27. How to perform HANA DB Upgrade Compatibility checks ?

We would have definitely performed HANA DB revision updates - atleast 6 months once in production projects.

Let's have a look on procedures quickly.  Yes, I have raised my hand first before you 😜

Usually, It would come under HANA DB and OS compatibility check only.

Scenario 1:

Assume, I'm having the below system.

SAP: S/4HANA 2023 FPS00

HANA DB:  2.0 Rev 079.07

OS: SuSE Linux 15 SP6

I'm planning to do HANA DB upgrade 2.0 Rev 088

Check 1:

Note 2235581 - Supported Operating Systems for SAP HANA vers91

15 SP6 (HANA 2.0 SPS05, SPS07 and SPS08, starting with revision 59.12, revision 77 and revision 80)

Our HANA DB target version 2.00.088 compatible/supported to run on SuSE Linux 15 SP6.

Starting with Revision 80 denotes - Suitable to run 088 as well.

For detailed information, Refer below tick.

6. Whether Current OS will support target HANA DB upgrade version or OS update required

Check 2:

  For Update paths, Check note 1948334 - Database update Paths for SAP HANA Maintenance Revisions.

Upgrade from 2.00.079.07 to >= 2.00.079.08 & >=088 supported.

Hence, we can upgrade HANA DB to our target rev 088. It's fully compatible.

Additional Check: 

Feel free to check Release notes - Corresponding system - SAP HANA Database requirements menu.

Note 3307222 - S/4HANA 2023 Release Information

Note 3351047 - S/4HANA 2023 Feature Package Stack 00 Release Info.

It's just additional info since we would have already surpassed minimum DB version. Latest HANA DB version itself supported irrespective of S4HANA Release.

Hence, we can perform HANA DB upgrade without any issues. No need to touch OS.

Steps:

1) Stop HANA DB - Remove Auto Start if configured

2) Perform HANA DB upgrade via hdblcm

3) Start HANA DB - Enable Auto Start if required

That's it !

Scenario 2:

Assume, I'm having the below system.

SAP: S/4HANA 2023 FPS00

HANA DB:  2.0 Rev 079.07

OS: SuSE Linux 15 SP4

Same system config but OS is running under 15 SP4. SuSE Linux 15 SP4 supports all Rev 07X version.

Now, I'm planning to do HANA DB upgrade 2.0 Rev 088

Check 1:

Note 2235581 - Supported Operating Systems for SAP HANA

15 SP4 (HANA 2.0 SPS05, SPS06 and SPS07, starting with revision 59.02, revision 63 and revision 70)

Now, OS is not supported to run Rev 088. OS upgrade required (15 SP5 or 15 SP6)

Check 2:

Upgrade path remains same as we checked in Scenario 1.

Upgrade from 2.00.079.07 to >= 2.00.079.08 & >=088 supported.

Steps:

1) Stop HANA DB - Remove Auto Start if configured

2) Perform OS upgrade with the help of Linux team

3) Keep DB down - Don't start DB post OS upgrade

4) Once OS upgraded, Perform DB upgrade via hdblcm offline

      It will proceed without any issues. Infact, first step of hdblcm update process is stopping DB only.

5) Once DB upgrade completed, Start HANA DB.

      Usually, hdblcm itself will start once upgrade completed. If not started, start manually.

6) Enable Auto Start if required

7) All others will reside as it is - including hdbuserstore lists, ABAP<->HANA DB Connectivity.

Scenario 3: 

(This Scenario released exclusively for Neil Aspin Visitor. Thanks for posting query)

Scenario 2 - Step 3 - Reason: Why I mentioned DB should be in stopped state post OS upgrade before starting DB upgrade?

In most of the cases >80%, Current DB version itself would be supported with Upgraded OS version due to wide compatibility nature of HANA DB - Say Starting with Rev 0XX. Hence, In those cases (including my scenario 2), we can feel free to start DB and then plan for HANA DB upgrade.

Assume, If my OS upgraded to SuSE Linux 15 SP6, Current DB version 2.00.079.07 supported to run with 15SP6, Hence, Post OS upgrade, we can start HANA DB. Take your time and then upgrade DB to 2.0 Rev 88.

However, In 20% cases, Upgraded OS won't support current DB version as per compatibility matrix.

Assume, I'm having the below system.

Netweaver 7.5 ABAP System

Current HANA DB version :  2.0 Rev 063

OS: SuSE Linux 15 SP4

Now, I'm planning to update to 2.0 Rev 88 - SuSE Linux 15 SP6.

Compatibility check:

15 SP6 (HANA 2.0 SPS05, SPS07 and SPS08, starting with revision 59.12, revision 77 and revision 80)

15 SP4 (HANA 2.0 SPS05, SPS06 and SPS07, starting with revision 59.02, revision 63 and revision 70)

15 SP4 doesn't support Rev 88. Planned Target OS - 15 SP6. 

Upgrade from Rev 63 to 88 possible.

Once OS upgraded to 15 SP6, we should not start HANA DB 2.0 Rev 63 since it will result in Service crash due to incompatibility. I have tried to start in my practice system and resulted in service crash after 15-20 mins.

Current DB 2.0 Rev 63 won't support OS 15 SP6. Even All Rev 06X itself not supported.

Hence, We can start hdblcm update directly (keeping hana db down) once OS upgraded in these scenarios. 

 
Final Point:

Usually, we will have single cutover with check points which we minimize business downtime by having both OS upgrade and DB upgrade one after another. Hence, I have mentioned to keep DB down as best practice despite current db version compatible or not post OS upgrade. It's valid for all cases to avoid confusions as well as valid procedure only. Also, As said earlier in Scenario 2 - Step 4, first step of hdblcm update process is stopping DB only in order to perform update. Hence, there won't be any issues.

Caution - Take full backup of DB & OS Snapshots before performing any activity

Hope you like this scenarios !

Ever tried running SUM Manually Prepared Directory?

Refer below tick.

4. Netweaver Java Update - When to use SUM Manually Prepared Directory?

Thanks for visiting !!!