Open Source
What began a few years ago as an innovation in a niche is now a singular strategy and a megatrend. It started with Linux, and MaxDB was also an attempt to position itself in the open source scene.
The first highlight was SAP's trade fair stand at CeBIT in 2001, when an oversized Tux - the penguin mascot of the Linux community - towered over everything. Since then, open source products have had access to the SAP scene.
The second highlight was the decision to offer the SAP database Hana exclusively on Linux systems - since last summer on Intel Xeon and IBM Power platforms.
The third highlight could be OpenStack, see E-3 cover story September this year.
From the point of view of a classic existing R/3 customer, the offer of Hana systems on the Linux platform is already a small revolution. After all, the SAP community is used to being able to choose from and combine a wide range of hardware, operating systems and databases (AnyDB) with regard to R/3.
However, the SAP roadmap 2025 clearly states: IBM or Intel, Linux, Hana as well as S/7 (Business Suite 7 on Hana, SoH) or S/4 (currently: Simple Finance and Simple Logistic).
The transition will not be an easy one, because SAP's existing customers have built successful system landscapes with the R/3 paradigm. Interest in the new is still extremely low, as the figures from a DSAG survey show, see page 32 of this issue.
ERP/ECC 6.0 and Business Suite on AnyDB (IBM DB2, Oracle, MaxDB, Microsoft SQL Server) is still setting the tone and will probably remain so until 2025 - the new SAP Executive Board member Michael Kleinemeier stated the maintenance of S/7 Classic until "at least" 2025 in his DSAG keynote this year in Bremen in passing, but precisely.
Linux is a free-for-all from Unix derivatives and Windows servers. The still successful cloud, storage and virtualization providers will have to reckon with open source alternatives. OpenStack for an open, transparent and compatible cloud solution is only the beginning - the next "SAP victim" is already in focus:
VMware was and is first among the first when it comes to virtualizing SAP system landscapes. However, this monopoly position is unlikely to meet with much approval in Walldorf.
Commercially, there are few alternatives for VMware. Thus, preparations are being made in the open source area to build a stable virtualization for Hana with Linux additions and tools.
Details will be available at the beginning of 2016. SAP has a logical interest in keeping the infrastructure for the Hana platform compatible and open.
The starting point was Linux, then came OpenStack, soon there will be a certified open source virtualization solution (Software Defined Server) and then the topics Software Defined Storage and Networking up to the Software Defined Datacenter for Hana will follow - of course all based on open source!
Wanted or forced?
What is certain is that SAP wants to avoid any new dependency and complexity on and through other IT providers in the future. Here, open source is the perfect exit strategy for the Walldorf-based company.
Any tethering is already stifled at the core. Linux, Hadoop, Apache and OpenStack can be implemented and maintained by numerous service providers. Access to the software is free and training one's own IT team is much cheaper than certifications by the manufacturers of proprietary software.
SAP is opening up a wide range of alternatives for its existing customers, while previous monopolists such as VMware or EMC will have to clear the field.
Good times, bad times: Wanted by SAP is probably the empowerment and singularity that open source brings. Forced?
In these bad times, where the user is tricked by intelligent and autonomous software - see VW diesel scandal - open source is the last resort.
"We can't rely on the honesty of the manufacturers. What will it be like when the Internet of Things really arrives? [...] Do we really want a future in which the things around us take the piss out of us?"
writes Jürgen Schmidt from the ct editorial team (Heise Verlag) quite correctly in the editorial of October 17.
His answer:
"The only way to prevent this is a consistent disclosure of the software [...] Open source can also cheat. But the danger of being caught is so obvious that most manufacturers would probably think at least twice."
There is nothing more to add to this - except the hope that the SAP board in Walldorf reads not only the E-3 magazine, but also the magazine for computer technology.
