User Interface technology at SAP has a long history. Starting with SAP GUI, Business Server Pages (BSP), Web Dynpro, Floorplan Manager (FPM), Enterprise Portal (as a client for UI integration), we have now Fiori.
Fiori apps are web applications, which need a SAPUI5 library and a Fiori Launchpad and last but not least an “SAP Fiori Front-end Server” on which all runs on premise or need SAP Fiori Cloud for cloud deployment.
Classic SAP GUI and Web Dynpro applications using SAP Fiori theme need an AS ABAP in the backend, which supports SAP Fiori theme. This is only the case for AS ABAP 7.51 and higher for S/4HANA.
What is SAP Fiori Front-end Server?
First of all, it is just an Application Server ABAP.
Technically it is an Add-on to AS ABAP, delivering the right Service Pack Stack (SPS) definition (stack.xml) for AS ABAP, suitable for Fiori App deployment.
Figure: Schematic representation of SAP Fiori Front-end Server
Each SAP Fiori Front-end Server (FES) supports multiple AS ABAP versions, basically starting from AS ABAP 7.40.
(Remark: AS ABAP for S/4HANA 1809 is not available as standalone installation)
FES defines the initial shipment stack (ISS) and service pack stack (SPS) for 2 AS ABAP software components independent from the AS ABAP stack.
- User Interface Technology (technical name “SAP_UI”) and
- SAP Gateway Foundation (technical name “SAP_GWFND”, only up to AS ABAP 7.51).
Means SAP_UI can be upgraded (new version) or updated (higher SP) independently from the underlying AS ABAP stack definition. SAP_GWFND can be updated independently from the underlying AS ABAP (up to 7.51 including).
The SAP Fiori Front-end Server version always defines exactly one version of SAP_UI. SAP_UI contains the innovation version and one maintenance version of the SAPUI5 library.
For example:
(For more information about versioning, see versioning of SAPUI5, and available SAPUI5 versions)
FES defines also the SAP_GWFND up to AS ABAP 7.51. The SAP_GWFND software component version has always the same version as the underlying AS ABAP but shares the Service Pack Stack definition with SAP_UI, which is defined in FES.
From AS ABAP 7.52 on, SAP_GWFND is not anymore part of the FES stack definition and can be updated independently from the FES (and AS ABAP) stack definition.
In hub deployment scenarios, the recommendation is, that the SAP_GWFND version of the FES should not be more than 3 versions higher or lower than the backend SAP_GWFND. 7.51 or higher is recommended for S/4HANA. 7.50 typical for Business Suite.
Two additional Components
FES contains additionally the SAP software component “UI for Basis Applications“, the technical name “UIBAS“. In documentation, it is named “SAP Fiori Apps for SAP NetWeaver”. The target group is “key user for SAP NetWeaver”. These apps are mainly required for some S/4HANA Fiori apps and are only available for FES on NW AS ABAP 7.5 or higher.
100-300 for S/4HANA.
The second additional component is SAPUIFT 100 (only one version available, SP01 max.). This component is deprecated and was removed in FES 5.0.
Maintenance and Update
SAP Fiori Front-end Server Add-on always provides the software component “SAP_UI” independent from the underlying AS ABAP.
Upt to FES 3.0 it also provides “SAP_GWFND” . So these 2 components can be downloaded and implemented or updated independently from the AS ABAP stack definition.
The FES stack definition can run a higher SPS than the underlying AS ABAP SPS. E.g. if you update FES 3.0 to SPS09, typically SAP_UI and SAP_GWFND (until 7.51) will be SP09, while e.g. SAP NetWeaver 7.5 can – but need not – stay on SPS01.
Upgrade of SAP Fiori Front-end Server
As ABAP allows you to upgrade the SAP_UI version to a higher version. e.g. AS ABAP 7.50 allow to upgrade SAP_UI 7.50 to SAP_7.51. FES does not. In this example, you have to upgrade from FES 2.0 to FES 3.0.
If you want to “upgrade” your SAP_GWFND to a higher version, you have to upgrade the underlying AS ABAP to a higher instance. The highest possible SAP_GWFND and AS ABAP version is the SAP_UI version.
Deployment of SAP Fiori apps for S/4HANA
Fiori apps for S/4HANA are mostly bundled in one product version of SAP Fiori for S/4HANA:
you cannot deploy multiple, different SAP Fiori for S/4HANA product versions on one FES. Therefore you need for each product version on decicated FES.
Always use SAP Maintenance Planner for plannning updates and upgrades
Always use SAP Maintenance Planner to plan installations, upgrades (higher product version) and updates (higher software component versions). Maintenance Planner provides all dependencies between installed and planned products and software components of your system landsape.
Available versions of SAP Fiori Apps (e.g. higerh versions of deployed Fiori Apps for higher FES versions), can be found at Fiori Apps Library.
Deployment Options for SAP Fiori Front-end Server
SAP Fiori Front-End Server allows various deployment options.
- Embedded deployment: The front-end server is deployed into the (existing) AS ABAP of a Business Suite or S/4HANA backend system.
- Hub 1:1 single backend deployment: A dedicated AS ABAP based SAP Fiori Front-end Server is deployed “in front of” the backend system. These allow decoupling of the life cycle and the sizing of the AS ABAP of the FES from the AS ABAP of the backend. Different backends run in different AS ABAP clients of the FES. Fiori apps for different backend versions do not interfere each other.
- Hub multi-backend deployment: Deployment in one FES client for multiple backends. Only possible, if the software components for the Fiori apps are different and do not interfere each other. (Typically not the case for S/4HANA).
Typical or “start of planning” recommendations for Business Suite backend system is: use FES hub deployment with AS ABAP 7.50 for FES.
For S/4HANA: use embedded deployment. If you choose FES hub deployment, use AS ABAP 7.51 or 7.52.
For detailed information, see blog Fiori Deployment Recommendations and Release Information Notes for the deployed Fiori Apps.
Additional Information
2219596 Central Note for SAP Fiori Front-End Server 2.0
2355644 Central Note for SAP Fiori Front-End Server 3.0 (incl. Fiori 2.0)
2484979 SAP-Fiori-Frontend-Server 4.0 – General Information
2618605 – SAP-Fiori-Frontend-Server 5.0 – General Information
2217489 – Maintenance and Update Strategy for SAP Fiori Front-End Server
Related Blogs on SAP Fiori Front-end Server
Explore the SAP Fiori Implementation Options
Planning an SAP Fiori Implementation
SAP Fiori Front-end Server Installation Guide
Landscape Recommendations
SAP Fiori Deployment Options and Recommendations
Additional Readings
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