SAP HANA Interview Questions and

Answers

1.What is SAP HANA?

SAP HANA is an in-memory computing engine (IMCE) used for real-time
processing of huge volumes of data and building and deploying real-world
applications. Adopting the row-based and column-based DB technology, SAP
HANA is an advanced relational DB product serviced by SAP SE. With this
high-performance analytic (HANA) system, the big data exists on the main
memory and not on the hard disk. It replaces the onus of data maintenance
separately on the legacy system and simplifies the tasks of administrators in
this digital world.

2.What is the development language used by SAP HANA?

C++

3.Name the operating system SAP HANA supports.

More than 70% of customers run their SAP workloads on Linux with the use
of SUSE Linux Enterprise Server,
which is the best OS choice for SAP HANA
.
4.Explain Parallel Processing in SAP HANA?
Using the columnar data storage approach, the workload in SAP HANA is
divided vertically. The columnar approach allows linear searching and
aggregation of data rather than two-dimensional data structure. If more than
one column is to be processed, each task is assigned to diverse processor.
Operations on one column are then collimated by column divisions
processed by different processors.

5.List advantages of using SAP HANA database.

• With the HANA technology, you can create gen-next applications giving
effective and efficient results in the digital economy.
• By using singe data-in memory, SAP HANA supports smooth transaction
process and fault-tolerant analytics
• Easy and simple operations using an open-source, unified platform in the
cloud
• High-level Data Integration to access massive amounts of data
• Advanced tools for in-depth analysis of present, past and the future.

6.List the merits and demerits of using row-based tables.

Merits:
• No data approach can be faster than row-based if you want to analyze,
process and retrieve one record at one time.
• Row-based tables are useful when there is specific demand of accessing
complete record.
• It is preferred when the table consists of less number of rows.
• This data storage and processing approach is easier and effective without
any aggregations and fast searching.
Demerits:
• The data retrieval and processing operations involve the complete row,
even though all the information is not useful.

7.List advantages of column-based tables.

• Allows smoother parallel processing of data as the data in columns is

stored vertically. Thus, to access data from multiple columns, every operation
can be allocated to a separate processor core.
• Only specific columns need to be approached for Select query and any
column can be used for indexing.
• Efficient operations since most columns hold unique values and thus, high
compression rate.

8. What table type is preferred in SAP HANA Administration: column-based or

row-based?

Since analytic applications require massive aggregations and agile data

processing, column-based tables are preferred in SAP HANA as the data in
column is stored consequently, one after the other enabling faster and easier
readability and retrieval. Thus, columnar storage is preferred on most OLAP
(SQL) queries. On the contrary, row-based tables force users to read and
access all the information in a row, even though you require data from few
and/or specific columns.

9.What is the main SAP HANA database component?

Index Server consists of actual data engines for data processing including
input SQL and MDX statements and performs authentic transactions.

10.Explain the concept of Persistence Layer.

The persistence layer in SAP HANA handles all logging operations and
transactions for secured backup and data restoring. This layer manages data
stored in both rows and columns and provides steady savepoints. Built on
the concept of persistence layer of SAP’s relational database, it ensures
successful data restores.
Besides managing log data on the disk, HANA’s persistence layer allows read
and write data operations via all storage interfaces.

11.Define Modeling Studio in SAP Hana Administration.

Modeling Studio is an operational tool in SAP HANA based on Eclipse

development and administration, which includes live project creation.
• The SAP HANA Studio further builds development objects and deploys
them, to access and modify data models like HTML and JavaScript files.
• It also handles various data services to perform data input from SAP
warehouse and other related databases.
• Responsible for scheduling data replication tasks.

12.List the different compression techniques in HANA?

• Run-length encoding
• Cluster encoding
• Dictionary encoding
13.Explain SLT

SLT expands to SAP Landscape Transformation referring to trigger –based

replication. SLT replication permits data transfer from source to target,
where the source can be SAP or non-SAP while the target system has to be
SAP HANA with HANA database. Users can accomplish data replication from
multiple sources. The three replication techniques supported by HANA are:
• SLT
• SAP Business Objects Data Services (BODS)
• SAP HANA Direct Extractor Connection (DXC)

14. Name the replication jobs in SAP HANA.

• Master Job (IUUC_MONITOR_)

• Data Load Job (DTL_MT_DATA_LOAD__<2digits>)
• Master Controlling Job (IUCC_REPLIC_CNTR_)
• Migration Object Definition Job (IUCC_DEF_MIG_OBJ_<2digits>)
• Access Plan Calculation Job (ACC_PLAN_CALC__<2digits>)

15. What is Latency?

The time duration to perform data replication starting from the source to the
target system is known as latency.

16.What are the various components of SAP HANA Administration?

• SAP HANA Studio
• SAP HANA Application Cloud
• SAP HANA Cloud
• Sap HANA DB

17.How to perform backup and recovery operations?

During a regular operation, data is by default stored to the disk at savepoints

in SAPHANA. As soon a there is any update and transaction, logs become
active and get saved from the disk memory. In case of power failure, the
database restarts like any other DB returning to the last savepoint log state.
SAP HANA requires backup to protect against disk failure and reset DB to the
previous state. The backups simultaneously as the users keep performing
their tasks.

