Remote System Connectivity

In SAP Cloud for Analytics, you can create models from data sources in remote systems, like SAP HANA, build reports based on those models, and perform online analyses without data replication. Due to the Same Origin Policy (SOP), the SAP Cloud for Analytics web client cannot connect directly to the remote system and needs to resort to remote connectivity options.

For more information on how to set up a connection to your HCP system or your on-premise SAP HANA system to SAP Cloud for Analytics via external reverse proxy, see: Remote Connectivity via External Reverse Proxy [page 189].

Note

In the proposed connectivity solution the following SAP Cloud for Analytics features are not supported:

● In Models

○ Planning features

○ Definition of additional measures with complex formulas (LOOKUP, CAGR, SMA, YoY and so on)

○ Opening a model with parameters without default values

○ Adding measures using the exception aggregation column Aggregation Dimension

● In Reports

○ Blending between different data sources in a report (Link Matching Dimensions of Different Models)

○ Value help for parameters with value help view

● In Stories

○ Usage of dynamic tables based on remote models

○ Value help for parameters with value help view

○ Parent-child hierarchies for remote HANA views in story widgets

● Geospatial features

● SAML

12.4.1 Remote Connectivity via External Reverse Proxy

To connect your SAP HANA Cloud Platform (HCP) system or your on-premise SAP HANA system to SAP Cloud for Analyitcs, you need to install and configure an HTTP server as a reverse proxy or use an existing server in your intranet for that purpose.

Prerequisites

● You are using SAP HANA SPS10, revision 102.2 or above with SAP HANA Info Access Service (InA), version

4.10.0 or above or an HCP system, running on SAP HANA compliant with the above-mentioned requirements.

● You have installed and configured an HTTP server of your choice in the same network as your on-premise

system. This example uses Apache HTTP server.

● You have activated the SAP HANA Info Access Service on your system.

● You have created an SAP HANA Info Access user with the appropriate authorizations (INA_USER).

Note

For more information on how to set up your SAP HANA Info Access Service and your user, see Installing the SAP HANA Info Access Toolkit, API and Service.

Procedure

1. Configure pass rules for the SAP Cloud for Analytics back end.

a. Open %Apache_Home%\conf\httpd.conf and at the end of the file, add the following rules to dispatch

the request to SAP Cloud for Analytics and then restart the Apache service to make your changes effective:

○ ProxyPass /sap/ https://[SAP Cloud for Analytics Server]:[SAP Cloud for Analytics Port]/sap/

○ ProxyPassReverse /sap/ https://[SAP Cloud for Analytics Server]:[SAP Cloud for Analytics Port]/sap/

If the remote system only supports HTTPS, you need to access SAP Cloud for Analytics via HTTPS as well and need to maintain an HTTPS dispatcher rule. The default port of HTTPS for the SAP HANA

development environment is 43<instance number>. Otherwise you can use HTTP.

b. You can test if the rules are set up correctly by opening the following URL. You should seeSAP Cloud for Analytics.

http(s)://[Apache Web Host]:[Apache Web Port]/sap/fpa/ui

2. Configure pass rules for remote systems:

a. Open %Apache_Home%\conf\httpd.conf and at the end of the file, add the following rules to dispatch

the request to the remote system and restart the Apache service to make your changes effective.

○ ProxyPass /[PATH]/ https://[System Host]:[System Port]/ ○ ProxyPassReverse /[PATH]/ https://[System Host]:[System Port]/

b. You can test if the dispatcher rules for remote systems work by opening the following URL. If you see the JSON response, the rule is set up correctly.

http(s)://[Apache Web Host]:[Apache Web Port]/[PATH]/sap/bc/ina/service/v2/ GetServerInfo

3. Add a remote system to SAP Cloud for Analytics:

a. Log onto SAP Cloud for Analytics and go to System Administration Remote Systems .

b. Enter a name (it cannot be changed later) for your new connection. c. Choose New System and select the connection type Path.

d. Enter the /[PATH]value defined above. (For example, /BWA.) e. Enter your credentials for the remote system.

Note

After creating a connection to a remote system and before creating a model from a remote system, you need to log off and log on again.

4. Create a model from remote system:

a. In SAP Cloud for Analytics, navigate to Modeler.

b. In Modeler, choose the Import Data icon and in the drop-down menu, choose Create Model from Remote System.

c. In the dialog that appears, select a remote system and a data source.

Note

When creating a model from a remote view, the list of HANA views that you can choose from lists only technical names. You can search for labels (if there are any) and for technical names when there is no label.

d. In the New Model section, enter a name (it cannot be changed later) and a description for your new model.

e. Choose OK to generate your model.

The newly created model appears in the list. Now you can use this model as a data source for reports and stories.

Note

Measure definitions, descriptions, units of measure or currency, aggregation types and so on modeled in the underlying HANA view are not shown in the Modeler but are picked up from the underlying HANA view and are, where applicable, utilized in stories and reports.