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What is XI and How it can be useful | SCN

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13 Replies Latest reply: May 16, 2008 12:59 PM by Vijaya Lakshmi Palla

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Kishore Reddy

May 16, 2008 12:24 PM

What is XI and How it can be useful

This question is Assumed Answered.
Hi,
I am new to XI i saw many information about xi in blogs and every thing.. but i need to know simply
what is XI and how is it useful for business. what is the backgroud required. how oppertunities for xi
in future. Most of the companies requires that one or its optional or mandatory. I femiliar with java i
want to move to XI is it good suggition i need any other technologies to update..Is it useful for me..
Thanks,
Kishore

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Patrick Koehnen May 16, 2008 12:29 PM (in response to Kishore Reddy)

Re: What is XI and How it can be useful

Hi,
this blog (part I-III) is helpful:
/people/sravya.talanki2/blog/2006/12/25/aspirant-to-learn-sap-xiyou-won-the-jackpot-if-you-read-thispart-i
/people/sravya.talanki2/blog/2006/12/26/aspirant-to-learn-sap-xiyou-won-the-jackpot-if-you-read-thispart-ii
/people/sravya.talanki2/blog/2006/12/27/aspirant-to-learn-sap-xiyou-won-the-jackpot-if-you-read-thispart-iii
Regards
Patrick

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Guest May 16, 2008 12:31 PM (in response to Kishore Reddy)

Re: What is XI and How it can be useful

What is XI?
XI nowadays called PI (Process Integration). As it takes the responsibility of process of integrating
different SAP and nonSAP systems in the Heterogeneous Landscape (network of different

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computers). Exchange Infrastructure can be used as a Middleware Engine to communicate in a
distributed environment. The heart of XI is Integration Engine that is used for integrating different
technologies using Standard Messaging techniques, e.g XML. Different mapping tools are available
for mapping the distributed system which can be mapped without having any expertise of Technical
Details. As a real world example, XI can be helpful in integrating different banks with SAP R/3. XI
Engine also support previous releases of SAP R/3 like 4.6C and have many more adapters to
communicate with legacy systems.
SAP XI is an integration technology and platform for
1.

SAP and Non-SAP systems,

2.
3.

A2A and B2B scenarios,

Synchronous and Asynchronous communication,

4.

Cross component Business Process management and it include built-in engine for designing

and executing integration process (Business process).

5. The goal of SAP XI is to provide single point of integration of all systems inside and outside the
corporate boundary across technologies and organizational boundaries.
6.

The important feature of XI is openness, flexible and transparency to the integration process. It

is based on ESA and SOA.

7. The overall key concept of SAP XI is to drive integrated business process across
heterogeneous and highly dynamic landscapes in a more manageable cost effective way.
8.

The basic idea is to provide runtime infrastructure which allows heterogeneous systems to be

tied together with fewer connections and at the same time, in order to connect those applications and
let messages flow from one application to other, have a centralized storage of integration knowledge.
XI Advantages over other Middleware Tools
Pre-Delivered integration content
(Def:-SAP solutions bring their integration Meta data like CRM, SRM,SCM, xRPM, etc.) As
delivered with the integration repository of XI
Benefit:A) Out-of-the-box of integration solution
B) Simplified upgrade of SAP solutions
C) Versioning and modification management of integration of Meta data.
Openness and interoperability
(Def:-Connect to existing integration solutions) like
Through JMS messaging (e.g MQ series) and SOAP.
Use open, XML standards for integration
Incorporate existing functionality in to new process (Adapters (JCA), web services
(WSDL)).
(as you are saying that u know java u can now move to xi , no problem, get light knowledge on abap
as an advantage)
Note: reward points if solution found helpfull
Regards
Chandrakanth.k

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Arpil Gupta May 16, 2008 12:32 PM (in response to Kishore Reddy)

Re: What is XI and How it can be useful

Hi,
I will give keep it simple.
XI is a middleware which connects two or more systems.
ABAP and Java are helpful in XI.
Regards
Arpil
Reward points for usefule answers

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Ramu v May 16, 2008 12:32 PM (in response to Kishore Reddy)

Re: What is XI and How it can be useful

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HI Kishore,
XI is an EAI tool that means If you want to integrate two Applications or two Business systems that
are developed in different environments(different OS/Databases/Languages)
share the information. Now a days all business required this.
So EAI come into picture.
XI is one of EAI tool best suited if one application is SAPfamily.
It also used for other applications also but its more expensive.
Now a day there is good market for EAI tools.
Thanks,
RamuV