18.Define SLT Configuration

Configuration is the meaningful information to establish a connection
between source, SLT system and SAP HANA architecture as stated in the SLT
system. Programmers are allowed to illustrate a new Configuration in
Configuration and Monitoring Dashboard.

19.What is Stall?

The waiting process for data to load from the main memory to the CPU cache
is called Stall.

20.Define different types of information views.

There are primarily three types of information views in SAP HANA, which are
all non-materialized.
• Attribute view
• Analytic view
• Calculation View

21.What are Configuration and Monitoring dashboard?

They are SLT Replication Application Servers to provide configuration
information for data replication. This replication status can also be
monitored.

22.What is logging table?

Logging table records all replicated changes in the table, which can be
further replicated to the target system.

23.How to define Transformation rules in HANA?

Using advanced replication settings, transformation rules are specified to

transfer data from source tables during replication process. For instance,
setting rules to covert fields, fill vacant fields and skip records. These rules
are structured using advanced replication settings (transaction
IUUC_REPL_CONT)

24.Explain the role of transaction manager and session?

SAP HANA transaction manager synchronizes database transactions keeping

the record of closed and open transactions. When a transaction is committed
or rolled back, the manager informs all the active stores and engines about
the action so that they can perform required actions in time.

25.How is SQL statement processed in SAP HANA?

Each SQL statement in SAP HANA is carried out in the form of a transaction.
Every time, a new session is allocated to a new transaction.

26. Define Master-Controller job.

A Master-controller job is responsible to build database logging table in the

source system. It further creates synonyms and new entries in SLT server
admin when the table loads / replicates.

27.How users can avoid un-necessary storage of logging information?

Pause the replication process and terminate the schema-related jobs.

28.Is the table size in source system and Sap HANA system same?
No

29.When to change the number of Data Transfer Jobs?

The number of data transfer jobs change when the initial loading speed or
latency replication time is not up to the mark. At the end of the initial load,
the number of initial load jobs may be reduced.

30.What is the default IMCE Studio perspective?

Administrator Console

Part 2
1) Mention what is SAP HANA?
SAP HANA stands for High Performance Analytical Appliance- in-memory computing engine. HANA is
linked to ERP systems; Frontend modeling studio can be used for replication server management and
load control.
2) Mention the two types of Relational Data stored in HANA?

The two types of relational data stored in HANA includes

 Row Store
 Column Store
3) Mention what is the role of the persistence layer in SAP HANA?

SAP HANA has an in-memory computing engine and access the data straightaway without any
backup.  To avoid the risk of losing data in case of hardware failure or power cutoff, persistence
layer comes as a savior and stores all the data in the hard drive which is not volatile.

4) Mention what is modeling studio?

Modeling studio in HANA performs multiple task like

 Declares which tables are stored in HANA, first part is to get the meta-data and then schedule data
replication jobs
 Manage Data Services to enter the data from SAP Business Warehouse and other systems
 Manage ERP instances connection, the current release does not support connecting to several ERP
instances
 Use data services for the modeling
 Do modeling in HANA itself
 essential licenses for SAP BO data services
5) Mention what are the different compression techniques?

There are three different compression techniques

 Run-length encoding
 Cluster encoding
 Dictionary encoding
 6) Mention what is latency?
 Latency is referred to the length of time to replicate data from the source system to the
target system.
 7) Explain what is transformation rules?

Transformation rule is the rule specified in the advanced replication setting transaction for the
source table such that data is transformed during the replication process.

8) Mention what is the advantage of SLT replication?

 SAP SLT works on trigger based approach; such approach has no measurable performance impact in the
source system
 It offers filtering capability and transformation
 It enables real-time data replication, replicating only related data into HANA from non-SAP and SAP
source systems
 It is fully integrated with HANA studios
 Replication from several source systems to one HANA system is allowed, also from one source system to
multiple HANA systems is allowed.
9) Explain how you can avoid un-necessary information from being stored?

To avoid un-necessary information from being stored, you have to pause the replication by stopping
the schema-related jobs

10) Mention what is the role of master controller job in SAP HANA?

The job is arranged on demand and is responsible for

 Creating database triggers and logging table into the source system

 Creating Synonyms
 Writing new entries in admin tables in SLT server when a table is replicated/loaded
11) Explain what happens if the replication is suspended for a longer period of time or system outage of SLT
or HANA system?

If the replication is suspended for a longer period of time, the size of the logging tables increases.

12) Mention what is the role of the transaction manager and session?

The transaction manager co-ordinates database transactions and keeps a record of running and
closed transactions.  When transaction is rolled back or committed, the transaction manager notifies
the involved storage engines about the event so they can run necessary actions.

13) Explain how you can avoid un-necessary logging information from being stored?

You can avoid un-necessary logging information from being stored by pausing the replication by
stopping the schema-related jobs.

14) Explain how SQL statement is processed?

In the HANA database, each SQL statement is implemented in the reference of the transaction.  New
session is allotted to a new transaction.

15) Name various components of SAP HANA?

 SAP HANA DB
 SAP HANA Studio
 SAP HANA Appliance
 SAP HANA Application Cloud