SAP S4 HANA Migration Cockpit – Interview Questions

Here are top 30 SAP S4 HANA Migration Cockpit Interview Questions. A must learn for all Consultant level job preparation.

1. What is the scope of the SAP S4 HANA migration cockpit?

Can I use it for mass processing or as an interface to load data into a system frequently?

The SAP S4 HANA migration cockpit is designed for customers who have just installed SAP S/4 HANA or are using the S/4 HANA cloud and want to move their legacy data from SAP or non-SAP software systems. It allows users to migrate their master data and transactional data to SAP S/4 HANA and facilitates this process by providing predefined migration content and mapping. The SAP S/4 HANA migration cockpit is part of the SAP S/4 HANA and SAP S/4 HANA cloud.

No, the SAP S/4HANA migration cockpit and associated content (migration objects) are neither intended nor recommended to be used as an interface to frequently load data into a system or to mass change existing data.

2. What is the licensing model for the SAP S4 HANA migration cockpit?

We get the SAP S4 HANA migration cockpit with SAP S/4 HANA, SAP S4 HANA cloud, private edition, SAP S/4 HANA Cloud, and public edition. It comes already included with the license for SAP S/4HANA and SAP S/4 HANA Cloud.

3. What is the difference between SAP Data Services and the SAP S4 HANA migration cockpit?

SAP Data Services is an ETL (Extract, Load and Transform) tool which allows you to extract from a source database, transform that data to meet customers’ business requirements and load the data into one or more target locations. This information management software provides functionality for data integration, quality, cleaning and other ETL purposes. 

SAP S/4HANA migration cockpit covers the aspects of transforming and load data, allowing users to migrate data from a legacy system to SAP S/4HANA. It comes included in SAP S/4HANA and SAP S/4HANA cloud. Thus, we do not require any additional installation or license for this.

4. What is SAP Rapid Data Migration for SAP S/4HANA?

Rapid Data Migration for SAP S/4HANA is free-of-charge content for SAP Data Services. This is an ETL tool. The basic license of the tool is included in the HANA DB license. You can’t use Rapid Data Migration for S/4HANA Cloud. 

5. I am using LSMW. Should I have a look at the SAP S4 HANA migration cockpit?

What are the advantages and disadvantages of using LSMW?

The Legacy System Migration Workbench (LSMW) is on the simplification list and no longer supported in the SAP S4 HANA content. Even if we can use the LSMW theoretically in some areas, it might propose incorrect migration interfaces that we can no longer use in SAP S/4 HANA. Though, it would help only if you are careful with batch input and recordings. 

6. What is the difference between a data migration using SAP S/4HANA migration cockpit and a selective data transition?

The SAP S/4HANA migration cockpit is a standard function for loading data into the SAP S/4HANA and SAP S4 HANA cloud. We use it mainly in the context of new implementations of SAP S/4HANA and load data by using standard SAP API.

A selective data transition goes beyond a standard new implementation or system conversion. It is released within customer-individual projects.

In these projects, we use specific expert tools to migrate all kinds of data at the table base. Consequently, this gives high flexibility to tailor the set of data to customer-individual needs. Selective data transitions require special expertise and experience. Here we must evaluate the benefits and risks for each case individually.

Looking at the set of data that is available in the SAP S/4HANA target system:-

• In a system conversion, the complete set of data remains in the system
• Within a selective data transition, you get the option to transfer fewer data and leave selected data behind.

7. How is the SAP S/4HANA migration cockpit positioned compared to other data migration offerings?

The SAP S4 HANA migration cockpit is SAP’s recommended tool of choice for the migration of business data to SAP S/4HANA and SAP S/4HANA Cloud.

8. Is the SAP S4 HANA migration cockpit integrated with Solution Manager 7.2, SAP Activate Methodology?

Yes, the SAP S/4HANA migration cockpit is already part of the SAP Activate Methodology.

