Performance tuning of the BW back-end — the data model design and data flow across the model from the source system to the data targets — can produce real benefits. The goal of performance tuning on the back-end is to eliminate redundant processes and to reduce the volume of data to be processed during data upload from source systems to data targets.

You have three levels in the BW back-end to consider:

• The collection and extraction layer
• The transformation layer
• The staging and storage layer

At my company, we have learned a number of tips for improving BW performance at these levels, and 22 of them follow. For reference, Figure 1 provides a quick overview of how data flows from the source system to the BEx browser.

Collection and Extraction Layer

Data collection is performed on the source system. Prior to any data-upload activities, the extraction mechanisms and data source have to be configured on the relevant source system. The three types of data sources are SAP R/3 source systems, non-SAP source systems (such as an Oracle database), and flat-file source systems (such as a Microsoft Excel file). When extracting data from SAP R/3 source systems, you may use either Business Content extractors (which you can enhance) or generic extractors.

Figure 1

Data flow from source systems to the BEx browser

Business Content Extractors

Generic Extractors

Flat-File Uploads

Transformation Layer

Staging and Storage Layer

A few other aspects might affect back-end BW performance — your technical infrastructure and BW system hardware, for example. During the early phases of the BW implementation, make sure the following hardware sizing considerations are made: the number of current and future users, volume of data to be converted, and growth rate of the data to be transferred to BW from the source systems. If you have already implemented BW and found hardware constraints affecting the performance, consider upgrading your hardware.

Maintaining good performance on the BW back-end is an ongoing process. We recommend, therefore, that you take advantage of the tools that SAP provides to monitor BW performance. For example, activate and use the BW Technical Content statistical InfoCubes. They provide functionalities to monitor system performance at all levels (data upload, reporting, hardware utilization, and so on). Refer to Business Content documentation in BW Help for detailed information on statistical InfoCubes and their usage.