What is SAP Kernel and how to update

it?
What is a Kernel?
The Kernel is the central program which acts as an interface
between SAP application and operating system.
The Kernel consists of the executable programs that reside under
the path "/sapmnt/<S!"/exe" #$%&' or (usr(sap(S!(S)S(exe(run
#*indows'
These files help startup the +/, system- initiali.e the memory-
create buffers and start managing the re/uests from users and
effecti0ely utili.ing of hardware resources.
The 1ernel is also responsible for starting and stopping all the
application ser0ices li1e dispatcher- message ser0er- collector etc.
Why Kernel Upgrade?
SAP Kernel is the core of the application. 2i1e all other applications
the Kernel contains the executable files #.3&3 files for stating 0arious
processes in SAP'.
Kernel is the heart of the operating system. t contains those files
which are used to run e0ery e0ent in SAP.
3.g4 starting database- shutdowns of database- starting sap-
shutdown of sap- saposcol- to uncar the sap files etc.
That5s the reason why when a Kernel upgrade is done it means new
0ersions of the 0arious 3&3 files replace the older 0ersions.
How to check Kernel Version?
There are many ways to chec1 the Kernel 6ersion 7
Method 1) 2ogon to SAP system and go to S89: ; +elease %otes

Method ) 2ogon to SAP system and go to Syste! tab in the menu bar
and select Status

Method ") 2ogon in operating system- switch to user <S!"adm and
gi0e the command disp#work
)ou can also gi0e disp#work $%ersion

&ownload Kernel 'ro! Ser%ice
Marketplace
<o to "SAP Ser0ice 8ar1etplace. " #https4((ser0ice.sap.com' )ou
will need your =SS ! and password.
Then go to !ownloads ; SAP Support Pac1ages 7" 3ntry >y
Application <roup 7" SAP Kernel ?.@@ ?A >it 7" Select your =S
#2%$&/*%!=*S/S=2A+S/A&' 7" !atabase !ependent and
!atabase independent Kernel Patch.
Two SA+ files SAP3&3.SA+ and SAP3&3!>.SA+ are downloaded
from Ser0ice 8ar1etplace.
!atabase ndependent
!atabase !ependent4 =+AB23
Kernel Upgrade Steps(
: Breate a new !irectory at =S le0el with enough space. %ame of !ir
can be "exeCnew<ddmmyy"".
D Transfer these SAP3&3!>.SA+ E SAP3&3.SA+ files which you ha0e
downloaded to the new directory at =S le0el.
, Bhange your current directory to path .SA+ files are created #cd
/sapmnt/P+D/exeCnewD@:DD@@?'. Bhec1 the directory path with
command 5pwd5 to ensure you are in the same dir
#exeCnew<ddmmyy"'.
%ow uncompress these .SA+ files by sapcar exe. The command used for
the same would be
SAPBA+ Fx0f sapexe.SA+
SAPBA+ Fx0f sapexedb.SA+
A %ow create one more directory in that path with the name
"exeCold<ddmmyy"". Ta1e the bac1up of existing 1ernel.Bopy #only
copy not mo0e' the existing 1ernel from exe directory to
"exeCold<ddmmyy""
9
%ow stop the SAP application. #Gor 1ernel upgrade the shutdown of
database is not essential but we need to stop the SAP application'
stopsap r,
Then copy the files from the new 1ernel directory exeCnew<ddmmyy" to
the existing 1ernel directory exe
cp 7rp /sapmnt/<S!"/exeCnew<ddmmyy"/H /sapmnt/<S!"/exe/
? This will copy / replace all the files in the existing 1ernel directory
with a new 1ernel files.
I Then chec1 the 1ernel 0ersion from =S le0el by the command
dispJwor1. t should show that the patch number has been increased.
Then logon to =S le0el as root #specific to $%&'. n the 1ernel directory-
there is a script called saproot.sh. 3xecute this script
./saproot.sh <S!"
K This script assigns the correct permissions to all the executable
programs in the 1ernel such brH file etc...
Then start the SAP system
startsap r,
L %ow you can also chec1 the 1ernel 0ersion le0el from S89: or by
selecting system ; status