8/1/2021 SAP PI Interview Questions - Tutorialspoint

SAP PI Interview Questions

Dear readers, these SAP PI Interview Questions have been designed specially to get you
acquainted with the nature of questions you may encounter during your interview for the subject
of SAP PI. As per my experience good interviewers hardly plan to ask any particular question
during your interview, normally questions start with some basic concept of the subject and later
they continue based on further discussion and what you answer −

What is SAP PI/XI?

SAP Process Integration is part of SAP NetWeaver platform and in NetWeaver 7.0 ehp2 and
older versions it is called SAP NetWeaver Exchange Infrastructure XI. SAP NetWeaver Process
Integration is part of NetWeaver software component and is used for exchange of information in
company’s internal system or with external parties.

SAP PI/XI enables you to set up cross system communication and integration and allows you to
connect SAP and non-SAP systems based on different programming language like Java and
SAP ABAP. It provides an open source environment that are necessary in complex system
landscape for integration of systems and for communication.
SAP Process Integration is a middleware to allow seamless integration between SAP and non-
SAP application in a company or with systems outside the company.

Give an example of using SAP PI system?

An application run on different systems that are part of different business units in a company or
implemented in a distributed environment between different companies that has a business
relationship with each other. In this environment, there is a need for seamless integration and
transfer of information between different systems. SAP PI provides a middleware platform that
doesn’t deal with how application components are implemented with a business logic and
focuses more on data exchange between the different components.

Why do we need SAP PI system? What are the key capabilities provided
by PI system?

In an organization, SAP ERP doesn’t contain a single system but consists of number of
integrated systems like SAP CRM, FICO, EWM, etc. SAP PI provides a platform as single point
of integration for all systems without touching complex legacy system for all data and
information exchange.
These are the key capabilities that are provided by SAP Process Integration −
Connectivity −

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Using SAP PI, you can connect different applications and systems that has different technical
way of communication. It provides you with variety of adapters that allows you to connect
applications based on different protocols like HTTPS or Remote Function call RFC.

Routing −
Routing define the rules for flow of messages between different systems at run time.

Mapping −
As SAP PI is used to connect different applications or systems in a distributed environment that
can be set up between different companies so there is a possibility that structure of data
exchange between two components differs from each other.

What are the different installation options available for SAP PI system?

When you run a scenario in SAP PI, the communication and processing capabilities depends on
runtime engines that are installed with installation of SAP PI. You can install one or more run
time engines on a host system. SAP PI provides following two installation options −
Type 1 Dual Usage Type −
This installation is based on ABAP and Java and provide tools for designing and configuring
integration content and also these run time engines −
Integration Engine
Business Process Engine
Advanced Adapter Engine
Type 2 Advance Adapter Engine Extended AEX −
This installation is based on Java and provide tools for designing and configuring integration
content and contain Advance adapter engine as run time engine.

Explain the architecture and different components in PI system?

SAP PI architecture consists of multiple components which are used at design time,
configuration time and run time. In SAP PI, sender system is known as source and receiver is
called as target system and architecture is known as Hub and Spoke structure. The Spoke is
used to connect with external systems and hub is used to exchange messages.
SAP PI system is divided into following components −
Integration Server
Integration Builder
System Landscape Directory SLD
Configuration and Monitoring

What is the use of Runtime workbench in PI system?

This is a tool used to provide central monitoring of PI components and messages.

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What is the use of Integration server? What are the components in

Integration server?

This is one of the key component of SAP PI system and is used for processing of messages. It
consists of three engines −
Business Process Engine
Integration Engine
Central Advanced Adapter Engine AAE

What is synchronous and asynchronous message in SAP PI system?

Synchronous message is defined as message contains both the request-response part.

Asynchronous message is defined as message contains either request or the response part
only.

What is the use of Adapter engine AAE in PI system?

As Integration engine handles messages in XML and SOAP protocol so if business system
doesn’t contain data in specific format, Adapters are used to convert the messages specific
protocol and message format required by integration engine.

In dual stack system, what are the ABAP and Java stack adapters?

