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Do you want to improve the quality of your test systems?

Whether you are looking for a new sandbox or training system, or you need to realign the non-production repositories with Production, building that new system usually implies lots of time and effort, not to mention extra disk space and careful transport management.

System Builder

System Builder™ is our solution to build a new non-production system, with a repository exactly the same as that of Production, but without the Production client.

System Builder has been on the market for over a decade to assist our SAP clients with the refresh of their test systems from Production.

System Builder is the solution for all SAP R/3 systems.

Shell Sync

Shell Sync™ is the equivalent of System Builder for systems on new releases of S/4HANA.

Shell Sync uses HANA-specific technology to align an existing system with an export of the Production system. The repository and client-independent data from the source system is extracted into a proprietary format, and then on the target system leveraged to update the HANA database, replacing the existing content for the shell, and simultaneously clearing down any client-dependent data. 

System Builder and Shell Sync form part of the Data Sync Manager™ (DSM) Suite. DSM is certified by SAP for 'Integration with SAP S/4HANA®' and 'Integration with SAP S/4HANA Cloud®'.

Once you have your system shell ready, you can then use Client Sync™, also part of the DSM Suite, to populate the system with client-dependent data.

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A clean new system shell

Whether you use System Builder (applicable to lower SAP releases) or Shell Sync (applicable to S/4HANA), the benefits of provisioning a shell without the full disk space needed by Production copies are clear.

Use the System Builder export to create a new non-production system 'shell', with Client 000 (contains the basic client-dependent customization supplied by SAP for new clients), Client 066 (used by SAP for support) and optionally Client 001 (customization copy of Client 000). The SAP Software Provisioning Manager (SWPM) installs the new system from the export. Or alternatively, on S/4HANA, leverage the Shell Sync unique HANA database technology to align the existing non-production system’s repository with Production, while simultaneously clearing down the old test/sandbox Clients.

The new shell will be in sync with Production and is the perfect target system for a Client Sync. You can then use Object Sync to add only the specific data relevant to your purpose (such as training or testing). The result is a system with the same repository, a smaller footprint and up-to-date data.

Why choose System Builder or Shell Sync?

System Builder

  • Create a new SAP system shell using a fraction of the disk space of a complete copy.
  • Export the complete repository of your system in minimal time, using parallel processing and table-splitting techniques to improve performance, if necessary.
  • Include Client 000 and 066 and optionally Client 001 – this means that the system shell is ready for use.
  • The repository objects and client-independent configuration of the new system are in sync with Production.
  • Add up-to-date data with Client Sync or Object Sync.
  • You can test or train on the program versions used in Production.

Shell Sync

  • Use the existing test/sandbox system but quickly align the repository from Production.
  • No uninstall or full system copy required.
  • Client 000 remains with all other clients cleared down – this means that the system shell is ready for use.
  • The repository objects and client-independent configuration of the system are in sync with Production.
  • Add up-to-date data with Client Sync or Object Sync.
  • You can test or train on the program versions used in Production.
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Our system is big, so copying it in full and then deleting the client wasn't on. System Builder did the new job quickly because it copies just the basic clients and uses less disk space. It's the way to go.

Jason Prebble, Glencore

They (Capita) were able to reduce their storage cost dramatically in their non-production environments, and they were able to spin up additional systems quickly when they moved to the cloud, and then use Data Sync Manager System Builder to make that provisioning process slicker, more streamlined.

Gary Jackson, Aliter Consulting

The whole process was simplified a lot for us. This is due to the fact that DSM is transferring only the data, and therefore the entire base no longer needs to be recreated, like you do with a copy system. We used Client Sync and System Builder…allowing us to completely recreate our new development environment.

Eric Dupont, Information Systems Architect at Rémy Cointreau

With Data Sync Manager, we were able to automate and simplify complicated processes in the area of test data management.

Holger Bauer, Senior SAP Consultant Application Management, R+V Insurance

Data Sync Manager: Client Sync and System Builder are user-friendly tools with a sophisticated data selection mechanism. By investing in them, we have saved a huge amount of time and costs.

Jiří KrasilovHead of SAP Group, ČD - Informační Systémy

Thanks to the implementation using Data Sync Manager, we are much more efficient. It's just what we needed: faster data copies, protected sensitive data, space savings... it has made our work easier.

SAP Solutions Manager, Leading Insurance Company

At Heineken, we’re really impressed by Data Sync Manager; it’s proved to be an all-encompassing solution.

Manoranjan MishraProduct Owner: Insights Enablement Portfolio, Heineken

One of the key elements for us was the flexibility that the EPI-USE Labs team provided, both with landscape alignment and on a project management level. Dunelm did not have the resources to do that. We needed a partner that could come in with a technical mindset as well as a project management mindset.

Steve Ross, SAP Technical Services Manager, Dunelm

DSM has saved us a considerable amount of time as refreshes have improved from manual intervention with a lot of costly activity, to minimal activity.

Jeff Greiner - Director, Enterprise Applications Engineering at Siemens PLM Software

DSM has given us a faster, more consistent test process, and allowed us to meet ad-hoc business requests quickly. It’s also reduced our data footprint and masked our sensitive data, which is a big bonus.

Tom Garreis, SAP Basis & Security Manager, A.O. Smith
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Want to know more?

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Can System Builder/Shell Sync help you save costs? Explore your SAP system size, footprint and more with our free DSM readiness report. 

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Have questions about System Builder/Shell Sync? Take a look at what other clients are asking in these responses to FAQs.

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Align your SAP test system with Production for accurate testing