SAP Kernel release and Netweaver 7.X

[former_member201800]

Hi Everyone,

Now a days, different types of kernel versions are available in SMP and its little bit confusing to understand the relation between these kernel and Netweaver 7.X. 

Netweaver 7.4 comes with many new features/capabilities.

http://scn.sap.com/docs/DOC-58352

https://help.sap.com/saphelp_nw74/helpdata/en/8a/20f67a23c547a694c595c3195c1b0f/frameset.htm

To utilize the full feature and functionalities of this, AS ABAP 7.4 deliver with new version of kernel regularly.

Also, version of the kernel also depends upon the SP level of Netweaver 7.4. Now, user can utilize the complete HANA as well as other features with minimal disruption by simply applying SAP NetWeaver support packages. All dependencies between support package and the SAP kernel release are completely taken into account by the installation and update tools so that no manual interactions are required when performing.

e.g.

SAP NetWeaver 7.4 SP0 was delivered with kernel 738

SAP NetWeaver 7.4 SP2 requires kernel 740 as a minimal version

SAP NetWeaver 7.4 SP5 requires kernel 741 as a minimal version

SAP NetWeaver 7.4 SP8 requires kernel 742 as a minimal version

Note: No new kernel versions will be required as minimal version for support packages of SAP NetWeaver 7.4 after SP8. So, if we are going to upgrade SP8 to higher SPs, we don’t need to upgrade our kernel.

Similarly, if we are going to upgrade our system from SP5 to SP8, we have to upgrade our kernel version.

From Nov,15 Netweaver 7.5 version is released. SAP has also defined the minimal version of kernel to use Netweaver 7.5 i.e. kernel 745. Also, these kernels are also the downward compatible kernel(DCK) for NW 7.4 later on. It is available as DCK for all NW 7.4 support packages from March 2016. New kernel patches for kernel 742 will be provided until end of Q1 2017.

1969546 - Release Roadmap for Kernel 74x and 75x

Below are the chart for the Netweaver 7.4 SP stack and their minimal kernel version.

SAPNetWeaver 7.4 SP Stack	Minimal kernel version	Release Date
SP02	740	May 2013
SP03	740	July 2013
SP04	740	September 2013
SP05	741	December 2013
SP06	741	March 2014
SP07	741	June 2014
SP08	742	September 2014
SP09	742	November 2014
SP10	742	March 2015
all further SPs	742	Q2 2015 and later

SOFTWARE LOGISTICS TOOLSET Those SAP NetWeaver 7.4 support packages (SPs) that require a new minimal kernel version can’t be implemented using the SAP Support Package Manager (SPAM). Instead, these SPs will be updated using the SAP Software Update Manager (SUM).The first SP for which this applies is SAP NetWeaver 7.4 SP05. You can find SUM documentation on SAP Service Marketplace under > Software Logistics Toolset > Software Logistics Toolset 1.0 > Software Update Manager (SUM).

Chart for kernel release and maintenance date with DCK.

Kernel Version	Date for DCK release	End of Maintenance
740	-	July 2014
741	July 2014	Q3 2015
742	Q2 2015	Q1 2017
745	Q1 2016	Tbd

Hope this will help you.

Thanks,

Shyam Kumar