Chapter 4. Data Storage for SAPA Strategic Resource

The most valuable asset a company possesses, besides its employees and processes, is information. Information in an SAP system is data stored on the disks attached to the production database server(s). These disks, and their storage systems, must be chosen wisely from both a performance and availability perspective, as well as from a capacity planning and growth perspective.

Production SAP systems can generate quite large volumes of data, which needs to be accessed with low response times for the online users and must be managed when the data volume outgrows the available disk storage. Consolidation of storage resources for multiple smaller SAP systems is also a growing trend. Data storage solutions are becoming a strategic resource and the availability of the stored data is key to business success.

The design of the database server's storage system is one of the most important choices in the design of the SAP infrastructure. A properly designed disk storage system has direct influence on the response times and availability of the overall SAP system.