SAP HANA System Copy- Homogeneous Backup/Recovery Method - I choose this way

There’s something satisfying about setting up a fresh SAP HANA system that mirrors an existing one. The homogeneous system copy method—using backup and recovery—is one of the cleanest ways to do it, especially when both the source and target systems are running on the same platform and architecture.

🧱 What It Means

“Homogeneous” simply means the source and target systems are technically alike—same operating system, same database version, same endianness. So you’re not converting anything, just replicating.

This method is ideal when you want to:

• Create a test or development system from production

• Refresh an existing system with updated data

• Clone a system for training or sandbox purposes

🔄 How I Usually Approach It

Here’s the general flow I follow:

1. Prepare the Source System I start by making sure the source SAP HANA system is stable and backed up. Using HANA Studio or Cockpit, I perform a complete data backup of the tenant database. I choose a clear naming prefix and make sure the backup directory has enough space.

2. Transfer the Backup Files Once the backup is done, I copy the files to the target system’s backup directory. This part’s straightforward, but I always double-check the path defined in the global.ini file under persistence -> basepath_databackup.

3. Install the Target System Using Software Provisioning Manager (SWPM), I begin the installation of the target system. During the process, I select the Homogeneous System Copy option and point it to the backup files I transferred earlier.

4. Schema and Credentials One thing I always pay attention to is the schema name. If the source system used SAPPRD, I need to enter that same schema during the recovery—even if the target system is called SAPDEV. It’s a common mistake to mismatch these.

5. Recovery and Validation After the system is installed, SWPM uses the backup to recover the database. I monitor the logs to ensure everything restores correctly. Once done, I validate the system by logging in, checking data integrity, and confirming connectivity.

🧠 Why This Method Works Well

It’s reliable, predictable, and doesn’t require fancy migration tools. Plus, it preserves the structure and data exactly as it was. For environments where consistency is key—like QA or staging—it’s a go-to method.

Of course, it’s not plug-and-play. You still need to handle post-copy tasks like:

• Changing system IDs

• Adjusting RFCs and logical system names

• Reconfiguring interfaces and background jobs

But overall, the backup/recovery method gives you a solid foundation to build on.