Ansible for SAP: Automate SAP HANA and S/4HANA Deployment Complete Guide

By Luca Berton · Published 2024-01-01 · Category: installation

Complete guide to Ansible for SAP automation. Automate SAP HANA installation, S/4HANA deployment, system copy, kernel patching, and infrastructure.

SAP environments are notoriously complex — HANA databases, application servers, shared filesystems, kernel patches, system copies, and strict change management. Ansible automates all of it through dedicated SAP collections. Here's how to automate SAP infrastructure from bare metal to running S/4HANA.

Why Automate SAP with Ansible

Manual SAP deployments take days. Ansible reduces this to hours:

SAP HANA installation — automated from OS preparation to database start
S/4HANA deployment — application server setup with consistent configuration
System copy/refresh — dev/test environment cloning from production
Kernel patching — rolling updates without unplanned downtime
Infrastructure provisioning — cloud VMs with SAP-certified sizing
Compliance — enforce security baselines across all SAP hosts

Collections for SAP

# Community SAP collections
ansible-galaxy collection install community.sap_install
ansible-galaxy collection install community.sap_operations
ansible-galaxy collection install community.sap_libs

# Red Hat certified collection (requires AAP subscription)
ansible-galaxy collection install redhat.sap_install

Collection	Purpose
`community.sap_install`	SAP HANA, NetWeaver, S/4HANA installation
`community.sap_operations`	Day-2 operations (start, stop, backup, monitoring)
`community.sap_libs`	SAP modules and utilities

OS Preparation for SAP

RHEL Configuration for SAP HANA

---
- name: Prepare RHEL for SAP HANA
  hosts: sap_hana
  become: true
  vars:
    sap_hana_sid: HDB
    sap_hana_instance_number: "00"
  tasks:
    - name: Apply SAP RHEL system role
      ansible.builtin.include_role:
        name: redhat.rhel_system_roles.sap_general_preconfigure

    - name: Apply HANA-specific preconfiguration
      ansible.builtin.include_role:
        name: redhat.rhel_system_roles.sap_hana_preconfigure

    - name: Configure kernel parameters
      ansible.posix.sysctl:
        name: "{{ item.key }}"
        value: "{{ item.value }}"
        sysctl_set: true
        state: present
        reload: true
      loop:
        - { key: 'vm.swappiness', value: '10' }
        - { key: 'net.ipv4.tcp_slow_start_after_idle', value: '0' }
        - { key: 'net.ipv4.tcp_timestamps', value: '1' }
        - { key: 'net.core.somaxconn', value: '4096' }
        - { key: 'vm.max_map_count', value: '2147483647' }

    - name: Configure transparent hugepages (disable for HANA)
      ansible.builtin.shell: |
        echo never > /sys/kernel/mm/transparent_hugepage/enabled
        echo never > /sys/kernel/mm/transparent_hugepage/defrag
      changed_when: false

    - name: Set THP in GRUB
      ansible.builtin.lineinfile:
        path: /etc/default/grub
        regexp: '^GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX='
        line: 'GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX="transparent_hugepage=never"'
        backup: true
      notify: rebuild grub

    - name: Install SAP dependencies
      ansible.builtin.dnf:
        name:
          - compat-sap-c++-14
          - tuned-profiles-sap-hana
          - resource-agents-sap-hana
          - libtool-ltdl
          - numactl
          - nfs-utils
        state: present

    - name: Enable SAP HANA tuned profile
      ansible.builtin.command: tuned-adm profile sap-hana
      changed_when: true

    - name: Configure SAP user limits
      ansible.builtin.template:
        src: sap-limits.conf.j2
        dest: /etc/security/limits.d/99-sap.conf
        mode: '0644'

