Identify compute, storage, and network requirements for SAP workloads

1. SAP HANA:

   If you are deploying SAP HANA workloads, select the appropriate virtual machine (VM) size based on your workload’s memory requirements. Azure provides various VM sizes with different memory configurations optimized for SAP HANA.

   For example, you can choose the “SAP HANA on Azure (Large Instances)” VM series for large-scale deployments requiring high memory capacity.

2. Non-HANA SAP Workloads:

   For non-HANA SAP workloads, identify the optimal VM size based on the SAPS (SAP Application Performance Standard) rating, which measures the system performance of SAP applications. Use the SAPS rating to match the VM size to the workload’s processing requirements.

Storage Requirements for SAP Workloads:

1. Azure NetApp Files:

   For SAP HANA deployments, Azure NetApp Files can provide high-performance file storage with low latency. It allows you to host HANA persistent storage volumes, meeting the performance demands of HANA workloads.

2. Azure Storage:

   Azure offers different storage options depending on the nature of your SAP workload. For example, Azure Managed Disks provide reliable, high-performance block storage for non-HANA SAP workloads. Choose the disk type (Standard HDD, Standard SSD, or Premium SSD) based on your workload’s IOPS and latency requirements.

Network Requirements for SAP Workloads:

1. Azure Virtual Networks:

   Deploy SAP workloads within Azure Virtual Networks (VNet) to establish isolated network environments. Use Azure Virtual Network Peering or Azure VPN Gateway for interconnecting VNets and on-premises networks securely.

2. ExpressRoute:

   For mission-critical SAP workloads requiring low-latency and high-throughput connectivity, consider using Azure ExpressRoute. It provides a dedicated connection between your on-premises network and Azure, ensuring reliable and private network communication.

3. Load Balancing:

   Use Azure Load Balancer or Azure Application Gateway to distribute traffic across multiple SAP application servers, ensuring high availability and scalability.

In addition to the above considerations, ensure that you follow SAP’s specific guidelines for deploying SAP workloads on Azure. These guidelines include network ports and protocols, operating system configurations, and security recommendations.

Remember to regularly monitor your SAP workloads using Azure Monitoring and Azure Advisor to optimize performance and identify any potential issues.

By carefully considering the compute, storage, and network requirements for SAP workloads and leveraging the capabilities of Azure, you can effectively plan and administer SAP solutions on the Azure platform.