrading from iPlanet Application Server EPE version 6.0 to versions 6.5 or 6.5 SP1.

  2. Uninstall the Unified Integration Framework 6.0 SPx and iPlanet Application Server Enterprise Connector for R/3 6.0 SPx

  3. Upgrade iPlanet Application Server EPE 6.0 SPx to iPlanet Application Server Version 6.5 or 6.5 SP1. See the Release Notes for iPlanet Application Server EPE 6.5 SP1.

  4. Install Unified Integration Framework 6.5.

  5. Install iPlanet Application Server Enterprise Connector for R/3 6.5 on the same machine.

  6. Import the Unified Integration Framework Repository "bsp" node using the Repository Browser.

    1. Go to ".../APPS/bin and run "bspbrowser.sh"

    2. Import the Repository "bsp" node from the exported XML file.

Migrating the Applications

You need to deploy all the applications to the Application Server. Refer to the iPlanet Application Server EPE documentation for for instructions on how to migrate the applications.


Resolved Issues

Table 1 lists the issues resolved in iPlanet Application Server Enterprise Connector for R/3.

Table 1    Resolved Issues

ID

Summary

519984 

Enterprise Connector for R/3 6.5 now uses Solaris SAP RFCSDK 4.6 Libraries. 

4536432 

The iWS 6.0 $docroot problem with Unified Integration Framework/Connectors Samples has been resolved. 

4538756 

The problem with sample applications not working with iPlanet Application Server 6.0 SP2 has been resolved. 


Known Problems and Limitations

Table 2 describes known problems and associated solutions for the iPlanet Application Server Enterprise Connector for R/3.

Table 2    Known Problems and Limitations



ID

Summary

4540987 

Uninstaller removes common files in multi-connector installation.

Solution—When uninstalling one of several connectors, such as R/3, PeopleSoft, Tuxedo or CICS, the common directories <iAS InstallDir>/ias/APPS/console, <iASInstallDir>/ias/APPS/ecu and files from the bin directory may be deleted. It is necessary to copy these directories back to APPS directory, while maintaining the same sub-directories structure, from <iASInstallDir>/ias/APPS/UIFbackup for the connectors to function correctly. All files that are present in the UIFBackup directory need to be copied to the <iASInstallDir>/ias/APPS. 

4540971 

The worker process daemon does not work when multiple instances of iPlanet Application Server EPE are installed on the same machine. It tries to use the same port number.

Solution—Modify the script startR3worker to start the second daemon on a different port. 

4546538 

"$" character is not acceptable in the connector for R/3.

Solution—The "$" character cannot be used as a character in any of the datasource fields in the Management Console.  

519984 

The backend connections are not being released by the worker process.

Solution—The R/3 connector uses an out-of-process model. Connections to the R/3 system are through a worker process. The connections that are pooled by the Unified Integration Framework are not the actual connections to the R/3 backend. The connections are from iPlanet Application Server EPE to the worker process. Therefore, none of the Unified Integration Framework pooling parameters are applied to the backend connections. For example, if you define the Max Pool Size as 20, you may have more than 20 connections to the backend since the worker process can create more connections. Even if you kill KJS, the backend connections will not close. To close the backend connections you need to terminate the worker processes. 

517183 

Uninstaller removes common Unified Integration Framework backup files in multi-connector installation.

Solution—When installing one of several connectors, such as R/3, PeopleSoft, Tuxedo or CICS, the common directories <iAS InstallDir>/ias/Apps/console, <iASInstallDir>/ias/APPS/ecu and files from the bin directory may be deleted. Copy these directories back to the APPS directory while maintaining the same sub-directories structure from <iASInstallDir>/ias/APPS/UIFbackup for the connectors to function correctly. All the files that are present in the UIFBackup directory need to be copied to the <iASInstallDir>/ias/APPS/bin. 

559529 

There may be some instability issues with the Connector for R/3 under heavy load with large amounts of data on Windows2000 platforms. We suspect that multi-CPU issues on Windows2000 platforms are causing the problem.

Solution—The test failed on multi-CPU system and passed on single-CPU system.  


How to Report Problems

If you have problems with Enterprise Connector for R/3 6.5, contact Sun customer support using one of the following mechanisms:

So that we can best assist you in resolving problems, please have the following information available when you contact support:


Documentation Revision

This document has changed since the initial iPlanet Application Server Enterprise Connector for R/3 6.5 release.

Table 3 shows the revision history for this document, and lists the affected sections.

Table 3    Connector for R/3 Release Notes Revision History

Release Note Issue Date

Affected Sections

August 2002 

Original release of this document 

November 2002 

Corrected URL references to Sun ONE doc sites in the For More Information Section. Added the following sections:

  • Documentation Revision

  • Product Certification of iPlanet Application Server Enterprise Connector for R/3 on iPlanet Application Server EPE Version 6.5 on Version 6.5 SP1.

 


For More Information

Useful Sun ONE information can be found at the following Internet locations:

Use of iPlanet Application Server Enterprise Connector for R/3 is subject to the terms described in the license agreement accompanying it.
Copyright © 2002 Sun Microsystems, Inc. All rights reserved.

Last Updated December 04, 2002