SAP runs eight different types of processes on Application Server.

How many actual processes would be run for each type is dictated by SAP instance profiles (which we will talk about next).

• D - dial work process
• V - update work processes
• V1 - high priority update
• V2 - low priority update
• E - enqueue
• B - background/batch jobs
• M - message service
• S - spooling (print)
• G - gateway

System Administrator can monitor these processes through SAP's front end interface.

Process Name: Dialog
Letter: D
Description: Process real-time information in the foreground

Process Name: Background
Letter: D
Description: Background processing for long-running processes, reports, and batch jobs.

Process Name: Synchronous Update
Letter: V1
Description: Processes immediate updates to the database
Letter: V2
Description: Processes updates to the database on a lower priority than V1; on time-permits basis.

Process Name: Enqueue
Letter: E
Description: Manages database locks.

Process Name: Message
Letter: M
Description: Manages communication between application servers.

Process Name: Spool
Letter: S
Description: Manages print jobs (the print spool).

Process Name: Gateway
Letter: G
Description: Communicates with other SAP and non-SAP systems.

SAP Profiles are text files containing configuration information.

There are three SAP Profiles:

• Default Profile
• Start Profile
• Instance Profile

An SAP System may consists of more than one SAP instance for the purpose of load balancing.

Default Profile contains information common to all SAP instances within an SAP system.

Start profile contains the executable commands for starting SAP processes.

Instance profile contains information specific to an instance.

There would be one Instance profile for each SAP instance.

It would contain configuration information like:

• Memory configuration
• Buffer sizes
• Number of Work Processes

System Administrator can manage SAP Profiles through front-end interface.