Since Process Integration/Process Orchestration 7.31 became GA, I’ve been receiving many questions on where to download the software.  But, first let me provide more information which is many times presented in a confusing manner.  (I might be guilty of this also)

It has been said many time that Process Orchestration (PO), which bundles PI, BPM and BRM functionality together, can be installed as a single SID.  This is true only for the java-only installation of AEX.  With a dual-stack PI installation, BPM/BPM will still have to be installed on a separate JEE server. Licensing for NetWeaver Process Orchestration is CPU-base and calculated based on the combined sizing of PI, BPM and BRM capabilities.

Within the installation wizard of the installation master, to install PO, we have to choose the Process Integration and Orchestration Package installation.  This installation provides a java-only AEX single-SID installation for PI, BPM and BRM.  It is also worth pointing out that it is not necessary or required to use BPM or BRM at all with this AEX if you choose this installation option; one can just use the integration features of PI as before.  However, in the post-installation steps, we should include both AEX and Process Orchestration tasks or Functional Unts.

For dual-stack installation, the steps remain the same as previous PI installations.  Only PI features will be installed.  There is no BPM or BRM functionalities included with the dual-stack installation.

PI 7.31 software is now included with NetWeaver 7.31.  There is no separate area to download PI 7.31, as in the past with PI 7.1.  This can be confusing, because PI 7.31 is not listed anywhere.  In the Service Market Place, the download is at http://service.sap.com/swdc: (authorization is required for access)

SAP Software Download Center --> Installations and Upgrades --> A-Z index --> N

     --> SAP NetWeaver --> SAP EHP1 FOR SAP NETWEAVER 7.3 --> Installation and Upgrade

(Choose the appropriate OS and database for installation.)

During PI 7.31 installation, to install Process Orchestration (single-SID installation for java-only PI, BPM and BRM), use a similar path as below (this example uses MSS on Windows Server):

After installation, please reference the following notes for post-installation steps:

Process Integration:  Note 1414465

Process Orchestration:  Note 1548120

During the configuration of NW BPM, have you ever ran into an authorization error when adding an UME principal as a Administrator or Potential Owner of a BPM pool.  Example screens for this process:

In order to correct this problem, the user used during this process must have a role with the action "Spml_Read_Action".

A role with this action can be created in the UME.  Then this role can be added to the user.

Below are a few simple steps to accomplish this:

1. Logon to UME with an authorized user:
2. Create a new role:
   
3. Provide a role name and assign activities:
   :
4. Select the user:
   
5. Assign the new role to the user:
   

Repeat the task to assign an UME principal.  It should now work.

You can reference Note 1647157 for more details.

Process Orchestration 7.30 EhP1 (7.31) is now generally available (GA since 16 May 2012) and ramp-up has now ended.  Process Orchestration contains PI, BPM and BRM.  If deployed in a java-only environment, Process Orchestration 7.31 can be installed as a single SID.  In addition, we will be able to take advantage of iFlow, the Eclipse tool, based on BPMN, to configure integration scenarios (which can also be done using the Swing tool of Integration Directory).

In summary, Process Orchestration 7.31 provides the following benefits:

Next generation tooling for SAP NetWeaver PI via Integration Flows

• Installation in “pure Eclipse”
• A visual BPMN representation of an integration scenario
• Modeling based on Enterprise Integration Patterns
• Bringing design-time and configuration-time in PI together
• Easier to understand and integrate systems

Enhanced monitoring for SAP NetWeaver PI via SAP Solution Manager

• Central User Defined Message Search (upon payload)
• New PI Message Alerting with simplified configuration
• Trend graph representation based on message alerts

Integration Centric Process Support

• Model-driven development environment based on BPMN standard
• Leverage SAP NetWeaver BRM for business rules
• Reduce TCO with single System ID (SID) installation
• Reliable connectivity between BPM and PI/AEX at lower costs (as an alternative to WS-RM)
• Enhance mapping capabilities within a BPM process by calling PI mappings (e.g., calling XSLT)

Java only deployment option of PI

• Functional completeness of the Java stack
• Support requirements towards the Payment Card Industry standard
• Message status overview enablement for synchronous (logged) messages