Java Stack Adapters −

RFC adapter, SAP Business Connector adapter, file/FTP adapter, JDBC adapter, JMS adapter,
SOAP adapter, Marketplace Adapter, Mail adapter, RNIF adapter, CIDX adapter
ABAP Stack Adapters −

IDOC and HTTP adapter

What do you understand by single stack system?

In latest releases when SAP PI moved to single stack system, these two ABAP adapters are
also moved to Java stack adapters and new engine is known as Advanced Adapter Engine
AAE.

What is the use of Enterprise Service Repository?

This is used to store design time repository objects like mapping, interfaces and process
definitions in PI system.

What is the use of System Landscape directory SLD?

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This directory contains the information about landscape and software component versions. A
SAP system can be configured to register under SLD.

Which SAP PI user interface tools you have used?

You can use different SAP PI user interface tools to access different components of SAP PI
system architecture. Most common UI tools are −

ES Builder −
This tool provides Java user interface for working in Enterprise Service Repository ESR.

SAP NW Developer Studio −

This is Java Eclipsed based tool to view and edit some object types in Enterprise Service
Repository.

Integration Builder −
This tool provides Java based user interface to work in Integration directory.

In SAP PI system, it contains interface objects like service interface, data

type and message type. What is cardinality between these objects?

Interface Objects − Service Interface, Data type and message type

Mapping Objects − Mapping of messages as per sender and receiver data structure

SAP PI system

What is the use of message mapping? What are different message

mapping types?

Operation Mapping is used for converting source structure to target structure if data structure is
different. Complex operation mapping can be simplified using message mapping.
Message Mapping can be implemented in these ways −

Graphical Mapping
Java Mapping
XSLT Mapping
ABAP Mapping

What functions you can perform using Web based ESR function?

In Web based interface, you can perform these tasks −

Search
Search for service interfaces, data types, and so on

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Manage
Manage lifecycle status of service interfaces, data types, and so on.

What is the use of Integration directory?

Integration directory is used for the configuration of objects that are created in Enterprise
Service Repository and configuration is executed by integration engine at run time. To configure
ESR objects, you need to import object - Service and Communication channel.

What are the different configurations that can be done in Integration

directory?

In Integration directory, you can make four types of configuration −

Sender Agreement to determine how the message is transformed by Integration server.

Receiver Determination is used to determine information of receiver to whom message
to be sent.
Interface Determination is used to determine inbound interface to which message to be
sent and interface mapping for processing the message.

Receiver agreement define how message is transformed and to be processed by

receiver.

To view the products and software components, which of the PI

component can be used?

Under SLD, Software Catalog −

Products − To view products in SAP software catalog.
Software components − To view software components in SAP Software catalog.

How do you monitor the function of Integration engine, CCMS integration

and process monitoring infrastructure in SAP system.

Configuration and Monitoring option on SAP PI tools home page allows you to monitor the
functions of integration engine, CCMS integration and process monitoring infrastructure in SAP
system.

Which components you can configure and monitor under Configuration

and Monitoring option?

Using Configuration and Monitoring, you can monitor these functions −

Component Monitoring −

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To monitor different SAP PI Java and ABAP components.

Message Monitoring −
To monitor the status of message processing in a SAP PI component.
Performance Monitoring −
Using runtime workbench you can monitor different performance measures in a SAP PI system.
You can create various aggregation reports.

End to End Monitoring −

To monitor end to end lifecycle in SAP PI system for a scenario.
Message Index Search −
You can perform Index based message search in message monitoring and you can also search
based on adapter specific selection, etc.
Alert Inbox −
Alert inbox is as per role assigned to a business user and is used for viewing all the alerts in
SAP PI system as per configuration.

Alert Configuration −
Alert framework in C&M allows you to report all the errors during message processing in ABAP
and Java. Using alert configuration, you can define policy if an alert has to be reported for error
and to perform analysis or not.

Monitoring of runtime cache −

This is used to view objects in runtime cache.

In SAP PI system, which tests you can perform under monitoring and
configuration part?

