IDoc Support in the Java Application Server 7.1

Another new addition in NW 7.1 is that the Java Application Server is equipped with the IDOC library/XML processor which enables it to process IDOC's.
Read more about it here.

New in Netweaver 7.1 : SAP Management Console

With NW 7.1 SAP released a new web based tool (java applet) which you can use to perform simple central monitoring and administration tasks including the following :
Monitor and control (start, stop, or restart) the SAP system and its instances with a single tool.

● Display SAP log and trace files, start profiles, instance parameters, the system environment, SAP environment, Internet Communication Manager (ICM) queue statistics, and so on.

● Display and control Java processes.

● Display the ABAP work process overview and control ABAP processes.

● Monitor system alerts.

● Display the current status tree.

● Display the list of all access points to an SAP system.

● Display information about the AS Java threads, sessions, caches, aliases, Enterprise JavaBeans (EJB) sessions, remote objects.

● Display Java Virtual Machine garbage collection and heap memory information of the application server.

● Save the current console configuration in a file to reuse it later or to forward it to other users.

● Start third-party tools (such as Telnet), if available, to manage an application server.

Read more about it here.

Patching components without restarting Java AS

Since JSPM 7.10 SP2 you can deploy SCA's without having to restart the Java server.
Have a peak at SAP Note 1125926.

New in Netweaver 7.1 ABAP Stack - Dynamic Work Processes

Spotted this today, SAP has added a new type of work processes called the Dynamic Work Process.
It basically allows the dispatcher to start/stop additional work processes according to the system's demand. Read more about it here.

Replacement of Visual Administrator by SAP NetWeaver Administrator

Another change that I found in Netweaver 7.1 is that the J2EE Visual Administrator is replaced by the Netweaver Administrator.All relevant functions of the VA are available in the SAP NetWeaver Administrator under the heading Administration Assistent. The VA is no longer delivered as of SAP NetWeaver 7.1.
See information here.

Java Dispatcher replaced by ICM in NW 7.1

As of Netweaver 7.1 the J2EE dispatcher is replaced by the ICM (Internet Connection Manager) See this SAP Help Document.

Screenshots from using the Web Diagtool

In my previous post I mentioned the new Web Diagtool from SAP that is provided in Note 1045019 to troubleshoot SAP authentication (and other) issues. Today I had first hand experience in using it....very easy and helpful I must say!
You can deploy the EAR file attached to the note, start the app and then login to URL provided in the note.
The start page looks like this :
After selecting the module you want to trace press START. When finished tracing press STOP and a new window will popup with a summary of the traces done, see below :


From the above summary screen you can either download the traces to a zip file or view all traces, see below screen shot :

Diagnostics tool for troubleshooting J2EE authentication

SAP has released a diagnostic tool some time ago to collect traces and troubleshoot authentication on the J2EE. I have used it and it works quite well, especially if you have problems configuring SSO on the J2EE and need to send traces to SAP. See Note 957666.
But recently SAP released a Web based Diagtool, which is a app which runs on the J2EE and collects traces. See Note 1045019 which contains the EAR file you need to deploy.

Secure Cookies?

Looking at SAP Note 1020365 which list the fixes contained in WebAS Java SP14 I noticed the following interesting new option :
" New property "SystemCookiesHTTPSProtection" is added in HTTP Provider service - support for "Secure" cookie attribute for system cookies (JSESSIONID and saplb). By default, this property is switched off. If it is switched on, then during creation of jsessionid and sap_lb cookies, new "Secure" attribute will be added."

Would be interesting to test it.....