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Creating Communication Channels in the Integration Directory (ID)

Objective

After completing this lesson, you will be able to create a communication channel

Communication Component Types

You store configuration data for the runtime of integration scenarios in the Integration Directory (ID). This data includes representatives of the sender and receiver systems of messages.

There are two types of senders or receivers of a message in SAP Process Integration (PI).

The communication components (formerly known as services) group the following object types:

Business system
Business component (formerly business services)

Communication components in the form of business systems refer to business systems in the System Landscape Directory (SLD) and are imported from there.

To execute the import, select the Communication Component node (in most cases, on the Objects tab page) of the ID and select the Assign Business System option using the right mouse button. The list of business systems in the SLD, for which there are currently no assignments in the ID, displays.

Hint

If you create a new business system in the SLD, you may have to clear the SLD data cache in the ID so that you can see the new business system in the list. To clear the SLD data cache, choose Environment → Clear SLD Data Cache.

SLD Interface for the ID

Business systems and business components can be the senders and receivers of messages.

Note

The yellow line symbolizes, that this functionality is performed in 2 different tools.

Information that specifies how the sender or receiver communication components can be contacted must be stored in the ID. In addition, a message must either be converted into a format that the target system understands or transformed into a process integration XML message that is then delivered to the Integration Server. This task is performed by an adapter and the configuration object in which you define the adapter for the inbound or outgoing message is called the communication channel.

Communication Channel

The main tasks involved in creating a communication channel are as follows:

Select the communication component.
Specify the communication component for which you want to create the communication channel (for example, the business system).
Enter the name.
Enter the name of the communication channel. If possible, choose a name that is self-explanatory, for example, RFC_Sender.
Select the adapter type.
Specify the connection details (for example, file adapter for file access) and whether it is sender or receiver.
Select the adapter engine and the protocol.
In addition to the Central Adapter Engine (CAE), you can also have other local adapter engines. You need to enter details for the transport and message protocols, such as Exchange Infrastructure (XI) 3.0, Network File System (NFS) or File Transfer Protocol (FTP), and so on.
Enter the adapter-specific parameters.
You enter additional details for each adapter (for example, the target directory for file receivers).

When importing a business system, you can specify whether standard communication channels are to be generated. Once the communication channels are generated, you need to enter exact parameters and customize the information for each of the business systems.

How to Create a Communication Channel Template

DemoStart Demo

Demonstrate how to create a receiver communication channel template for the file adapter.

Steps

In NWDS, create a file receiver communication channel.
On the General tab page, maintain all the required fields.
Replace the group number with ##.
On the Adapter-Specific tab page, select the Target tab page and enter the target directory: /usr/sap/trans/tmp/group##
In the File Name Scheme field, Material.xml.
On the Adapter Specific – Processing tab page, maintain the File Construction Mode. Select Add Time Stamp.
Save your created file receiver as a template. Use the Save as Channel Template button on the upper right corner of your File Receiver tab page.

Result

Explain to the participants that they will not see the template in the NWDS environment. Open the Enterprise Services Builder tool and show your participants the File Receiver Template under your selected Software Component and the corresponding namespace.

Create a Communication Channel

Business Scenario

You need to create the communication channels for your Integration scenario.

Note

In this exercise, you create two communication channels CC_HTTP_Sender_## and CC_File_Receiver_##_B, which are required for one or more subsequent exercises in this course.

This exercise requires you to use the business systems, BS_BIT500_##_A and BS_BIT500_##_B that you created in the exercise Create a Business System in the System Landscape Directory.

Exercise Information

Note

In this exercise, when the values include ##, replace the character with a two-digit number (01–30).

Exercise Options

You can perform this exercise in two ways:

Live Environment: choose Start Exercise, and from the entry page choose Open PDF Document. Follow the steps described in this pdf in your own system landscape.
Simulation: choose Start Exercise, and from the entry page choose Start Tutorial. Watch the step-by-step instructions within the simulation.

Note

We recommend running the simulation first.

ExerciseStart Exercise

Task 1: Create a Receiver Communication Channel

Create a communication channel CC_File_Receiver_##_B for the BS_BIT500_##_B business system.

Steps

Create a receiver communication channel.
1. Navigate to Window → Perspective → Open Perspective → Other. Select SAP Process Integration Designer Perspective.
2. If required, log on with your BIT500-## credentials.
3. From the menu choose File → New → Channel.
4. In the Channel Name field, enter CC_File_Receiver_##_B.
5. In the Communication Component field, enter BS_BIT500_##_B by choosing the Browse button.
6. Leave the other fields blank.
7. Choose Finish.
Choose File as the adapter type.
1. On the General tab page, in the Adapter Type area, choose the Browse... button.
2. In the Choose Adapter window, choose File.
  Hint
  If multiple version are available, choose the highest. For example SAP BASIS 7.50.
3. Choose OK.
Adapt the target directory and name.
1. Switch to the Adapter-Specific tab.
2. In the Target Directory field, enter /usr/sap/trans/tmp/group##.
3. In the Filename field, enter Material_.xml.
4. Save the communication channel.
Activate the communication channel.
1. Navigate to the My Changes tab.
2. Open the context menu by right-clicking.
3. Select Activate.
4. In the Activate window, choose Yes.

Task 2: Create a Sender Communication Channel

Create a communication channel CC_HTTP_Sender_## for the BS_BIT500_##_A business system.

Steps

Create a sender communication channel.
1. From the menu choose File → New → Channel.
2. In the Channel Name field, enter CC_HTTP_Sender_##_A.
3. In the Communication Component field, enter BS_BIT500_##_A by choosing the Browse button.
4. Leave the other fields blank.
5. Choose Finish.
Choose HTTP_AAE as the adapter type.
1. Set the direction to Sender.
2. On the General tab page, in the Adapter Type area, choose the Browse... button.
3. In the Choose Adapter window, choose HTTP_AAE.
  Hint
  If multiple version are available, choose the highest. For example SAP BASIS 7.50.
4. Choose OK.
Activate the communication channel.
1. Navigate to the My Change tab.
2. Open the context menu by right-clicking.
3. Select Activate.
4. In the Activate window, choose Yes.

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