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RFC module

The Celonis RFC (Remote Function Call) module is a custom ABAP component installed on your SAP ECC or S/4HANA system. It acts as the secure bridge between the Celonis Data Integration service and your SAP database, enabling high-performance data extraction while minimizing the load on your production environment.

The key performance features of the RFC module include:

  • Intelligent Filtering: Filters are applied directly to the database select statement. For large tables, it is recommended to filter on indexed columns to ensure optimal speed.

  • Join Optimization: For complex extractions involving joins, the module uses specialized logic (FOR ALL ENTRIES) to ensure the target table is queried efficiently without causing memory overflows.

  • Real-Time Readiness: Through the Change Log Manager (/CELONIS/CLMAN_UI), the module can install triggers to capture data changes as they happen, supporting delta-load requirements.

How the extraction works

Rather than pulling data through standard, slow interfaces, the RFC module follows an asynchronous "push-to-file" workflow:

  1. Initiation: The Celonis Extractor service calls the RFC module (/CELONIS/FM_NEW_EXTRACT), passing parameters for specific tables, columns, and filters.

  2. Background Processing: To protect system performance, the module triggers an SAP background job (/CELONIS/RP_BG_EXTRACT). This job reads the data using optimized database cursors.

  3. Local Staging: Data is written into compressed CSV chunks (defaulting to 50,000 lines per file) and stored temporarily in the SAP application server at the file path Z_CELONIS_TARGET.

  4. Transfer & Cleanup: Celonis polls this directory, fetches the files once they are ready, and immediately triggers a cleanup command (/CELONIS/FM_CLEANUP_FILES) to delete the temporary files from your SAP storage.

RFC module system requirements

Here are the requirements for a successful installation of the extractor component in the SAP system:

  • Minimum Version: SAP ECC 6 and Netweaver 7.0

    We actively test against new S/4HANA versions with the aim of ensuring full compatibility and support.

    If your SAP_BASIS version does not meet the minimal support package requirement, please apply the necessary Support Package or implement the corrections outlined in the following SAP Notes: 1487337, 1601030, and 1743483 (SAP Service marketplace login required).

    • For SAP ECC 4.6C and 5.0 we provide separate transports respectively

    • Here's a complete list of SAP BASIS versions with their minimal required versions of support packages necessary:

      SAP_BASIS version

      Minimal support package

      700

      SP28

      701

      SP13

      702

      SP13

      710

      SP16

      711

      SP11

      720

      SP08

      730

      SP08

      731

      SP05

      740+

      any

  • Development rights on the SAP system to install the modules (not required for the execution of an extraction)

  • Admin rights to Celonis Platform. See Managing Celonis Platform permissions.

  • 100 GB of free disk space on the SAP system server hard drive or a network drive at the location used for the temporary data folder for Installing the RFC module.

    Note

    The minimum required disk space is only used for the temporary storage of the data chunks which are removed after a successful transfer. The size of the compressed chunks varies from table to table, but their size is likely below 1 GB per chunk.

  • The system user running the SAP system needs to have access (reading and writing) rights to the temporary data folder

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