Send Test Message −

To simulate a message flow and verify that the SAP NetWeaver Process Integration runtime is
functioning correctly by sending a test message to the Integration Engine or the Advanced
Adapter Engine.

Cache Connectivity Test −

This is used to inspect the cache connectivity status of the infrastructure components of SAP
NetWeaver Process Integration and test their connectivity with the runtime caches.

What is Synchronous communication under SAP PI communication?

In a Synchronous communication, it is invoked by request and response operation and process

output is returned immediately after the operation. In general terms, you can say that a
synchronous scenario when a sender process sends a request to receiver and waits for a
response. If an error occurs at receiver side, sender application is responsible for sending the
message again.
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In this approach, there is a possibility that sender might resend message after time out and
duplicate message may exists. This approach in PI is known as BE Best Effort.

In Synchronous communication, what are common errors that can occur

in this communication scenario?

Application Error −
There is an error at receiver end while processing a message and sender is not aware about
this error and keeps waiting for the reply.
Network level Error −
In this error, there is an error in communication network between sender and receiver. Sender is
not aware about this and message stuck in between and sender waits till the operation timeout.
Error is response message −

In this scenario, an error occurs and response message gets stuck in between and sender
keeps on waiting.

What are the benefits of using Synchronous communication?

There is no need to configure response message routing.

There is no need to correlate response to a request.
In this communication, response is received immediately.

Where do you prefer Synchronous communication method in PI system?

Any example?

This is suitable for operations that involve read operations.

Example − viewing a purchase order.

What are the disadvantages of using Synchronous communication?

In case of a failure, sender needs to send a message again.

Receiving system should be configure to check duplicate messages.
In this scenario, sender application is blocked till a response is received or a time out error
occurs.

You can’t configure multiple receivers.

What is asynchronous communication under SAP PI communication?

In an Asynchronous communication, you add an intermediate system or a middleware between

two systems. When a Sender application sends a request, it does not wait for the Receiving
application to send the response. If there is a failure due to some reason, the middleware is
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responsible for re-sending the message. If required, the receiving system can send a response
back to Sender as a separate asynchronous call.

Where do you recommend of using asynchronous communication under

SAP PI communication?

This is recommended for modify operations like creating a purchase order or modify a purchase
order.

What are the advantages of using asynchronous communication?

In case of failure, SAP PI system ensures the guaranteed delivery and will resend the message.
No configure required for duplicate checks.
You can configure multiple receivers in this scenario.
Both sender system and receiver system need not be online at same time.
PI logs all the messages send via asynchronous communication.
No time out as intermediate system keeps the message and response request.

What are the drawbacks of using asynchronous communication?

In this scenario, sender needs to correlated responses to request on its own.

Response message needs to be implemented and routed separately.
It doesn’t provide an immediate response.

To transfer the objects from one repository to other what are the different
methods you can use?

For transferring information in form of objects from one Enterprise Service Repository to other,
you can select between three mean of transports −
File System Based Transport
Change Management Service (CMS)
Change and Transport System (CTS)

When you create a PI scenario, what are the different objects-

mandate/non-mandate that you have to use?

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Design Object Mandatory Function

Integration scenarios No It is used to bundle all necessary design objects

Message types Yes It is used to encapsulate data types

Data types Yes It is used to describe structure of data to be exchanged

Service Interfaces Yes It encapsulates message types and parameters

Mapping No Mapping of message

Integration processes No It defines ccBPM workflows

How you can transfer up to date software components in SLD

How to transfer software components in SLD?

When you install system landscape directory, initial catalog is installed.

From SAP Market Place, you can import more up to date catalog.
You can also import your own software components and products depending on the project and
integration scenario.

How do you implement a File to File scenario in PI system?

In SAP PI file to file scenario, we transfer a file from source system to target system. Once the
components are built in SAP PI, you can transfer a file in SAP PI system by creating objects in
Enterprise Service builder.

In SAP PI F2F scenario, if structure of my input file and output file is

different, how do you implement message and data types?

