Client administration in SAP – iiQ8 A Complete Guide for BASIS Administrators

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Client administration in SAP – iiQ8 A Complete Guide for BASIS Administrators

 

Client Administration in SAP – A Complete Guide for BASIS Administrators

Client administration is one of the core responsibilities of an SAP BASIS Administrator. In SAP, a client represents a logical partition of data within the same SAP system. Each client has its own master data, user data, and transactional information, making it possible to run multiple business environments in one system.

 

✅ 1. What is a Client in SAP?

A client is the highest-level organizational unit in an SAP system.
It separates data at the application level, allowing multiple business entities to operate independently within the same SAP instance.

Key characteristics:

  • Each client contains its own user master records, customizing settings, and application data.
  • Clients do not share data, which ensures data isolation across business units or environments.
  • Cross-client objects (like programs, dictionary elements) are shared across all clients.

Clients are identified by three-digit numbers, e.g., 000, 100, 200, 300.

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🔥 2. Types of SAP Clients

  1. Standard SAP clients
Client Purpose
000 Standard SAP reference client (contains SAP default configuration)
001 Copy of 000 (used to create new clients)
066 Early watch client (SAP monitoring)
  1. Custom clients (created by BASIS team)

Examples:

  • 100 → Development / Sandbox
  • 200 → Testing
  • 300 → Training
  • 400 → Production

⭐ 3. Client Administration Tasks for BASIS Administrator

A BASIS admin performs the following major tasks:

✔ Client Creation (Transaction: SCC4)

  • Create a logical client number
  • Maintain client roles (Test, Prod, Customizing)
  • Set change options (modifiable, not modifiable)

✔ Client Copy (Local or Remote)

Used for:

  • Creating a fresh test or training environment
  • Refreshing QA from PROD
  • Refreshing Sandbox from Dev/Test

Types of client copy:

  1. Local Client Copy – within the same system
    Transactions: SCCL, SCCLN
  2. Remote Client Copy – between two systems
    Transaction: SCC9
  3. Client Export / Import – using transport system
    Transactions: SCC8 (export), SCC7 (import monitoring)

Client copy profiles:

  • SAP_ALL – Includes everything (master + transactional + customizing)
  • SAP_CUST – Customizing only
  • SAP_USER – User-related data only
  • SAP_APP – Application data only

✔ Client Deletion (SCC5)

  • Deletes completely or partially depending on the profile selected.
  • Must ensure no other admins/users are logged in.

✔ Maintain Client Settings (SCC4)

Change:

  • Client role (Test, Customizing, Production)
  • Cross-client lock settings
  • Object changeability settings
  • Logical system assignment for ALE/IDoc

✔ Monitoring Client Copy Logs (SCC3)

  • View logs
  • Troubleshooting errors
  • Analyzing missing authorizations
  • Identifying large tables or inconsistencies

✔ Cross-Client Object Changes

Cross-client objects include:

  • Data Dictionary objects
  • Programs and Function Modules
  • Screens
  • Menu structures

Admins control changes via:

  • SE03 → Transport Organizer Tools
  • SCC4 → Cross-client object lock settings
  • SE06 → System Change Option

✔ RFC Setup for Remote Client Copy

  • Maintain RFC connection in SM59
  • Ensure correct permissions for communication users

✔ Logical System Assignment (BD54)

Used for:

  • ALE
  • EDI
  • Cross-system data exchange

Every client must have its own logical system name.

🔐 4. Security & Authorization in Client Administration

Important authorizations:

  • S_USER_GRP – User groups
  • S_USER_AGR – Role assignments
  • S_TABU_DIS – Table maintenance
  • S_ADMI_FCD – SAP administration functions
  • S_RFC – RFC communication

Client-specific vs cross-client:

  • User data, customizing = client-dependent
  • ABAP programs, tables, dictionary = cross-client

🧰 5. Common Transactions Used in Client Administration

Transaction Purpose
SCC4 Maintain clients
SCCL / SCCLN Local client copy
SCC9 Remote client copy
SCC8 Client export
SCC7 Post-import client copy
SCC5 Delete client
SCC3 Client copy logs
BD54 Maintain logical systems
SM59 RFC configurations
SE06 System change option
STMS Transport management

🧩 6. Client Strategy in SAP Landscape

A BASIS admin helps design the client’s purpose across the landscape.

