Installing the Database Shared Library (DBSL)

 

Purpose

The database-dependent part of the SAP database interface can be found in its own library that is dynamically linked to the SAP kernel. This database library contains the Database Shared Library (DBSL), as well as libraries belonging to the corresponding database manufacturer. These are either statically or dynamically linked to the database library.

When initiating an SAP system, the database-dependent database library is loaded before the DBSL is called up for the first time. The system searches for the library in the directory indicated by the environment variable DIR_LIBRARY (for example,. /usr/sap/<SAPSID>/SYS/exe/run). The environment variable dbms_type contains the name of the required database management system. When the system is initiated, an attempt is made to load the library belonging to the required database management system from the directory indicated by the environment variable DIR_LIBRARY.

You can find additional information about the database library in the SAP note 400818 - Information about the R/3 Database Library.

One of the advantages of this architecture is that a work process can include connections for several different databases belonging to different manufacturers.

To be able to transfer DB Connect data into a BW, you need to have installed the SAP-specific part of the database interface – the DBSL for the corresponding source-database management system for each BW application server.

Process

The database library is made available in the SAP Service Marketplace in the SAR archives LIB_DBSL.SAR, in the patch directories, which are independent of database manufacturer.

1. You can access the required directory via the Software Center of the SAP Service Marketplace in the Internet, via the following address: http://service.sap.com/swcenter-main ® SAP Web AS ® Relevant SAP Web AS Release ® Binary Patches ® Relevant SAP Kernel Release ® BW Application Server Operating System ® Source-Database Management System® LIB_DBSL.SAR.

2. Load the file into the directory indicated by the environment variable DIR_LIBRARY.

The file LIB_DBSL.SAR forms a complete SAP kernel patch together with the database-independent DW.SAR archive. (SAP Note 19466 - Downloading SAP Kernel Patches describes how kernel patches are imported).

3. Next, unpack the SAR archive with the SAPCAR tool. Before doing so, refer to note 212876- The New Archiving Tool SAPCAR

We recommend you also download the latest DBSL from the SAP Service Marketplace for SAP DB databases.

Result

In the directory defined in the environment variable of the BW Application server, you can find the library db<dbs>slib.<ext>, where <dbs> is the SAP-specific ID for the database management system and <ext> stands for the enhancement of the shared libraries in the respective operating system.

The database library for the Oracle database management system in Windows is called dboraslib.dll.

After the database-specific DB Client has been installed, all installation prerequisites for using DB Connect are met. You get information about the database-specific DB client from the respective database manufacturer.