Updating a SAP Kernel is just easy… if all goes good ‘course !!

The 1th things that you must keep in mind is … what O.S. are you running,  the architecture, the actual SAP Kernel version, patch level of it… but BEWARE, STOP and make this Question to your self Why I’m going to do this Kernel Update/Upgrade ? … if the answer is convinced enough just doit !!
Ok, This is the way:

1- Go into Sap Service Market Place www.service.sap.com
2- Go to the Download section ( Search for kernel releases )
3- Choose your architecture, and O.S., then choose your kernel and patch level
4- Download them ! ( Remember always TWO FILES !!!:  SAPEXE*****.SAR & SAPEXEDB******.SAR )

5- Go into your GNU/Linux BOX in my case x86_64, 54G RAM, 8 CPUs AND Power 5, 16G RAM, 4CPUs via SSH !!
6- Become a valid user to stop your sap instance.
6- Become root and BACKUP YOUR ACTUAL KERNEL … like this:
There are a mess with the paths for this version of SAP… they are using the paths from other OLD versions so this is it:

Go to -> /usr/sap/<SAPSID>/SYS/exe/run
—–THAT-POINTS-TO—->  /usr/sap/<SAPSID>/SYS/exe/dbg
—–THAT-POINTS-TO—-> /sapmnt/<SAPSID>/exe ( THAT IS THE RIGHT PLACE WHERE THE KERNEL LIVES )
So:
cd /sapmnt/<SAPSID>
tar cvxf exe_Actual_Kernel_Dic172009.tar.gz
Get the SAPCAR tool from SAP website or, make a locate SAPCAR at your system and find it then UNPACK the 2 FILES:
<code>     mkdir /tmp/kernel; cd /tmp/kernel
/PATH/SAPCAR -xvf  SAPEXE_nnn_nnnnnnnn.SAR
/PATH/SAPCAR -xvf  SAPEXEDB_nnn_nnnnnnnn.SAR

cd /sapmnt/<SAPSID>/exe/
rm -fr * ( BE CAREFULL WHIT THIS !! )
rsync -avP /tmp/kernel/* .
chmod -R 755 *
chown -R <user_that_stops_stars_SAP>.sapsys *
chmod 4750 saposcol icmbnd
chown root.sapsys saposcol icmbnd
MODIFY THIS ONLY IF EXIST:
chmod 644 trans.log SAPSID_sapstart
</code>
NOW open a NEW console via SSH xD, and start the sap instance ( use a valid user to do this ) !!
Review the SAP LOGS ( BD Logs & Instance Logs )
IF IS OK… Then Open the SAPGUI, and log into the Application … Once inside go to SYSTEM –> Status —> ( DOWN ) Other Kernel Info !!… IF YOU DID WHAT YOU SUPOUSE TO DO … YOU ARE DONE !!

IF you screw it up .. STOP THE SAP INSTANCE, and USE THE BACKED UP KERNEL AND START THE PROCESS AGAIN !!

This entry was posted on Thursday, December 17th, 2009 at 2:14 pm and is filed under Work. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.