Typical client landscape:

  • Dev System
    • 100 → Sandbox
    • 110 → Configuration
    • 120 → Unit testing
  • QA System
    • 200 → Integration Testing
    • 210 → UAT
  • Production System
    • 300 → Live client
    • 310 → Shadow client (optional)

⚠️ 7. Client Copy Best Practices (For BASIS)

  • Always take full system backup before major client operations.
  • Ensure sufficient disk space in /usr/sap/trans and database.
  • Lock users using SM01/SM02 during client copy or refresh.
  • Avoid copying from Prod → Dev with sensitive data without scrambling.
  • Run BDLS after remote copy to convert logical system names.
  • Avoid client copies while:
    • Batch jobs running
    • System load is high
  • Analyze large tables using SE14 / DB02 before copy.

🛠 8. Common Issues During Client Copy & Solutions

Issue Cause Solution
RFC errors Wrong credentials or missing authorizations Fix in SM59
Missing tables Incorrect copy profile Use SAP_ALL or required profile
Performance issues Large datasets Run copy during off-peak hours
Logical system errors Incorrect BDLS settings Correct BDLS mappings
User lockouts Copy overwrote user master records Reset user passwords

🎯 9. Role of a BASIS Admin in Client Administration

A BASIS Administrator ensures:

  • Correct client setup
  • Data integrity across clients
  • Smooth project lifecycle (Dev → QA → Prod)
  • Compliance with SAP change & transport policies
  • System stability and security

 

Final Summary

Client administration is a crucial part of BASIS operations involving configuration, security, data movement, and system control. A BASIS admin ensures:

  • Proper client creation and maintenance
  • Seamless client copy/refresh processes
  • Secure and controlled cross-client changes
  • RFC and logical system consistency
  • Stable SAP landscape for project and production use

Understanding client administration is essential for anyone working in SAP BASIS, as it directly affects project development, testing, and production stability.

 

 

A client is used in SAP system for – Client administration in SAP – iiQ8 – multiple login on single instance. You can create multiple clients on a single instance. It also provides data security wherein, one user with one client can’t see the data of the other user with another client. In addition, there is no need to install the software for each and every user.

Advantages of Client Concept

Client concept comes in with the following advantages −

  • You can share the same resources between multiple users.
  • You can manage SAP system landscape as you can create multiple clients for DEV, QA and PROD team.
  • You can share your SAP system with a large number of users.
  • You can create clients in SAP system from 000-999.

SAP system comes with the following three standard clients −

000 Client − This is called master client and is available when you install R/3 system.

001 Client − This client is a copy of 000 client including the test company. This client is used to create new clients normally.

066 Client − This is called SAP Early watch and is used for diagnostic scans and monitoring service in SAP system.

Client Concept

Steps to Create a New Client in SAP

 

Client administration in SAP

 

SAP comes with three “standard clients”: –

  1. 000
  2. 001
  3. 066

000 Client: – We can find this clients in the system as soon as we install SAP r/3 software. This is called master client. Client 000 contains a simple organizational structure of a test company and includes parameters for all applications, standard settings, and configurations for the control of standard transactions and examples to be used in many different profiles of the business applications. It contains client independent data.

001 Client: – This clients is a copy of the 000 client including the test company. This client’s settings are client-independent if it is configured or customized. People normally use 001 clients to create a new client.

066 Client: – This client is called early watch client. The SAP earlywatch alert is a diagnosis service, for solution monitoring of SAP and non-SAP systems in the SAP Solution Manager. Alert may contain Performance issue, average response time, current system load, Database administration, etc..

 

Client administration in SAP – iiQ8

 

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Defining Client Administration (SAP ECC)

 

This optional activity allows you to change customizing settings and to start CATT procedures.

Caution Caution

If your system is a productive system, skip this step.

Prerequisites

You have logged on to the SAP ECC system in English in order to start with the installation of the Best Practices scenario.

Note Note

The logon language of the installation user must be English (EN) to ensure that the CATT procedures run correctly.

Procedure

  1. Logon to the SAP ECC system.

  2. Access the activity using one of the following navigation options:

    • Call transaction code SCC4.

    • In the SAP ERP GUI, choose  Tools Administration Administration Client Administration Client Maintenance .

