HI
We are currently running a Dual Track transport landscape with 6 systems, with landscape A ( Production Support) being made up of 4 instances --- DEV(BAU), QAS(BAU), Pre-PROD(BAU) and PROD(BAU) and landscape B (Project Development) containing DEV(PROJ) and QAS(PROJ).
Our releases, are made up of Emergency, Standard, Minor and Major. The first three originate in the production support landscape, and via a custom Retrofit process are sync into the project Landscape (hopefully we will move to SAP's retrofit process in the near future). Major releases originate on the project development landscape.....and then are transports into BAU landscape (again where a custom retrofit process takes place).
I can see the benefits of having Pre-Prod connected to either landscape. In SAP's "Two value releases per year" (White Paper) ....it has Pre-Prod by default on the Project Development landscape.......
Our Pre-Prod systems have the luxury of replicating a number of external connections to other systems, so our testing can be as close as we can get to prod. Something harder to do in the pure QAS environment on either landscape.
My question where is it best to place Pre-Prod system i.e. in which landscape?......Production Support (where it is currently sits) or Project Support where SAP seems to be suggesting via the white paper "Two Value Release per year".....Page 18 to 23?
One of the benefits I see of having it on its current landscape(Prod Support) is that Emergency, Standard and Minor releases...or get a dress rehearsal of being imported into an environment(Pre-Prod) that is as close to Production as we can get. For Major releases we still move these from the project landscape DEV(Proj)=> QAS(Proj)=> and then back through into DEV(Production Support),-----Object ownership is adjusted.....then it is transported into => QAS(BAU)....(regression testing happens) ====> and then finally into Pre-Prod...both as a dress rehearsal for "Go Live" and for User Acceptance testing by the Business.....and then Finally into prod. I suppose it is a larger overhead than just going
DEV(Proj)=> QAS(Proj)=> Pred prod => prod
So interested in anyone running the Dual Track Transport Landscape(6 systems) - where you have placed "Pre-Prod"...pros and cons you see or have found?
e.g.
DEV(Prod. Support) => QAS(Prod Support)=> Pre prod(Prod Support) and then Production
or place Pre prod on the Project Support landscape
DEV (Proj Support) => QAS(Proj Support) and then into Pre-prod => Production
Thoughts, especially if you are running a 6 system Dual Track Landscape.
Cheers
Peter