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Satish Kumar May 16, 2008 12:38 PM (in response to Ramu v)

Re: What is XI and How it can be useful

Hi Kishore,
Purpose
SAP Exchange Infrastructure (SAP XI) enables you to implement cross-system processes. It
enables you to connect systems from different vendors (non-SAP and SAP) in different versions
and implemented in different programming languages (Java, ABAP, and so on) to each other.
SAP Exchange Infrastructure is based on an open architecture, uses open standards (in
particular those from the XML and Java environments) and offers those services that are
essential in a heterogeneous and complex system landscape:
● Modeling and design of messages, transformations, and cross-component
integration processes
●

Configuration options for managing collaborative processes and message flow

●

Runtime for message and process management

●

Adapter Engine for integrating heterogeneous system components

●

Central monitoring for monitoring message flow and processes

SAP XI supports internal company scenarios and cross-company scenarios.

Features
SAP XI is based on general standards so as to enable external systems to be integrated. At the
center of the infrastructure is an XML-based communication that uses HTTP (Hyper Text
Transfer Protocol). The application-specific contents are transferred in messages in userdefined XML (eXtensible Markup Language) schema from the sender to the receiver using the
Integration Server.

In the above graphic, Integration Broker is an SAP NetWeaver capability (that is, the features for a
technological area of SAP NetWeaver) that is supported by SAP XI. The Integration Server, on the
other hand, is an XI runtime component.
Senders and receivers that exchange messages using the Integration Server are separated
from one another. This separation makes it easier to connect systems that are technologically
different. Every system that can exchange messages with the Integration Server can also
exchange messages with all other systems that are connected to the Integration Server. SAP XI
supports the following methods of communication with the Integration Server:
● Direct communication using proxies, which you generate in the application systems
using a description in WSDL (Web Service Description Language).
● Communication using adapters. In this case, you create interfaces for message
exchange in the application system, or use existing interfaces.
Simple message processing on the Integration Server is stateless. This means that the
Integration Server does not know of any connections between various messages. Crosscomponent integration processes, on the other hand, describe related processes, which can
use the knowledge about messages that have already been processed to further control the
process (for example, waiting for the corresponding response for a message in order to start
further actions). You can use SAP XI to model, change, and manage these cross-component
integration processes centrally. These processes are executed on the Integration Server and are
included in message processing by configuration.

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As with cross-component integration processes, you save the entire integration knowledge of a
collaborative process centrally in SAP XI: Objects at design time in the Integration Repository
and objects at configuration time in the Integration Directory. In this way, SAP Exchange
Infrastructure follows the principle of shared collaboration knowledge: You no longer need to
search for information about a collaborative process in each of the systems involved, but can call
this information centrally instead. This procedure considerably reduces the costs for the
development and maintenance of the shared applications.

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Guest May 16, 2008 12:32 PM (in response to Kishore Reddy)

Helpful Answer Re: What is XI and How it can be useful

XI is the integration platform , a part of the Netweaver Stack that enables you to implement crosssystem processes. It enables you to connect systems from different vendors (non-SAP and SAP) in
different versions and implemented in different programming languages (Java, ABAP, and so on) to
each other.
SAP Exchange Infrastructure is based on an open architecture, uses open standards (in particular
those from the XML and Java environments).
The best way to learn XI would
be to use the Wealth of material available in XI from its forums, weblogs, presentations ,etc.
Also, I would suggest this link on SAP help for any info that you want on XI,
http://help.sap.com/saphelp_nw04/helpdata/en/14/80243b4a66ae0ce10000000a11402f/frameset.htm
Further, this thread deals with everything that is needed for a starter on XI. Do check it out,
JDBC Receiver: exact SQL statement
/message/527697#527697 [original link is broken]
Re: XI Beginner
As for development and administration, well there are a few tasks in XI, that need BASIS info and
knowledge while the rest are mostly a developers task.
Note: reward points if solution found helpfull
Regards
Chandrakanth.k
Look for this thread in the forum. This may help you.
How to learn XI
To an extent your ABAP skills will also come to picture,
because you have option of ABAP mapping in XI. Apart from it when you deal with R/3,IDOCs and
RFCs will definitely come to picture. The key thing is how we use it in XI's
http://help.sap.com/saphelp_nw04/helpdata/en/14/80243b4a66
ae0ce10000000a11402f/frameset.htm