  3. Choose  Display Change (Ctrl + F1) .

  4. Confirm the warning message Caution: The table is cross-client.

  5. Select your SAP ERP client and choose Details (Ctrl + F2).

  6. In the Change View “Clients”: Details screen, select the following:

    • Automatic recording of changes

    • Changes to Repository and cross-client Customizing allowed

    • eCATT and CATT allowed

  7. Choose Save.

  8. Go back to the SAP Easy Access menu.

Client administration in SAP – iiQ8

 

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Top 20 FAQs with Interview Questions & Answers on Client Administration in SAP

 

  1. What is a client in SAP?

Answer:
A client is the highest-level data isolation layer in an SAP system. Each client has its own master data, user data, and configuration settings. Clients allow multiple business environments to run in one SAP instance without interfering with each other.

Interview Insight:
A client is like a separate business unit inside a single SAP system.

  1. What are the standard SAP clients?

Answer:

  • 000 → SAP reference client
  • 001 → Copy of client 000
  • 066 → EarlyWatch client (SAP monitoring)
  1. What is the purpose of client 000?

Answer:
Client 000 contains factory-default SAP configuration and serves as a reference model for creating new clients.

  1. What is SCC4 used for?

Answer:
SCC4 is used to maintain clients, define client roles, control cross-client settings, and set data change options.

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  1. What is a local client copy?

Answer:
A local client copy copies data from one client to another within the same SAP system using transaction SCCL/SCCLN.

  1. What is a remote client copy?

Answer:
Remote client copy transfers data from one system to another using RFC via SCC9.

  1. What are the client copy profiles?

Important profiles:

  • SAP_ALL – All data (master, transaction, customizing)
  • SAP_CUST – Customizing only
  • SAP_USER – User and authorization data
  • SAP_APP – Application data only
  1. What is BDLS and why is it required?

Answer:
BDLS converts logical system names after a client copy or system refresh.
Required to avoid IDoc and ALE inconsistencies.

Example: Convert PRDCLNT300 → QASCLNT200.

  1. What is a client role?

Answer:
Client role defines the purpose of the client:

  • Production
  • Test
  • Training
  • Customizing
  • Demo 

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  1. What is SCC5 used for?

Answer:
SCC5 is used to delete a client from the SAP system.

  1. What is SCC3 used for?

Answer:
SCC3 is the transaction used to monitor client copy logs, analyze errors, and check completion status.

  1. What precautions should be taken before client copy?

Important precautions:

  • Ensure full system backup
  • Lock users via SM02/SU10
  • Check free disk space and DB growth
  • Stop background jobs in target client
  • Disable interfaces temporarily
  1. What is cross-client data?

Answer:
Data shared across all clients in a system:

  • ABAP programs
  • Dictionary objects
  • Screens
  • Menus and configurations in TADIR

Controllable via SE06 and SCC4.

  1. What is client-independent (cross-client) customizing?

Answer:
Cross-client customizing affects all clients in the system. Example: Table maintenance for T000, T001.

  1. What is SAP logical system?

Answer:
A logical system is a unique name for a client used in:

  • ALE
  • IDoc communication
  • Cross-system integration

Configured using BD54.

  1. What is the difference between client copy and system copy?

Client Copy: Copies data between clients inside the same or different systems.
System Copy: Creates a full clone of the entire SAP system using SAPINST & database tools.

  1. What is SCC8 used for?

Answer:
SCC8 exports a client into a transport request for import into another system.

  1. What authorizations are needed for client administration?

Key authorizations:

  • S_ADMI_FCD – Administration functions
  • S_USER_GRP – User admin
  • S_RFC – RFC communication
  • S_TABU_DIS – Table maintenance
  1. What issues can occur during client copy?

Common issues:

  • RFC failure
  • Insufficient space
  • Table lock errors
  • Authorization failures
  • Logical system mismatch
  1. When should we run BDLS?

Answer:
After performing a remote client copy or system refresh, before activating interfaces.

🎯 TOP INTERVIEW QUESTIONS & ANSWERS (Client Administration – SAP BASIS)

Below are additional interview-focused Q&A often asked during BASIS interviews.

  1. What is the difference between client-dependent and client-independent?

Answer:

  • Client-dependent data is stored with the client number (MANDT field). Ex: User data, customizing.
  • Client-independent data is system-wide. Ex: ABAP programs, dictionary objects.
  1. How do you check which tables failed during client copy?

Answer:
Use SCC3 → Logs and check:

  • Error logs
  • Detailed logs
  • Tables with dump status

Also check ST22 and SM21 for system errors.