    - name: Create SAP filesystems
      community.general.lvol:
        vg: "{{ item.vg }}"
        lv: "{{ item.lv }}"
        size: "{{ item.size }}"
      loop:
        - { vg: vg_hana, lv: lv_data, size: 512g }
        - { vg: vg_hana, lv: lv_log, size: 128g }
        - { vg: vg_hana, lv: lv_shared, size: 256g }

    - name: Mount SAP filesystems
      ansible.posix.mount:
        path: "{{ item.path }}"
        src: "{{ item.src }}"
        fstype: xfs
        opts: "{{ item.opts }}"
        state: mounted
      loop:
        - { path: '/hana/data', src: '/dev/vg_hana/lv_data', opts: 'noatime,nodiratime' }
        - { path: '/hana/log', src: '/dev/vg_hana/lv_log', opts: 'noatime,nodiratime' }
        - { path: '/hana/shared', src: '/dev/vg_hana/lv_shared', opts: 'defaults' }

  handlers:
    - name: rebuild grub
      ansible.builtin.command: grub2-mkconfig -o /boot/grub2/grub.cfg

SAP HANA Installation

---
- name: Install SAP HANA
  hosts: sap_hana
  become: true
  vars:
    sap_hana_sid: HDB
    sap_hana_instance_number: "00"
    sap_hana_install_software_directory: /hana/shared/install
    sap_hana_master_password: "{{ vault_hana_password }}"
  tasks:
    - name: Install SAP HANA
      ansible.builtin.include_role:
        name: community.sap_install.sap_hana_install
      vars:
        sap_hana_install_sid: "{{ sap_hana_sid }}"
        sap_hana_install_instance_nr: "{{ sap_hana_instance_number }}"
        sap_hana_install_master_password: "{{ sap_hana_master_password }}"
        sap_hana_install_software_path: "{{ sap_hana_install_software_directory }}"
        sap_hana_install_use_hdb_pwd_file: true

    - name: Verify HANA is running
      ansible.builtin.command: >
        su - {{ sap_hana_sid | lower }}adm -c
        "HDB info"
      register: hdb_info
      changed_when: false

    - name: Show HANA status
      ansible.builtin.debug:
        msg: "{{ hdb_info.stdout_lines }}"

SAP Application Server (NetWeaver/S/4HANA)

---
- name: Install SAP NetWeaver Application Server
  hosts: sap_app
  become: true
  vars:
    sap_swpm_sid: S4H
    sap_swpm_instance_number: "01"
    sap_swpm_db_host: hana01.example.com
    sap_swpm_db_sid: HDB
  tasks:
    - name: Prepare OS for NetWeaver
      ansible.builtin.include_role:
        name: redhat.rhel_system_roles.sap_netweaver_preconfigure

    - name: Install SAP using SWPM
      ansible.builtin.include_role:
        name: community.sap_install.sap_swpm
      vars:
        sap_swpm_product_catalog_id: "NW_ABAP_OneHost:S4HANA2023.CORE.HDB.ABAP"
        sap_swpm_software_path: /sapmnt/install
        sap_swpm_sapcar_path: /sapmnt/install/SAPCAR
        sap_swpm_swpm_path: /sapmnt/install/SWPM
        sap_swpm_master_password: "{{ vault_sap_password }}"
        sap_swpm_db_schema_abap: SAPHANADB
        sap_swpm_fqdn: "{{ ansible_fqdn }}"

Day-2 Operations

Start/Stop SAP Systems

---
- name: SAP system operations
  hosts: sap_all
  become: true
  tasks:
    - name: Stop SAP application
      community.sap_operations.sap_system:
        sid: S4H
        instance_number: "01"
        state: stopped
        username: s4hadm
      when: sap_action == 'stop'

    - name: Start SAP application
      community.sap_operations.sap_system:
        sid: S4H
        instance_number: "01"
        state: started
        username: s4hadm
      when: sap_action == 'start'

    - name: Stop HANA database
      ansible.builtin.command: >
        su - hdbadm -c "HDB stop"
      when: sap_action == 'stop_db'

