Updating SAP ABAP Systems on UNIX and Linux: SAP MaxDB

SUM MailNotifier

The MailNotifier is a Java-based tool that notifies you by e-mail when the Software Update Manager (SUM) waits in a dialog for a user action.

If you are using the MailNotifier, you do not have to check the user interface (UI) of the SUM frequently, which is especially helpful during long-running update phases.

Structure

The MailNotifier tool of SUM consists of two Java files:

  • An executable jar file MailNotifierApp.jar

  • A properties file MailNotifierApp.props

Both files are part of the SUM archive that you have downloaded and unpacked as described in Downloading and Unpacking the Software Update Manager. The MailNotifier files have been unpacked to the subdirectory <SUM directory>/abap/mailNotifier of the SUM directory.

Copy both files to a PC or host that is able to connect to both the SUM ABAP process via HTTP or HTTPS and the SMTP mail server. In addition, the PC or host must have at least Java 8 installed so that the MailNotifier can run on it. Note that you may have to ask your mail provider to enable SMTP connections.

Configuration

To configure the MailNotifier, add or update parameters and their descriptions such as for Mail Server and SUM host to the properties file MailNotifierApp.props. Other parameters are:

  • check.interval: This parameter defines the interval in which the MailNotifier checks the status of the upgrade procedure.

  • check.dialog.tries: This parameter defines how often the Software Update Manager provides the MailNotifier with the dialog status before it sends an e-mail. This means that if you immediately handle the SUM dialog (and thus the MailNotifier receives the SUM dialog status only once, for example), the tool sends an e-mail.

Instead of using the property file, you can provide the parameters on the command line using the schema property=value when starting the jar file.

Basic Functionality

The MailNotifier checks the completeness of the parameters and checks if it is able to reach the update procedure in SUM. Then the tool sends an initial e-mail so that you can check if the configuration is working.
Then the tool starts checking the update frequently and if a dialog is waiting for your input, it sends an e-mail notification.

The following figure shows the basic functionality of the MailNotifier:

Basic Functionality of MailNotifier

Preparing the MailNotifier at a Glance

To prepare the MailNotifier, proceed as follows:

  1. Check if the following files have been unpacked to the subdirectory <SUM directory>/abap/mailNotifier of the SUM directory:

    • MailNotifierApp.jar

    • MailNotifierApp.props
  2. Copy these files to a PC or host that meets the following requirements:
    • It is able to connect to both the SUM ABAP process via HTTP or HTTPS and your SMTP mail server.

    • Java 8 or higher is installed.

  3. Configure the MailNotifier by entering the necessary parameters in the properties file MailNotifierApp.props.

You can then start the MailNotifier as described in Starting the MailNotifier.