  1. What is the importance of logical system assignment in SCC4?

Answer:
Every client must have a unique logical system name. Helps in:

  • IDoc processing
  • ALE integration
  • Preventing inter-system conflicts

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  1. What is the process of remote client copy?

Steps:

  1. Create RFC in SM59
  2. Assign copy profile
  3. Run SCC9
  4. Monitor in SCC3
  5. Run BDLS afterward
  1. What is meant by a client refresh?

Answer:
Refreshing a client means copying data from a source client (usually Prod) to a target client (QA/Sandbox) to synchronize data.

  1. What steps do you perform after client refresh?

Post-refresh tasks:

  • Reassign logical system (BDLS)
  • Adjust RFC destinations
  • Disable Production jobs
  • Activate QA/Test jobs
  • Reconfigure interfaces
  • Reset user passwords
  1. What is the difference between SCCL and SCCLN?

Answer:

  • SCCL – Traditional local client copy (older)
  • SCCLN – New, faster, optimized copy with background job support
  1. Why do we lock users during client copy?

Answer:
To prevent:

  • Data inconsistency
  • Open sessions
  • Running jobs interfering with copy

Use SM02 or mass lock via SU10.

  1. What does SAP_USER copy profile include?

Answer:

  • Users
  • Roles
  • Passwords
  • Authorization data

Useful when creating user-training clients.

  1. Can you perform client copy in Production?

Answer:
Not recommended.
Allowed only with SAP approval and proper planning because it may affect:

  • Data consistency
  • Performance
  • Interface operations

 

⭐ Conclusion

This FAQ + Interview Questions set covers all key areas of Client Administration in SAP, including:

  • Concepts
  • Transactions
  • Pre/Post client copy tasks
  • Logical systems
  • Troubleshooting
  • Best practices
  • Interview-relevant details

 

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🧾 CLIENT COPY STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE (WITH SCREENSHOT-STYLE DESCRIPTIONS)

 

 

🚀 1. Prerequisites Before Client Copy

Before performing a client copy/refresh, ensure:

✔ System Backup taken

✔ Users Locked (Except Administrator)

  • Go to SM02 → Broadcast Message
  • “Client copy in progress. System temporarily locked.”

✔ Stop Background Jobs in Target Client

  • SM37 → Select Active Jobs → Cancel or Put on Hold

✔ Check Free Space

  • DB02 → Space Overview
  • Check /usr/sap/trans space as well.

✔ Maintain RFC for Remote Copy (if needed)

  • SM59 → Create RFC Type 3

🔧 2. Client Creation (SCC4)

Transaction: SCC4 → New Entries

Fill the following fields:

  • Client: (e.g., 200)
  • Role: Test / Training / Customizing / Production
  • Logical System: QASCLNT200
  • Changes Allowed: Automatic / No changes
  • Protection: Standard / Protect changes

[Screenshot View Example]

———————————————————

| Client | Description | Role   | Logical System | Chng |

———————————————————

| 200    | QA Client   | Test   | QASCLNT200     | Auto |

———————————————————

Save & exit.

✨ 3. LOCAL CLIENT COPY (SCCLN) – Recommended Method

Transaction: SCCLN

Step-by-Step:

  1. Source Client: Enter the source client (e.g., 100)
  2. Target Client: System auto-fills
  3. Select Profile:
    • SAP_ALL → Full copy
    • SAP_APP → Application data
    • SAP_CUST → Customizing
    • SAP_USER → User related
  4. Click: “Schedule in Background”
  5. Choose Variant → Usually default
  6. Confirm

[Screenshot View Example]

==========================================

| LOCAL CLIENT COPY (SCCLN)              |

——————————————

| Source Client: 100                     |

| Target Client: 200                     |

| Profile: SAP_ALL                       |

——————————————

| [Execute] [Schedule Background]        |

==========================================

🔄 4. REMOTE CLIENT COPY (SCC9)

Transaction: SCC9

Steps:

  1. Enter Source System RFC
  2. Enter Source Client
  3. Select Profile (SAP_ALL recommended)
  4. Click Execute
  5. Monitor in SCC3

Remote Copy Notes:

✔ Requires correct RFC
✔ Z-table sizes may impact performance
✔ High network dependency

📦 5. CLIENT EXPORT/IMPORT (SCC8 / STMS)

