Chapter 4. RHEL System Roles for SAP

Procedure

1. Make a backup of the system if you would like to preserve the original configuration of the server.

2. Create a file named sap.yml with the following content:

   ---
   
   - hosts: localhost
     vars:
       ansible_connection: local
       sap_general_preconfigure_max_hostname_length: 64
       sap_general_preconfigure_reboot_ok: false
       sap_general_preconfigure_fail_if_reboot_required: false
       sap_hana_preconfigure_reboot_ok: false
       sap_hana_preconfigure_fail_if_reboot_required: false
       sap_hana_preconfigure_update: true
     roles:
       - sap_general_preconfigure
       - sap_netweaver_preconfigure
       - sap_hana_preconfigure

   Important

   The correct indentation and the use of spaces instead of tabs is essential for YAML files.

   Note
   • The line sap_general_preconfigure_max_hostname_length: 64 is only required if your hostname (hostname -s) is longer than 13 characters and if you are not using this system for an SAP ABAP Platform instance. Without this line, the role sap_general_preconfigure will fail its hostname check because a hostname with more than 13 characters is not allowed for an SAP ABAP Platform instance as per SAP note 611361.
   • The line sap_netweaver_preconfigure is used to perform specific installation and configuration steps for an SAP ABAP Platform. It can be removed or commented out for an SAP HANA database only system.
   • The line sap_hana_preconfigure is used to perform specific installation and configuration steps for an SAP HANA database. It can be removed or commented out for an SAP ABAP Platform only system.

3. Run the sap.yml Ansible playbook:

   # ansible-playbook sap.yml -e 'ansible_python_interpreter=/usr/libexec/platform-python'

   This will configure this system according to the applicable SAP notes for SAP ABAP Platform and/or SAP HANA on RHEL 9.

4. After the ansible-playbook command has finished successfully, reboot the system:

   # reboot

Procedure

1. Make a backup of the remote systems if you would like to preserve the original configuration of the server.

2. Create an inventory file or modify file /etc/ansible/hosts to contain the name of a group of hosts and each system which you intend to configure (=managed node) in a separate line (example for three hosts in a host group named sap_hosts):

   [sap_hosts]
   host01
   host02
   host03

3. Verify that you can log in to all three hosts using ssh without a password. Example:

   # ssh host01 uname -a
   # ssh host02 hostname
   # ssh host03 echo test

4. Create a YAML file named sap.yml with the following content:

   ---
   
   - hosts: sap_hosts
     vars:
       sap_general_preconfigure_max_hostname_length: 64
       sap_general_preconfigure_reboot_ok: false
       sap_general_preconfigure_fail_if_reboot_required: false
       sap_hana_preconfigure_reboot_ok: true
       sap_hana_preconfigure_fail_if_reboot_required: false
       sap_hana_preconfigure_update: true
     roles:
       - sap_general_preconfigure
       - sap_netweaver_preconfigure
       - sap_hana_preconfigure

   Note
   • The line sap_general_preconfigure_max_hostname_length: 64 is only required if your hostname (hostname -s) is longer than 13 characters and if you are not using this system for an SAP ABAP Platform instance. Without this line, the role sap_general_preconfigure will fail its hostname check because a hostname with more than 13 characters is not allowed for an SAP ABAP Platform instance as per SAP note 611361.
   • The line sap_netweaver_preconfigure is used to perform specific installation and configuration steps for an SAP ABAP Platform. It can be removed or commented out for an SAP HANA database only system.
   • The line sap_hana_preconfigure is used to perform specific installation and configuration steps for an SAP HANA database. It can be removed or commented out for an SAP ABAP Platform only system.

5. Run the sap.yml Ansible playbook:

   # ansible-playbook sap.yml

   This will configure all systems that are part of host group sap_hosts according to the applicable SAP notes for SAP ABAP Platform and/or SAP HANA on RHEL 9. Finally, if necessary, the systems are rebooted.