Service Bus Capabilities – Overview

• Increased Integration Flexibility
  • Java only PI with optional non-central adapter engines
  • Integration with FTP proxy server via File / FTP adapter
  • Logging of synchronous messages
• Increased Support For Connectivity and High Performance Scenarios
  • Completion of Java IDoc adapter
  • Principal propagation for SOAP adapter (XI protocol)
  • Completion of integration between Java proxies and SOAP adapter (XI protocol)
  • Packaging for receiver SOAP adapter (XI protocol)
  • Parameterized mappings in Integrated Configuration
  • Single action scenarios of B2B adapters in Integrated Configuration
• Lower TCO And TCD
  • One central ES Repository for multiple PI domains
  • JMS adapter enhancements

Enhanced B2B support

• Address mainstream EDI capabilities in PI
• Rapid deployment solutions for building B2B solutions based on PI
• Support hybrid deployment options for B2B (on premise / managed services)

Additional Information

For additional information on using the Eclipse tool to design interfaces and mappings in the Enterprise Service Repository, please see the blog Eclipse Tool for ESR in NW PI:

http://scn.sap.com/community/pi-and-soa-middleware/blog/2012/03/29/eclipse-tool-for-esr-in-nw-pi

For additional information on using the Eclipse tool, iFlow, to configure the Integration Directory, please reference the blog Introducing iFlow in PI 7.31 Configuration:

http://scn.sap.com/community/pi-and-soa-middleware/blog/2012/03/20/introducing-iflow-in-pi-731-configuration

The NWDS, which contains the Eclipse plug-in tools for ESR and iFlow can be downloaded from SAP NetWeaver Developer Studio Update Site:  (Authorization will be required.)

https://nwds.sap.com/swdc/downloads/updates/netweaver/nwds/nw/731/

The Database and Technology (D&T) Campus is definitely an exciting place to be at SAPPHIRE NOW in Orlando (May 14-16). There you will find lots of great SAP NetWeaver Process Orchestration related sessions, demos and discussions. Some highlights on what should not be missed out:

Join the Theater Session of Milt Simonds, at AmerisourceBergen, Wednesday, May 16th, 1.00 – 1.20 pm.  AmerisourceBergen, one of the world's largest pharmaceutical services companies, has chosen technology solutions from SAP (incl. SAP NetWeaver PI, Portal and IDM). Learn for example how they are processing more than 3 million messages per week with SAP NetWeaver PI. Also learn about their recent go-live of SAP HANA. 

See a demo of SAP NetWeaver Process Orchestration at the demo station and learn how you can “Harmonize your business with Process Orchestration”. Make sure you stop by to catch up with our experts in person.

Join the demo theater session “From process design to running application in 20 minutes” on Monday, May 14^th, 2.00 – 2.20 pm & Wednesday, May 16^th, 3.00 – 3.20 pm.

Visit the discussions table “Tame unruly data with Process Orchestration and Complex Event Processing” to find out how event-processing solutions can give you a real-time understanding of incidents that impact your business operations. Also discuss with us popular Process Orchestration use-cases and interesting customer case studies.

Our microforums will cover several discussions:

> “Uncover the value of process modeling” on Tue., 11:00 - 11:45 am highlighting on-premise and on-demand modeling tools such as the collaborative processing modeling tool in SAP StreamWork with Eduardo Chiocconi.

> “The role of Complex Event Processing in Enterprise Architecture” on Mon., 02:00 - 02:45 pm Neil McGovern will focus on complex event processing – a new technology that improves decision making by using real-time analytics architecture. Join Neil to learn about situation detection, automated response, stream transformation, and continuous intelligence.

> Join “B2B Integration: on premise, on demand, or both” on Tue., 02:00 - 02:45 pm with Michael Hill to compare ways to efficiently exchange information – from orders to shipments to invoices – with suppliers, customers, and partners; and to discover the benefits of on-premise, on-demand, and hybrid business-to-business integration models to help define your strategy.

> In “Smarter, simpler applications with Decision Service Management” on Wed., 03:00 - 03:45 pm James Taylor & Carsten Ziegler will guide you through Decision Service Management (DSM) – a strategy that helps make business processes and systems more efficient and agile by enabling business experts to implement changes independently from IT, reducing both cycle times and costs.

Key takeaways are the understanding of how SAP NetWeaver Process Orchestration software supports the entire process improvement lifecycle and helps generate significant process improvements by integrating and optimizing critical processes. Get your questions answered and most importantly, get inspired by others who are already reaping the various benefits from these technologies.

More details about these sessions can be found on www.sapandasug.com where you can also make use of the agenda builder to pre-register for the sessions that are of interest to you.

Come join us to influence the event and share with colleagues and connections who may be interested! Our champions look forward to meeting you and have a great chat with you. Any questions – just let us know!