  1. Client Export – SCC8
  1. Enter Profile
  2. System creates a transport request (cofile + datafile)
  3. You’ll see files like:
    • K900123.SID (cofile)
    • R900123.SID (datafile)
  1. Client Import – STMS
  1. Import request in target system
  2. After import, run:
    • SCC7 (post-import actions)

🔍 6. Monitor Client Copy (SCC3)

Transaction: SCC3

Shows:

  • Status (Running, Completed, Errors)
  • Tables copied
  • Logs
  • Error summary

Client administration in SAP - iiQ8 A Complete Guide for BASIS Administrators

==========================================

| CLIENT COPY LOGS (SCC3)                |

——————————————

| Date      | Src | Tgt | Status | Log   |

——————————————

| 2025-11-12 |100 |200 | 100%  | Display|

==========================================

🔄 7. Post-Client Copy Mandatory Tasks

✔ Run BDLS (Convert logical system names)

BDLS → Old LS → New LS → Execute

✔ Activate Target Jobs

SM37 → Release or Schedule

✔ Adjust RFC Destinations

SM59 → Check logon credentials

✔ Reset Integration Settings

  • IDocs
  • Batch jobs
  • Interfaces

✔ Unlock Users

SU10 → Mass Unlock

🧹 8. Client Deletion (SCC5)

Transaction: SCC5
Steps:

  • Enter Client Number
  • Choose Deletion Type
  • Execute

⚠ WARNING: Irreversible

📌 CLIENT COPY NOTES

  • Perform during off-hours
  • Large DB tables (BKPF, BSEG, CDHDR) slow down copy
  • Make sure no user is logged in
  • Avoid copying production → development without data masking

📘 SAP CLIENT ADMINISTRATION CHEAT SHEET

(Perfect for quick reference or interview prep)

🔹 Key Transactions

Task T-Code
Maintain clients SCC4
Local client copy SCCL / SCCLN
Remote client copy SCC9
Client export SCC8
Client import monitoring SCC7
Client deletion SCC5
Logs SCC3
Logical system name BD54
Convert logical system BDLS
RFC configuration SM59
Transport settings STMS
Stop background jobs SM37

🔹 Client Copy Profiles (Most Important)

Profile What It Does
SAP_ALL Full copy (master + transactional + customizing)
SAP_CUST Customizing only
SAP_USER Only users + roles
SAP_APP Application data
SAP_UCSV User + Customizing
SAP_DEV Development-related

 

SAP client administration, SAP BASIS client copy, SAP SCC4 configuration, SAP client refresh steps, SAP BDLS process

🔹 Common Interview Q&A (Quick Revision)

  1. Difference between client copy and system copy?
  • Client copy → Only application data and customizing
  • System copy → Entire SAP system clone (DB + ASCS + profiles)
  1. What is BDLS? Why needed?

Converts logical system names after refresh to avoid IDoc errors.

  1. Why lock users during client copy?

Prevent data inconsistency and running session conflicts.

  1. What is cross-client customizing?

Changes apply across ALL clients, controlled by:

  • SE06
  • SCC4
  1. What tables cause client copy delays?
  • BKPF
  • BSEG
  • CDHDR
  • CDPOS
  • GLPCA

🔹 Before and After Client Copy Checklist

Before Copy:

✔ Backup
✔ Lock users
✔ Check space (DB + /usr/sap/trans)
✔ Stop jobs
✔ Check RFC

After Copy:

✔ BDLS
✔ Activate jobs
✔ Fix RFC destinations
✔ Correct background user passwords
✔ Unlock users

🔹 Naming Convention for Logical Systems

  • SIDCLNT100
  • DEVCLNT110
  • QASCLNT200
  • PRDCLNT300

🔹 Troubleshooting Quick Guide

Issue Fix
Client copy stuck Check SM21, ST22, DB locks
RFC error Fix SM59 logon data
Logical system mismatch Run BDLS
No space Extend tablespace (DBA tool)
Authorization error Assign S_ADMI_FCD

 

🎉 Done!

You now have:

✔ SAP Client Copy Step-by-Step Guide (with screen-style views)
✔ Client Administration Cheat Sheet

 

SAP client administration, SAP BASIS client copy, SAP SCC4 configuration, SAP client refresh steps, SAP BDLS process

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SAP client administration, SAP BASIS client copy, SAP SCC4 configuration, SAP client refresh steps, SAP BDLS process
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