Workload Automation and HANA database: a perfect integration

Here is the most frequent question about SAP and Workload Automation: “Is Workload Automation integrated with HANA database?” The answer is YES! In this article, I will explain what this integration means and will guide you through it. Do you know what SAP HANA actually means? 
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SAP HANA or High-performance ANalytic Appliance, is an application that uses in-memory database technology and allows the processing of massive amounts of real-time data in a short time. 

The in-memory computing engine allows HANA to process data stored in RAM as opposed to reading it from a disk. 

This allows the application to provide instantaneous results from customer transactions and data analyses.

Using Workload Automation, you can trigger on HANA database, both SQL queries and Stored Procedure. 

HANA offers an integration using jdbc driver for java client.

With the following few steps you will be able to trigger your SQL queries or stored procedure into your HANA database. 

Step 1. Locate the JDBC driver 
The driver (ngdbc.jar), which is installed as part of the SAP HANA client installation, is located at (unless otherwise specified during the installation): 

• For Microsoft Windows platforms: C:\Program Files\SAP\hdbclient\ 
• For Linux and UNIX platforms: /usr/sap/hdbclient/

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Step 2. Copy the JDBC driver in your Workload Automation preferred location

Step 3. Create a Workload Automation database job type using the Dynamic Workload Console 
a. Access the Workload Designer:

b. Select Database job type:

Step 4. Create a Workload Automation database job type 

• Enter the required information 
• For the Port number, use the following pattern: 3<instance number>15

Make a test connection to very that the configuration is correct:

You can also specify one or more failover servers by adding additional hosts, as in the following example: jdbc:sap://HANA_SERVER_1:30215; HANA_SERVER_2:30215; HANA_SERVER_3:30215

You can also directly test or use the SAP HANA JDBC driver from the command line:

For more information about the JDBC Connection Properties, you can check the online documentation. 

Step 5. Write your SQL HANA query in the SQL tab

Step 6. Write your Stored Procedure in the SQL tab

If the required parameters can be retrieved using “Lookup Parameters”:

This is an example of the job run result:

By adding one or more database type jobs to the job stream that automates your entire business process flow, you can schedule your SQL statements and stored procedures on a SAP HANA database directly, as part of your enterprise workload, using Workload Automation as a unique point of control.  Stay tuned for my next article on SAP topics. 
For comments, write to marco.borgianni@hcl.com.

Marco Borgianni
Senior Technical Specialist 

Marco is a Senior Technical Specialist Engineer and is working as a services for Workload Automation, an IBM + HCL product. Marco has been working in the Workload Automation team since 2000 as a developer, Level 3 Service Specialist, finally services acquiring a deep knowledge of customers' needs in that area. Marco is interested in everything that is related to supporting customers in their technological challenges. With a background in computer science technologies, in the design and development of integrations with ERP and Business Analytic tools.