SAP Note 21366 - ISHCM: Transceiver platforms and SapservX updates

Symptom:

For IS-HCM communication, you require a special IS-HCM version of the R/3 communication module (communications module, transceiver for communication with external programs). The SAP name of this product is "HCM Transceiver". In principle, the programs PUT_TAB, GET_TAB, GET_RESP, and SEND_TAB (not available for all platforms) are part of this product. In addition, you require scripts (or command files) to be able to set up the relevant program environment locally. SAP provides the relevant templates.
The HCM transceiver is not offered for all possible hardware platforms or operating systems. For example, VMS, Windows 3.*, Windows for Workgroups, Windows 95, Windows 98, and MS-DOS (among others) are not supported.

If the platform is supported but it uses an older operating system version, an HCM transceiver may not exist.
In addition, in the case of newer operating system versions, the programs may not be executable.

How can you obtain the HCM transceiver for the required platform? What must you do if no HCM transceiver is available for the required platform?
You installed an older version and the newer one should be used. How can you update this?

Other terms

Consulting, delivery, upgrade, transceiver, PUTTAB, GETTAB, GETRESP, SENDTAB, versions, version download

Reason and Prerequisites

Direct support can be provided only for selected current platforms.

Solution

The delivery of the HCM transceivers takes place using SapservX. You can use ftp (binary!; for OS/400 programs, consider the special procedure as described in the Implementation Guide under "Installation guide HCM-Transceiver" (as of Release 4.02B)) to import the unpacked programs from SapservX free of charge. These programs are provided in the directory /specific/ish/HCM for each platform. The most current version is stored there. If you upgrade the R/3 system, you do not have to upgrade the HCM transceivers as well.
Pattern scripts are provided there as templates for adjustment. During the upgrade of the programs, the scripts are not required (otherwise you overwrite your installation specifications).
You must read the files READ.ME or hinweis.txt.

The following is an overview of the supported 32 bit platforms:
Status on September 30, 1999:

ALPHAOSF for DEC Alpha OSF/1 3.2 (or higher),
HP for HP UX 9.0x (or higher),
LINUXINTEL for Red Hat Linux 6.0 (or higher) on Intel,
OS2 for OS/2 Warp 3.0,
OS400 for IBM OS/400 as of V3R7 on AS/400,
RM600 for SNI Reliant 5.41 (or higher) on RM400/600,
RS6000 for IBM AIX 3.2.5 (or higher),
SUN for SUN 5.4 (or higher),
WNTINTEL for MS Windows NT 3.5 or 4.0 on Intel,
WNTALPHA for MS Windows NT 3.5 or 4.0 on Alpha.

If you want to use this on OS/2, you must have installed TCP/IP Version 2.1 (or higher).
For more information about the prerequisites for using this on Linux, see Note 171356.

The following applies if your required platform is not listed above or you have upgraded to a 64 bit platform:
There is no reason for you to avoid using the functions of the communications module. In this situation, proceed as follows:

In the computer network, you require a computer that has an operating system that SAP supports for the HCM transceiver (see above). You can install the module there. You must then use the network file system functions to define common transfer directories from the "transceiver computer" to the relevant external partner systems (by means of 'mounts' or 'links').

After you do this, the complete range of functions of the communications module are available. The use of the interface remains identical on the partner system.