Need advice/assistance with kernel upgrade planning

Question

As information/background, I have been away from SAP and basis for about four years. 
Due to personnel changes here, I am now returning to it.  While I was away,
our SAP system was upgraded from version 4.0B to “SAP R/3 ENTERPRISE 47X110”. 
I was not a part of the upgrade and have no details as to how it was accomplished.
At this point, we have two SAP “systems”: DEV and PRD and they are on separate
partitions of an i5 520. 
Both are running on OS/i5 V5R3M5 with mostly updated CUMe packages, etc, and
PASE is installed. 
Both of these “systems” use the 6.20 kernel at patch level 1598. 
We know that this is an OLD kernel and we need to upgrade. 
Upgrading the kernel used to be a really simple thing to do but now, it seems
so complicated!  The sheer volume of data on the SMP is very daunting—when
it can be found.  As a result, I have many questions:
1.     Should we upgrade to kernel 6.40 or kernel 7.00?
2.     The most recent support package that we have is SAPKB62028. 
What is the purpose of “support packages”?  Do they have anything to do with the
kernel version?  The reason I ask is that in some places, it is stated that
you
MUST be current with support packages before you attempt to upgrade your kernel to 6.40.  In other places, it isn’t even mentioned.
Note 664679 states:
   Before you can use the 6.40 kernel,
the following Support Package must be installed in your SAP system:
   SAP_BASIS 620: SAPKB62041
   To avoid the problems described in note 787328,
the following Support Packages are also recommended:
   SAP_BASIS 620: SAPKB62047
So, obviously, I need to get these support packages up to level 47.  Why? 
Isn’t the new kernel a fresh start?  Why would the existing kernel and
its support package level make any difference to the new kernel? 
Since we are currently using kernel 6.20, do I need to install support
packages ?
5.     I know that we don’t have a J2EE server.  Do I need to even worry
about that at all?
6.     Is there any “basis” functionality that exists in the J2EE server
that doesn’t exist anywhere else?  In other words, are we doing ourselves
(and, particularly, me) a disservice by not having it?
7.     What is the difference between SAP NetWeaver 04 and SAP NetWeaver 2004s?
8.     As long as I have a backup, would it be safe to create a new kernel
for DEV but leave PRD alone?  Will the transport functions still operate if I do?
9.     Someone mentioned an “R3OPT Support Package Stack”.  Would this be
preferable to loading from the installation CD and patching? 
Is this in addition to the new kernel installation?
Any information is greatly appreciated because, as you can see,
I have a lot to learn in a very short time.
Robert
Message was edited by: Robert Clay
Reformmatted, adding line breaks

Answer 1

Hi Robert,
I now try to answer a bit ...
1) So, I must use 6.40 kernel. What determines "basis 6.20"? YES - 6.20 kernel is no longer supported - even for not for 4.7 or other systems on basis 6.20
2) Okay, you agree with SAP that I need this package but...
a) I don't know where to get it - on the SMP in the Support Package Patch area ... look via the following web-page and then 4.7: http://www.4soi.de/SupportPackages.php
(I did it without this patch already, but I can only support Thomas, that is pretty tricky then ...)
b) I don't know how to install it - SPAM as usual ...
c) WHY do I need it if the new kernel totally replaces the
old one? (See also question number 9).
BECAUSE, the new kernel runs in PASE and needs other locales etc.
3) If I have TMKSVRxx libraries on my systems, can I safely delete them? YES, no problem
4) If I have PCHxxx libraries on my systems, can I safely delete them? YES, no problem (reapear after each APYR3FIX and can always be deleted again)
5/6) How am I supposed to know what my needs are if I have no idea what
the product is supposed to deliver? Try finding any useful
information about it in SMP. I can't.
so
YOU do NOT have J2EE - otherwise you would know that - it was very complicated to setup in the past. => be happy as long as you do not need it.
7) Do you have to have the J2EE server before you can even consider your
systems to be running "NetWeaver"? I just don't understand what
"NetWeaver" is. Try finding any useful information about it in SMP. I can't.
Sorry, but this is too much via this forum :-((
NetWeaver on 6.20 technology doesn't really make sense. Therefore, please wait until you upgraded to ECC 6.0 or install another 7.0 product next to it ... (but not everybody needs that - so be happy as long you do not need to install that)
8) Do I understand you correctly that I must upgrade the kernel for ALL
systems simultaneously? There's no allowing for testing for a few weeks?
NO, you SHOULD do this with testing !!!!
9) Would this be preferable to loading from the installation CD and patching?
Is this in addition to the new kernel installation?
If I use R3OPT, do I still have to load the support packages mentioned in 2)?
You can use the ways above as you described either installation and patching or R3opt or you could download a complete kernel from my website, where you just insert the CD into your drive and use LODRUN *OPT ... (whatever you prefer)
HTH & Regards
Volker Gueldenpfennig, consolut.gmbh
http://www.consolut.de - http://www.4soi.de - http://www.easymarketplace.de