    - name: Start HANA database
      ansible.builtin.command: >
        su - hdbadm -c "HDB start"
      when: sap_action == 'start_db'

HANA Backup

- name: HANA backup
  hosts: sap_hana
  become: true
  become_user: hdbadm
  vars:
    sap_hana_sid: HDB
    backup_prefix: "FULL_{{ ansible_date_time.date }}"
  tasks:
    - name: Run HANA full backup
      ansible.builtin.shell: |
        /usr/sap/{{ sap_hana_sid }}/HDB00/exe/hdbsql \
          -i 00 -u SYSTEM -p "{{ vault_hana_system_password }}" \
          "BACKUP DATA USING FILE ('{{ backup_prefix }}')"
      register: backup_result
      no_log: true

    - name: Verify backup
      ansible.builtin.shell: |
        /usr/sap/{{ sap_hana_sid }}/HDB00/exe/hdbsql \
          -i 00 -u SYSTEM -p "{{ vault_hana_system_password }}" \
          "SELECT * FROM M_BACKUP_CATALOG WHERE ENTRY_TYPE_NAME = 'complete data backup' ORDER BY UTC_START_TIME DESC LIMIT 1"
      register: backup_verify
      no_log: true
      changed_when: false

    - name: Show backup status
      ansible.builtin.debug:
        msg: "Backup completed: {{ backup_prefix }}"

SAP Kernel Patching

---
- name: SAP kernel patch
  hosts: sap_app
  become: true
  serial: 1    # One server at a time for rolling update
  vars:
    sap_sid: S4H
    kernel_archive: /sapmnt/patches/SAPEXE_100-80007612.SAR
  tasks:
    - name: Stop SAP instance
      ansible.builtin.command: >
        su - {{ sap_sid | lower }}adm -c "sapcontrol -nr 01 -function Stop"
      register: stop_result

    - name: Wait for SAP to stop
      ansible.builtin.command: >
        su - {{ sap_sid | lower }}adm -c "sapcontrol -nr 01 -function WaitforStopped 300 10"

    - name: Backup current kernel
      ansible.builtin.archive:
        path: /sapmnt/{{ sap_sid }}/exe/uc/
        dest: "/tmp/kernel_backup_{{ ansible_date_time.date }}.tar.gz"

    - name: Extract new kernel
      ansible.builtin.command: >
        /usr/sap/{{ sap_sid }}/SYS/exe/uc/linuxx86_64/SAPCAR
        -xf {{ kernel_archive }}
        -R /sapmnt/{{ sap_sid }}/exe/uc/linuxx86_64/

    - name: Start SAP instance
      ansible.builtin.command: >
        su - {{ sap_sid | lower }}adm -c "sapcontrol -nr 01 -function Start"

    - name: Wait for SAP to start
      ansible.builtin.command: >
        su - {{ sap_sid | lower }}adm -c "sapcontrol -nr 01 -function WaitforStarted 600 10"

    - name: Verify SAP is running
      ansible.builtin.command: >
        su - {{ sap_sid | lower }}adm -c "sapcontrol -nr 01 -function GetProcessList"
      register: process_list
      changed_when: false

    - name: Show process status
      ansible.builtin.debug:
        msg: "{{ process_list.stdout_lines }}"

Cloud Infrastructure for SAP

AWS SAP-Certified Instances

- name: Provision SAP HANA on AWS
  hosts: localhost
  connection: local
  tasks:
    - name: Create HANA instance
      amazon.aws.ec2_instance:
        name: sap-hana-prod
        instance_type: x2idn.16xlarge    # SAP certified for HANA
        image_id: "{{ sap_ami }}"         # RHEL for SAP
        subnet_id: "{{ subnet_id }}"
        security_group: "{{ sap_sg }}"
        key_name: sap-deploy
        volumes:
          - device_name: /dev/sda1
            ebs:
              volume_size: 100
              volume_type: gp3
          - device_name: /dev/xvdf
            ebs:
              volume_size: 512        # /hana/data
              volume_type: io2
              iops: 10000
          - device_name: /dev/xvdg
            ebs:
              volume_size: 128        # /hana/log
              volume_type: io2
              iops: 10000
        tags:
          Application: SAP
          Component: HANA
          Environment: production
        wait: true

