The client is a concept peculiar to SAP: several independent logical partitions inside one physical system.
What a client is
A client is a three-digit number chosen at logon. Log into a different client on the same system and you see entirely different data, because most tables carry MANDT as the first key field and SQL access adds the client condition automatically.
| Client | Purpose |
|---|---|
| 000 | SAP reference client; not changed |
| 001 | Template client |
| 100 | Configuration client in development |
| 200 | Developer test client |
| 300 | Training |
Client dependent and independent
| Category | Scope | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Client dependent | Separate per client | Master data, documents, users, roles, most configuration |
| Client independent | Shared system-wide | ABAP programs, table definitions, currencies, units, calendars |
Client settings (SCC4)
| Setting | Content |
|---|---|
| Client role | Production, test, customising, demo, training |
| Changes to client-dependent objects | Whether changes are allowed and recorded |
| Changes to cross-client objects | Whether system-wide changes are allowed |
| Protection level | Restrictions on overwriting and copying |
| CATT / eCATT | Whether test automation may run |
Client copies
| Code | Kind | Content |
|---|---|---|
| SCCL | Local copy | Within one system |
| SCC9 | Remote copy | From another system over RFC |
| SCC8 | Client export | Via transport |
| SCC1 | Copy by transport request | One request into another client |
Landscape options
| Configuration | Systems | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Two systems | DEV + PRD | Small scale; risks inadequate testing |
| Three systems | DEV + QAS + PRD | The standard |
| Four or more | DEV + QAS + PRE + PRD | A separate pre-production verification stage |
| With sandbox | SBX plus three systems | Somewhere that can safely be broken |