SAP release change requires extension onto System z9

Schwenk Zement KG, Ulm, Germany

Availability is a term that is considered a top priority at Schwenk Zement KG. For this long-established Ulm-based company, this applies first and foremost to its customer relations as well as to the smoothly-run operations of the company’s own IT system. An SAP landscape operating 24 x 7 without interruption is therefore an absolute must for the manufacturer.
 
About two years ago, FRITZ & MACZIOL designed an IBM configuration for Schwenk consisting of z890 and DS8100 in order to increase performance of the SAP platform. However, an upgrade became necessary when the release change to mySAP ERP 2005 and the migration from SAP Bl onto z/OS were due. In their place, an IBM system z9 Business Class is being used with its five 4-way processors ensuring an ideal performance. Two are active as System z9 Integrated Information Processor (zllP). For data processing, there is a storage area of about 20 TB, 24 GB processor storage as well as two 2-way POWER5-processors available on the IBM TotalStorage DS8100. Logical partitions (LPAR) are used exclusively on the storage system.

This opportunity for virtualisation offers Schwenk additional potential to help reduce their total operating costs. With the help of IBM Virtualisation Engine Technology, the company manages up to five database sub-systems respectively for SAP - including critical workloads - in seven LPARs. Fast data transfers between storage system and server are handled by four FICON connections, each of 2 GB. With around 10 million transactions daily in an SAP environment, 800 users benefit from response times of 400 ms.

For further information on this topic please contact Michael Dürr, or +49 731 1551 259

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