Azure SAP-Certified VMs

- name: Provision SAP on Azure
  hosts: localhost
  connection: local
  tasks:
    - name: Create HANA VM
      azure.azcollection.azure_rm_virtualmachine:
        resource_group: sap-production-rg
        name: sap-hana-prod
        vm_size: Standard_M128s    # SAP certified for HANA
        admin_username: sapadmin
        ssh_password_enabled: false
        ssh_public_keys:
          - path: /home/sapadmin/.ssh/authorized_keys
            key_data: "{{ lookup('file', '~/.ssh/sap_key.pub') }}"
        image:
          offer: RHEL-SAP-HA
          publisher: RedHat
          sku: 8_8
          version: latest
        managed_disk_type: Premium_LRS
        os_disk_size_gb: 128
        data_disks:
          - lun: 0
            disk_size_gb: 512
            managed_disk_type: UltraSSD_LRS
          - lun: 1
            disk_size_gb: 128
            managed_disk_type: UltraSSD_LRS
        tags:
          Application: SAP
          Component: HANA

SAP System Monitoring

---
- name: SAP health check
  hosts: sap_all
  become: true
  tasks:
    - name: Check HANA status
      ansible.builtin.command: >
        su - hdbadm -c "sapcontrol -nr 00 -function GetProcessList"
      register: hana_status
      changed_when: false
      failed_when: "'GREEN' not in hana_status.stdout"
      when: "'sap_hana' in group_names"

    - name: Check SAP application status
      ansible.builtin.command: >
        su - s4hadm -c "sapcontrol -nr 01 -function GetProcessList"
      register: app_status
      changed_when: false
      failed_when: "'GREEN' not in app_status.stdout"
      when: "'sap_app' in group_names"

    - name: Check HANA disk usage
      ansible.builtin.command: df -h /hana/data /hana/log /hana/shared
      register: disk_usage
      changed_when: false

    - name: Alert on high disk usage
      ansible.builtin.debug:
        msg: "WARNING: Disk usage above 85% on {{ inventory_hostname }}"
      when: disk_usage.stdout is search('[89][0-9]%|100%')

FAQ

Which Ansible collection should I use for SAP?

Start with community.sap_install for HANA and NetWeaver installation. Use community.sap_operations for day-2 operations. If you have Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform, the redhat.sap_install collection includes certified, supported roles.

Can Ansible handle SAP high availability clusters?

Yes. The community.sap_install collection includes roles for HANA System Replication (HSR) and Pacemaker cluster configuration. Combined with RHEL HA system roles, you can automate the full HA stack.

How long does an automated SAP HANA installation take?

Typically 2-4 hours for OS preparation + HANA installation (versus 1-2 days manually). The real savings come from consistency — every system is configured identically.

Is it safe to automate SAP kernel patching?

Yes, with serial: 1 for rolling updates and proper health checks between instances. Always backup the kernel directory before patching, and verify the SAP instance starts correctly before moving to the next server.

What about SAP system copies?

Ansible can automate the entire system copy workflow: stop target system, restore HANA backup, run post-copy scripts, adjust hostnames/SIDs, and start the target system. This is one of the highest-ROI automation targets for SAP teams.

Conclusion

Ansible brings consistency and speed to SAP environments. Start with OS preparation and HANA installation automation — these are the highest-value, lowest-risk targets. Then expand to day-2 operations (backup, patching, monitoring) and system copies. The community.sap_install collection handles the heavy lifting; your playbooks define the what, the roles handle the how.

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