9. What authorisation do we require to use the SAP S/4HANA migration cockpit?

To transfer data using the SAP S/4HANA migration cockpit, we need certain roles:- 

Prerequisites for Staging Tables approach

For SAP S/4HANA the following business role we need-

• Role SAP_CA_DMC_MC_USER
• Role SAP_BR_CONFIG_EXPERT_DATA_MIG for the front-end server

To use the SAP S/4HANA Migration object Modeller (transition LTMOM) , we need-

• SAP_CA_DMC_Developer

Prerequisites for Direct Transfer Approach

For SAP S/4HANA the following business role we need –

• Role SAP_DMIS_MC_DT_REMOTE for the RFC user in the SAP ERP source system
• SAP_CA_DMC_MC_User
• SAP_BR_CONIG_EXPERT_DATA_MIG for the front-end server

To use the SAP S/4HANA Migration object Modeller (transaction LTMOM), we need-

• SAP_CA_DMC_MC_DEVELOPER

10. Can we use the SAP S4 HANA migration cockpit to update existing data?

For example, if data already exists in the target system, can I update the data using the SAP S/4HANA migration cockpit?

No, it is not possible to use the SAP S/4HANA migration cockpit to update existing data. The SAP S/4HANA migration Cockpit is designed for a new implementation of an SAP S/4HANA system. Therefore we can migrate data records only once.

The SAP S/4 HANA migration cockpit and associated content (migration objects) are neither intended nor recommended to be used as an interface to update, frequently load data into a system, or mass change existing data. 

SAP S/4HANA Finance Training latest version: See Curriculum & Details

11. Is there a near-zero downtime approach?

There is no technique for a near-zero downtime approach using the SAP S4 HANA migration cockpit.

12. Does the SAP S/4HANA migration cockpit migrate customizing data?

No, it does not support the migration of customizing.

13. Which additional migration objects are planned? Is there a roadmap for migration objects?

The roadmap indicates which additional migration scenarios or topic areas are in scope. We currently do not reveal a roadmap for planned migration objects. 

14. Which migration approach is most suitable for my migration project?

Ans – General recommendation:-

For the approach Migrate Data Using Staging Tables you can transfer data from any source system. Here there are two main options to fill the staging tables.

• XML Template– You can use the pre-delivered XML template files which populate with your legacy data or
• ETL Tool– you can fill the staging tables using any ETL tool from SAP or third parties.

Though, if you populate the staging tables using ETL tools, you gain more flexibility regarding managing data (for example sorting data, searching for data, checking for duplicate records and so on).

Directly populate– You can also use the approach Migrate Data Directly from the SAP system if you want to transfer data from ABAP-based SAP source systems. You select the Data and extract it directly from the source SAP system via RFC connection and transferred it to the sap S/4 HANA system.

Using XML template files is easy for business users and easy to handle with a small amount of data.

15. Is it possible to download mapping values?

Ans. You can download and upload mapping values in the SAP S4 HANA migration cockpit for all approaches. In addition, it is also possible to download templates to provide mapping data at an early stage.

Although, it is impossible to change or delete the mapping values in the sap S/4 HANA migration cockpit UI directly. You need to download the values and upload them back to the SAP S/4 HANA migration cockpit. 

• Confirm Values automatically
• Replacing existing values or modifying values/adding values

16. Is it possible to delete a mapping task?

Yes, we can delete a mapping task by uploading a file with empty values. Since SAP S/4 HANA 2021, it is possible to delete all types of mapping tasks. In early releases, it was not possible to delete fixed values and control parameters. 

17. Is it possible to transfer/ transport a project from one system to another?

A. As of SAP S/4 HANA 2021, you can transport projects from one system to another with the help of the SAP S/4HANA migration object modeller (LTMOM). You need to specify a development package when creating a new migration project.

For projects created in SAP S/4 HANA 2020, you can still use the export/import functionality in SAP S/4 HANA 2021 FPS01.

18. How can I export and import a project from one system to another in File/Staging?

From SAP S/4 HANA 2021, a transport functionality is available in the migration object modeller (LTMOM) to a non-modifiable system. However, projects created in SAP S/4 HANA 2020 can still use the export/import functionality in SAP S/4 HANA 2021FPS0. 