If structure of my input file and output file is same, I can use one data type and one message
type only. If structure is different, you have to create two data types and message types for
inbound and outbound. In this example we are using same structure of input and output file.

In SAP PI File to file scenario, what is the use of service interface?

You have to create two service interface here one for inbound and one for the outbound.
Right click on Namespace → New → Interface objects → Service Interface

Name different adapters in AAE and Integration engine in PI system and

when they are used?

RFC Adapter −
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This adapter is used to communicate with other SAP systems using RFC interface.
HTTP Adapter/HTTP AAE Adapter −
It allows the exchange data using HTTP protocol, adapters are available both in the Integration
engine and also in the Advanced Adapter Engine.
JDBC Adapter −
It allows the access to databases using JDBC
File/FTP Adapter −

This adapter is used to perform data exchange with external systems using a file interface or an
FTP server.
Mail Adapter −
It allows you to connect e-mail servers to the Integration Engine.
IDoc Adapter −
It allows the exchange of IDocs, adapters are available both in the Integration engine and also
in the Advanced Adapter Engine.
XI Adapter −
This adapter allows you to communicate using proxy. This adapter does not run in the
Advanced Adapter Engine and runs in the Integration Engine. it is used only for establishing the
HTTP connection to the receiver.
WS Adapter −
This adapter is used to provide the connectivity with WS providers and WS consumers
according to the standard Web Services Reliable Messaging (WS-RM) protocol. SAP has
developed the WS-RM protocol with its own inbox, which is implemented in the ABAP stack on
the Integration Engine.

JMS Adapter −
It enables communication with messaging systems using the JMS API.
SOAP Adapter −
It allows the integration of remote clients or Web service providers using SOAP.

What is the use of Cross component BPM in SAP PI system?

Business Process management deals with cross component BPM. This includes SAP workflow
in SAP backend and processing of message on Integration server.
Cross component Business Process Management provides SAP NetWeaver Process
Integration with functions for stateful message processing, that is, the status of an integration
process is persisted on the Integration Server. This means that an integration process can, for
example, wait infinitely until further messages are received or until a particular deadline is
reached. Moreover, it is possible to process messages further within an integration process.

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What is a web service?

A Web service is an application function or a service and can be used through internet standard.
It is an independent, modular, and self-describing application function or service.

It can be described, made available, located and transformed or called using the standard
Internet protocols.

What are the quality of services under asynchronous process in PI

system?

This approach in SAP PI is called exactly once EO or Exactly Once In Order EOIO.

Which adapter is used to contain central monitoring and configuration?

Adapter Engine

What are the different types of mapping that can be used in PI?
Graphical Mapping
Java Mapping
XSLT Mapping
ABAP Mapping

Where do you execute BPM process in PI system?

BPM is executed in integration Engine.

What is the use of global containers in PI?

Global Container allows you to cache the values that you want to read again when you next call
any userdefined function in the same message mapping. Note that the sequence in which user-
defined functions are called is predefined. It depends on the position of the target fields that the
function was assigned to.

Where do you access alert inbox and alert configuration?

Runtime Workbench

What is the T-code for opening Integration Builder?

SXMB_IFR

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What are the different non-SAP Application adapters? Can you name
few?

BAAN
Oracle
Seibel
People Soft

What are the advantages of using Web services?

Web service allows programs running on different platforms, operating systems and different
languages to communicate with each other.
Web Service is an application function or a service.
Web Service can be used through internet standard.
Web services can be published and traced.
Web service form a basis for Enterprise Services Architecture (ESA) which is known as SAP's
enhanced version of service-oriented architecture SOA.

What is Next ?
Further you can go through your past assignments you have done with the subject and make
sure you are able to speak confidently on them. If you are fresher then interviewer does not
expect you will answer very complex questions, rather you have to make your basics concepts
very strong.
Second it really doesn't matter much if you could not answer few questions but it matters that
whatever you answered, you must have answered with confidence. So just feel confident during
your interview. We at tutorialspoint wish you best luck to have a good interviewer and all the
very best for your future endeavor. Cheers :-)

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