SAP Data Hub, Linux and Container as a Service (CaaS)

As is well known, many sources hide a lot of data. In Big Data pools, but also in cloud applications, in ERP systems or in BI or BW applications.

With SAP Data Hub, the Walldorf-based software group SAP has tackled a challenging topic that has been identified in one way or another in many companies and that is "getting more out of data".

This is also confirmed by an SAP study. One result: 86 percent of IT decision-makers believe that they could do more with their data if they had the most holistic access to it possible.

More than just a tool

At its core, SAP Data Hub provides integration, but also channels and manages data or information from the many sources available.

But not only that: with the SAP solution - to speak simply of a tool would not do justice to its power and performance - it is also possible to create applications that aim to: leverage any potential that may exist, even in a far-flung organization, regardless of where the data/information is located.

And this is in the form of Big Data application scenarios. The focus or the consolidation view refers to a system landscape with SAP applications, but also with non-SAP application sources, such as Hadoop.

Open source with in the belly

From a technical perspective, the SAP Hana platform and SAP Vora play a prominent role in SAP Data Hub, along with integration features - and: a runtime component as an infrastructure element.

Here, too, open source technology comes into play. Specifically, the Suse solution Container-as-a-Service Platform, or CaaSP for short. Above all, this ensures that flexible, simplified and automated options for the delivery of small-scale services (microservices) are made available with the help of containers, including the use of Kubernetes. If you will, Suse CaaSP is thus also under the "SAP Data Hub belly".

Kubernetes

Kubernetes in particular is known to be able to advantageously support container apps in cluster environments (physical or virtual machines). Likewise, Kubernetes is high on the list when it comes to efficiently putting a container-centric infrastructure into action (instead of a more rigid host-centric one).

Incidentally, Suse Linux Enterprise Server (SLES) is also used here as a container host OS in a specialized version (SLES Micro OS). The benefit: a small footprint with optimal use of resources. SLES Micro OS is part of Suse CaaSP.

SDDC technologies in focus

When designing SAP Data Hub, the focus was on one important aspect, namely being able to use a dynamic and highly flexible IT infrastructure as a kind of foundation.

Components and technologies based on the Software Defined Data Center (SDDC) and innovative and beneficial open source software solutions and services for enterprise use are set.

For example, Suse Linux for SAP Applications as the Hana operating system or the Suse CaaS Platform outlined above. In addition, SAP Vora takes into account software-defined storage based on open source Ceph.