What are the important differences between SUM tool and SPAM/SAINT?

This article answers following queries:

• What are the tools used to apply ABAP support packs?
• Software Update Manager (SUM tool) is available from which Netweaver version?
• What are the rules to use SUM or SPAM/SAINT to apply Support pack stacks or Support packs for ABAP stacks?
• When to use SUM tool and when to use SPAM/SAINT?
• Can SPAM/SAINT switch the kernel and restart the system?
• Can SUM tool switch the kernel and restart the system?
• To minimize maintenance downtime while applying support packs which tool to be used?
• Which is the best mode in SUM tool to reduce the downtime drastically?
• What are the important differences between SUM tool and SPAM/SAINT?

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Software Update Manager tool is available from 2011 onwards and can be used for applying ABAP support packs if the system is SAP Netweaver server ABAP 7.0 or higher

As of now, (SPAM/SAINT) and Software Update Manger (SUM) are the 2 tools used for applying ABAP support packs.

However, we should know which tool is preferred choice under given circumstance.

The main criteria is

i)             Number of SP stack to be applied

ii)            System is downtime critical

If more number of support packages or Support package stacks to be applied, Software Update Manager is the preferred tool.

We should choose “SINGLE” mode in SUM, if the overall runtime of the maintenance activity should be as short as possible. We should choose “STANDARD” or “ADVANCED” mode in SUM, if less downtime is the main criteria for the maintenance.

In standard and advanced modes, most of the maintenance activities are done on a shadow instance created and used by SUM in parallel to the productive system. This allows to prepare and execute the majority of patch implementation steps during normal system operations without impacting end-users.

Especially in advanced mode, downtime is drastically reduced. However, please note that usage of additional shadow instance requires more hardware resources like CPU, memory, disk etc

For SAP Netweaver AS ABAP 7.40, when specific support pack versions are part of import queue, only SUM tool can be used for implementing them. SPAM cannot be used for that.

It is better to use SPAM/SAINT tool, when not more than 3 support pack stacks or 70 support packs to be applied.

Other important differences between SUM tool and SPAM/SAINT:

• SUM can switch the kernel and restart the system but SPAM/SAINT cannot do this
• SUM shows the point-of-no-return with reset option that can withdraw all the changes but SPAM/SAINT doesnot show clear point of no return
• SPAM/SAINT offers a test mode, with modification preview. SUM tool doesn’t offer the same

Related Links :

Benefits of Software Update Manager

How to launch Software Update Manager?