What to do : 

1. Open SAP Fiori App “Migrate Your Data”- Create a project

2. Specify the development package

3. Open migration object modeller (transaction LTMOM)

4. Choose a project and add to transport functionality

5. After importing the project into the other system, the system will ask you to provide the new database connection when entering the project for the first time.

19. Is it possible to change the maximum number of jobs in the S4 HANA migration cockpit?

A. Yes, with the job Management feature, you can set up the maximum number of jobs for the project or the migration object. Further, you can find the job Management feature on the Migration Project screen.

20. How can I check all the running and completed activities?

Here are the steps to view a log of all activities:-

• Choose the Monitoring button.
• The system displays the Monitoring screen.
• You can view the activities (For example, Migration Started) and
• Completed activities (For example, Migration Completed)

21. Can I filter the migration object instances and perform an action (For example, simulate, migrate, exclude) for the filtered instances?

A. Yes, a mass processing feature is available for both approaches of the SAP S/4 HANA migration cockpit. Subsequently, you can filter a subset of instances and execute an action for those instances, for example, exclude, simulate or migrate.

22. Is there a central mapping at the cross-project level?

If you are using the same approach, you can copy the mapping values from one project to another. 

The mapping exchange between different approaches is currently not possible. As a workaround, you can download the mapping values from one approach (i.e Staging tables) and copy them manually to the mapping template for another approach. (Direct Transfer).

23. Can we migrate historical data using the SAP S4 HANA migration cockpit?

The SAP S4 HANA migration cockpit migrates data within a New Implementation scenario into S/4 HANA. For this only master data and open items/balances are in scope. While it doesn’t cover the historical data. 

For the migration approaches Migrate Data Using Staging Tables, it is possible to load historical balances for general ledger accounts into the Universal Journal. However, it is only intended for reporting purposes.

There is one migration object available that we can use to create historical balances in SAP FICO. Nevertheless, it is possible to transfer some historical data on a project basis (on request) when SAP is leading the project. 

Also Read Details: SAP FICO Training on S/4HANA

24. Is the SAP S/4 HANA migration cockpit integrated with SAP Master Data Governance (MDG)?

A. A complimentary usage of MDG on SAP S/4 HANA and SAP S/4 HANA migration cockpit is possible, but there is currently no integration out of the box.

Upload and download of mapping are possible in the SAP S/4 HANA migration cockpit. Hence, there is no automatised exchange of key mappings of master data from UKMS (Unified Key Mapping Service).

25. Are there any guidelines about how and when to use the migration tool suite?

Specifically for SAP S/4 HANA migration cockpit, Migration Object Modeler, ABAP Hybrid etc?

We cannot cover the complete scope with the SAP S/4 HANA migration cockpit. You need to discuss this during the project set-up phase.

26. Does SAP S4 HANA migration cockpit support model companies?

All available migration objects can be used in model company systems.

27. How can I improve the performance of the data transfer?

A. On the Job Management screen, you can adjust the maximum number of background jobs that you use for your project. If required you can also adjust the number of background jobs for specific migration objects 

28. With what release we can use staging tables?

We can use Staging tables since SAP S/4 HANA 1709 FPS01. With SAP S/4 HANA 2020, the old file approach (Transfer Data Using Files) was combined with the staging table approach. So, we can use the template files to populate the staging tables with data.

29. Which database is supported for the migration approach to migrate Data Using a Staging Table?

For the approach Migrate Data Using Staging Tables, the SAP HANA DB database is supported.

30. What kind of database tables do we use for staging tables and what is the limitation?

A. Staging tables are tables on the SAP HANA database: local or remote.

If you use the option “Local SAP S/4 HANA Database Schema”- the SAP S/4 HANA migration cockpit will generate the staging tables in the local ABAP schema of the SAP S/4 HANA system. We recommend using this option if you want to populate the staging tables using the XML template files provided by SAP.

If you use the option “ Remote SAP HANA Database Schema”- you specify the relevant connection to a remote SAP HANA database and the SAP S4 HANA migration cockpit will generate the staging tables there. We recommend using this option if you want to fill the staging tables with data by using your preferred tools.

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