How SAP Router Works?

SAProuter examines any incoming data packets, checks the route and authorization and then sends them to their specified targets. The partner that sets up the connection specifies the route (from SAProuter to SAProuter and to the target). This procedure is known as source routing.

If you want a connection, from a SAPgui to an R/3 System for example, to run through a SAProuter, then you need to enter the route in the SAPgui command line.

You can use SAProuter if there is no direct IP connection between the communication partners. SAProuter must be running on a host that is connected to both IP networks. It can then receive data from the SAPgui in one IP network and relay it to the R/3 server in another IP network, and vice versa. Normal IP routing is used between the application programs and the SAProuters.

Connections established using SAProuter have the additional advantage that no end-to-end connections between the participating system are necessary on network level. For example, if accessing a frontend PC on an R/3 server with an intermediate SAProuter, it is not necessary to define the complete path between the two systems at TCP/IP level. It is
sufficient if both parties can reach the SAProuter. From an SAP communication viewpoint, this represents a point of concentration in your network that serves as a starting point for each subconnection.

Each subnetwork stored logically behind a SAProuter is therefore reduced to the network address of the SAProuter.

Without SAProuter, the Internet Protocol (IP) addresses must be unique, which cannot always be guaranteed, particularly on international networks.

With SAProuter it is possible to connect two points that have unofficial,or even identical, IP addresses. Therefore, it is rarely
necessary to adapt existing address topologies using official IP addresses.

SAP Online Service & Support now only supports SAProuter connections due to these advantages. Because SAP routes all accesses to internal systems (such as SAPNet - R/3 Frontend) and all service connections via SAProuter, the connection between SAP and the customer is reduced to a single SAProuter - SAProuter connection.