The SAP component used to access SAP screens and transaction via web browser is called the Internet Transaction Server (ITS). It is used in older SAP landscapes, in legacy Web applications and is used in SAP educational materials and yet many people get confused about its two types: Standalone and Integrated. This guide describes who is ITS, how it works and how it can be troubleshooted.
Internet Transaction Server: Quick Answer
Answer: The SAP Internet Transaction Server (ITS) is a middleware software which connects an SAP system to a Web browser. Its services are like those provided by a Web application server, but it won’t do any business processing: it merely routes it to the SAP system, that is, the one familiar to it as a regular SAP GUI.
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What Is the Internet Transaction Server?
In traditional operations, users access SAP via the SAP GUI which communicated with the application server via an SAP GUI-specific protocol on top of TCP/IP. But, since there was no browser that could speak that protocol, ITS is the translator between SAP technology and Web technology.
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The Internet applications which are deployed in ITS are known as Internet Application Components (IACs) or ITS services. The most common use is WebGUI. WebGUI converts SAP GUI screens to HTML pages.
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How ITS Works: Request flow (Original)
- User clicks on the ITS URL in a browser.
- The request is sent to the ITS which identifies the service, and the template to be used.
- ITS requests from the SAP system in like manner as a SAP GUI client.
- Screen data appears in the SAP system and that system performs the transaction.
- ITS combines the data with HTML templates and returns a web page to the user.
All the business logic remains in the SAP system. Only the presentation and web to SAP format translation is done by the ITS.
Active Standalone ITS and Integrated ITS.
ITS can be setup in two architectures and the differences impact everything from setup to applications available.
Standalone ITS: A standalone server. In this setup the AGate component acted as a SAP GUI logging on to the SAP Web Application Server. Templates and MIME files needed to be released on the ITS server and service parameters set in files like global.srvc and webgui.srvc.
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Integrated ITS is embedded in the SAP system. It runs as an Internet Communication Framework (ICF) service and accessed via the Internet Communication Manager (ICM). It was built into the core of SAP Web Application Server 6.40.
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| Dedicated ITT intersection service box(s) | Yes with local planning support | Yes with integrated planning support |
| Paths | Separate server | path inside the SAP application server |
| Web server | Requires separate web server | ICM serves as web server. |
| Templates and MIME files | Published to the ITS server | Stored in the database. |
| Configuration | Service parameter (.srvc) files | Mostly transaction (SICF). |
| Complexity it can communicate with | Multiple SAP systems | Only This SAP System (the one to which it belongs). |
| Applications supported (or not) | Screen-based, Flow Logic, WebRFC | Only Screen-based. |
| Session and processes | Its own session and workthread management | standard SAP work processes and ICF session management. |
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What the Integrated ITS Can’t Do
The most prevalent migration trap. Programs written using ITS Flow Logic, WebReporting, WebRFC or GUI XT will no longer be able to be run on the integrated ITS. According to the SAP documentation, the integrated ITS does not provide for Flow Logic and WebRFC applications, requiring these applications to have a standalone ITS.
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Test custom IACs prior to migrating. The developers can therefore use the ITS switch ~icf, which is 1 in Web AS with integrated ITS, to create HTML templates that will be used in both variants.
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What Type of ITS do you have? (Decision Path, Original)
| 1. Do you have an essential service animal?чење◙ | No◙ | No |
| Is AGate and WGate running in a separate ITS server? | No ITS – Move to the next question | |
| Do you see ITS services on your SAP system on SICF? | Integrated ITS | See if your Basis team can do it |
| What apps are you using Flow Logic or WebRFC? | One still has to install ITS | Integrated – perhaps that will suffice. |
| Do you only utilize WebGUI? | Normally, Integrated ITS is sufficient, check each IAC |
History of releases is a factor as well. As per one SAP community answer, the standalone ITS 6.20 supports systems as far as NetWeaver 2004 and from then on it’s a part of it. This information is from a forum discussion – please verify what is included in a release as documented in SAP’s official documentation and SAP Notes including the current support status of any standalone ITS.
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Active linkable asset that offers a troubleshooting checklist.
- Check the ITS type you have (are you running MDC1A or CABERE repeat or something else?).
- For SICF, the ITS (or WebGui) service must be up and running.
- Check whether the ICM is running and whether the HTTP and/or the HTTPS ports are configured
- If behavior does not appear to be correct, check profile parameters in RZ11
- Check ICM’s trace and system log for any errors
- In the case of standalone ITS: Check the AGate and WGate connection and the .srvc setup.
- Check publication (standalone) or publication in database (integrated) of templates and MIME files
- On your ITS type, please verify the application type is available for your type of application.
- Test by using a standard service, such as WebGUI, to rule out problems with custom code.
- Before applying SAP Notes, review notes for your release
Typical errors to steer clear of.
- In case that integrated ITS becomes the ultimate solution. As of now, the standalone version is still necessary for Flow Logic and WebRFC applications.
- Editing .srvc files for an integrated system. These files have been dropped in the integrated ITS.
sap - Ignoring security. All SAP services exposed in the Web must be secured with HTTPS, immutable, and patches.
- Forgetting the target system limit. An integrated ITS will not log onto any other system.
Guest Post Angles
For editors on enterprise software and SAP administration or legacy modernization:
- Integrated vs standalone ITS: a migration checklist for SAP Basis teams
- Legacy modernization of/for SAP web applications: where to start
- How SAP screens get to the browser via WebGUI.
- How to secure web-facing services in SAP – a hands-on approach.
Conclusion
The Internet Transaction Server (ITS) passes on SAP systems to browsers like a web-side SAP GUI. The integrated ITS runs without the ICF, ICM and SICF but is limited to screen-based applications. Older models like Flow Logic and WebRFC are supported by the standalone ITS. Understand your version, test all the IAC’s prior to migration and research your SAP release for support information.