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Pradeep Amisagadda May 16, 2008 12:44 PM (in response to Kishore Reddy)

Re: What is XI and How it can be useful

Hi,
I am new to XI i saw many information about xi in blogs and everything.. But i need to know
simply what is XI and how is it useful for business
Xi is an integration tool form SAP. Its acts as a middleware for different sender and receiver systems.
Most probably one of sender or receiver system should be SAP systems (BW,CRM etc) and other
systems may be third party systems, data bases, legacy systems.
We will use different adapters to configure these sender and receiver systems.
As this tool is release by SAP and one of sender or receiver system should be SAP system and most

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of business run through IDOCS or RFCS we can easily configure IDOCS or RFC in SAP XI rather than
other middlewares.
what is the background required
ABAP or JAVA back ground is advantages.
I familiar with java i want to move to XI is it good suggestions i need any other technologies to
update..Is it useful for me..
Yes YOU can move to XI
Most of ESOA concepts will cover in PI 7.1 version. its better to have conceptual knowledge on
SOA(service oriented architecture).
NOTE: dont forget to reward points if it is helpful.
Regards,
Pradeep A.

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NV Seshagiri May 16, 2008 12:45 PM (in response to Kishore Reddy)

Re: What is XI and How it can be useful

Hi,
Why do we need XI
1. right now you are using point to pont connection which is not the best way.
2. XI is a middleware tool (you can send message to many apdaters:
SOAP, mail, file/ftp ) by XML messages .
3. Error handling and Sloving the error easrier.
4.Integrate with SAP and Non SAP applications..........
5.XI has it's own Monitoring to track the incoming and outgoing messages
6.Synchronous and Asynchronous communication
7. Reusable components
8.Reducing cost of development work in future
9.End to End montoring the messages in SAP XI is great
10.Maintance is easeir .
11.The biggest Advantage of XI is that it supports web services.
12.It has the feature of business process management(BPM) which enables us to impliment tough
business logic.
Regards
Seshagiri

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Venkat Boppana May 16, 2008 12:48 PM (in response to Kishore Reddy)

Re: What is XI and How it can be useful

Hi,
It is a middle ware tool.
Sender and Receiver systems are different(means one is R/3 other is non R/3) then they may not
understand the data because the formats are different, so to avoid this by using XI we can take the
sender data and mapped to the receiver data(this data can understandable by receiver system), if we
need we do the some changes in XI also.
suppose we got the P.O from customer(customer is not using the SAP) he sends data from other
format like file or EDI or some thing, if we send directly to that data to R/3 it can't understand so in the
middle(XI) we map the sender fields(file format or edi format) to the corresponding IDoc fields and
send to the R/3 system then SAP can understand.
If you know the core java then it is useful to XI, why java means XI has some predefined
functions, that may not suite to our requirements some times at that time we write some user defined
functions(UDF) by using java we can write.
If you learn little knowledge on ABAP then its very helpful to you.

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Maruthi V Satya Kumar Akkaraboyana May 16, 2008 12:51 PM (in response to Kishore Reddy)

Re: What is XI and How it can be useful

Hello Kishore,
SAP Exchange Infrastructure (SAP XI) is SAP's enterprise application integration (EAI) software, a
component of the NetWeaver product group used to facilitate the exchange of information among a
company's internal software and systems and those of external parties. Like other NetWeaver
components, SAP XI is compatible with software products of other companies.
SAP calls XI an integration broker because it mediates between entities with varying requirements in
terms of connectivity, format, and protocols. According to SAP, XI reduces integration costs by
providing a common repository for interfaces. The central component of SAP XI is the SAP Integration
Server, which facilitates interaction between diverse operating systems and applications across
internal and external networked computer systems.
http://help.sap.com/saphelp_nw04/helpdata/en/14/80243b4a66ae0ce10000000a11402f/frameset.htm
SAP Exchange Infrastructure (SAP XI) component, a powerful integration broker that works well
within an IT landscape and with its various connectivity, format, and protocol requirements. A
component of the SAP NetWeaver platform, SAP XI runs on the SAP Web Application Server (SAP
Web AS) component. SAP XI reduces integration and maintenance costs of IT systems by
providing a common, central repository for interfaces.
what is the backgroud required. how oppertunities for xi in future?
Ya u alredy told you are in the java platform that is more enough & as well as you better to learn
ABAP/4 Concepts..
SAP XI market is good.
SAP XI Help LInk..
Go through this..
http://help.sap.com/saphelp_nw04/helpdata/en/14/80243b4a66ae0ce10000000a11402f/frameset.htm
Refer all the below links for starter:
http://help.sap.com/saphelp_nw04/helpdata/en/e1/8e51341a06084de10000009b38f83b/frameset.htm
/thread/143337 [original link is broken]
XI for starters
Help in XI
Hi all, I am learning xi, any body have lifecycle document of xi projec
Regarding XI installation and Learning

