How In-Memory and Flash Could Transform IT Architectures and Drive the Next "Killer Apps" 

CREDIT SUISSE

HANA the SAP In-Memory Database operates by combining advances in data compression, columnar data store, and in-memory computing technology. This book referred below is the CHAPTER & VERSE; "the state of the nation" ON THE Konzept and the Technology;-

In-Memory Data Management An Inflection Point for Enterprise Applications

By Hasso Plattner and Alexander Zeier

HANA is the implementation of the Hasso ideas outlined below and in the book (above) HANA is -

the SAP High-Performance Analytic Appliance 

HANA is designed to enable faster ways to process data from business applications in real time, without impacting the underlying source system.

relative product positioning in the SAP architecture landscape

QUOTATION () [from HCL Axon]

The question that still requires clarification is what is the relationship between HANA and sap BW Accelerator, and SAP's other In Memory products like BusinessObjects Explorer. The current answer is that BW Accelerator is an accelerator for pre-existing BW Queries. It can do little more than that. The BWA can also be used to accelerate BOBJ (BusinessObjects) Web, Crystal and other analytics if the source of the data is from BW. The BWA can only report on data in BW. By the way,  SAP has already announced that HANA v.5 will support BW, Explorer and ECC blades. Whether the current BWA can be upgraded to HANA v.5 is still to be confirmed. The current assumption, going on SAP's history should be a yes, but this is an unqualified statement. HANA, on the other hand, is exactly like the BW Accelerator except it connects directly to the ECC environment and will run

real-time analytics from data in the ECC.

FROM A GOOD PIECE OF ANALYSIS; (here, on the SAP servers:)

HANA BW BO LANDSCAPE SUMMARY

IN SUMMARY THEN (from SAP SDN)

BWA- Increases BW query, supports only SAP Data.

-- BWA accelerates data sourced from BW which maybe have been loaded from any data source. BWA 7.2 with BW 7.3 has a lot of additional options including being a primary persistence for InfoCubes (i.e. they are not stored in the BW's relational database).

• BOEA-Business Objects Explorer Accelerator supports non-SAP data, compatible with BWA 7.2 ,additional blade is required.

• BOEA is based on BWA 7.2 Support data loaded from BW and any source supported by SAP BusinessObjects Data Services.

HANA-In-Memory appliance supports realtime reporting of data from the ECC to BW.

• Hana supports realtime data loads via Sybase Replication Server and from any source supported by SAP BusinessObjects Data Services. Hana supports a number of BI clients such as SAP BusinessObjects Explorer, Dashboards (Xcelsius), Analysis, etc. (inc. BW)

SOURCE: SAP SDN

THE FORMAL SAP POSITION

This game-changing transaction aligns to SAP's growth strategy, enhancing our ability to drive innovation and extend our software onto any device. It also allows us to expand our addressable market, and leverage Sybase's large installed base of customers in strategic industries such

as financial services and telecommunications, and in fast-growth markets, such as China, where SAP looks to dramatically grow.

This acquisition greatly benefits SAP and Sybase, our combined customer base and you. For SAP, the reach of our solutions across mobile platforms will dramatically increase, as will our ability to more quickly realize our in-memory computing vision. At the same time, SAP, Sybase and our customers will be able to tap into Sybase's messaging network and its ability to reach 4 billion mobile subscribers through 850+ operator relationships worldwide to engage consumers via alerts, transactions and promotions on mobile devices.

EXPERT COMMENT

it could have some interesting implications for in-memory processing of bulk data.  The scenarios being discussed currently (as presented to SAP partners at the SAP Banking Base Camp in Mannheim two weeks ago) imply that there is a revolution in processing of both operational and analytical data just round the corner;

Information Week

The acquisition will diversify SAP's product line, expanding its business intelligence and customer relationship management offerings into data management and analytics, particularly as related to mobile devices.

ASHLEY VANCE - NYT

eWeek (Gets in Right)!

10 Reasons Why Buying Sybase Was a Good Move for SAP

SAP Acquisition of Sybase Continues in-Memory Database Push