Satya..
Edited by: SATYA KUMAR AKKARABOYANA on May 16, 2008 12:51 PM

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vemuganti naga phalguna May 16, 2008 12:53 PM (in response to Kishore Reddy)

Re: What is XI and How it can be useful

HI
SAP XI An Introduction
SAP XI focuses on cross-system process integration the exchange of messages between
applications.
SAP XI runs on the Web Application Server (WAS).
It is a component of SAP Netweaver with an open architecture that enables us to integrate a wide
range of SAP and non-SAP systems within and outside our companys boundaries.
A goal of the Exchange Infrastructure is to provide a single point of integration for all systems, SAP
and non-SAP, inside and outside the corporate boundary.
SAP XI is an integration technology and platform
For SAP and non-SAP applications
For A2A and B2B scenarios
For asynchronous and synchronous communication
For cross-component and Business Process Management

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The focus of SAP Netweaver04 is the integration of people, information and process in one solution.
XI represents the process integration layer of the NetWeaver Stack, and is a crucial element of the
Enterprise Service Architecture.
The overall key concept of the SAP Exchange Infrastructure is to drive integrated and business
processes across heterogeneous and highly dynamic IT landscape in a more manageable and cost
effective way.
With the SAP Exchange Infrastructure and collaborative business, SAP approaches the integration
challenge from a different angle. The basic idea is to provide a runtime infrastructure which allows
heterogeneous systems to be tied together with fewer connections and at the same time, in order to
connect those applications and let message flow from one application to the other, have a
centralized storage of the integration knowledge.
Evolution
Allow easy and non-disruptive addition of new services and processes.
Integration of existing and new SAP components.
Integration of existing and 3rd party components.

Advantages
XI is open and flexible; it uses web standards such as Web Services
Description Language
(WSDL), XML Schema Definition Language (XSD) and SOAP messaging for describing objects and
communicating with other systems. Generally, it use open, XML based standards for integration.
Benefits
Leverage existing investments
Arrive at new integration landscape in an evolutionary manner.
Allow easy and non-disruptive addition of new services and processes.
SAP XI mainly drives to reduce the TCO by reducing the integration and maintenance cost of the
system
SAP XI provides a central repository for all the interfaces.
SAP Applications Using XI
The following applications now use XI:
xApps (Such as xRPM, Resource and Program Management)
MDM (SAP Master Data Management)
SRM (SAP Supplier Relationship Management)
CRM (SAP Customer Relationship Management)
BI (SAP Business Intelligence)
R/3 Enterprise (for Industry Standard Support)
YES, it will be good either if u have knowledge in ABAP or JAVA. As u r familiar with JAVA it will be
good for u to learn XI.
cheers
reward points if found useful

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Khimavath Vikranth May 16, 2008 12:54 PM (in response to Kishore Reddy)

Re: What is XI and How it can be useful

Hey Kishore,
Please gothrough these links
/people/sravya.talanki2/blog/2006/12/25/aspirant-to-learn-sap-xiyou-won-the-jackpot-if-you-readthis-part-i
What is XI ? What are the role of an XI Consultant ?
U should have JAVA/ABAP Background for this.
There are lot of apportinuties outside as you are java background then gohead
Thanks
Vikranth Khimavath

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Vijaya Lakshmi Palla May 16, 2008 12:59 PM (in response to Kishore Reddy)

Re: What is XI and How it can be useful

Hey kishore,
That's really a gud idea..your JAVA knowlede will be an advantange.
You can check the below link.
/thread/863642 [original link is broken]
Thanks,
Vijaya.

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