77 Commonly Asked SAP Basis Interview Questions

Updated 19 March 2023

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The SAP Basis is the technological underpinning that allows SAP applications to work. It includes middleware programmes and technologies that enable SAP applications to be interoperable and portable across systems and databases. Having an idea of the typical questions asked in a SAP Basis job interview can help you prepare accordingly and increase your chances of success.

In this article, we provide you with some examples of the questions an interviewer may ask for a SAP basis position and sample answers that can help you prepare for your upcoming interview.

Basic SAP Basis interview questions

Here are some basic SAP Basis question that you can review if you are new to the field:

What is SAP Basis?
What is SAP IDES?
What is the difference between support package, kernel and SAP note?
Define a logical system? How to create it and why?
What are the different type of users in SAP?
How to define logon groups?
What are the types of work processes are there in SAP?
What is the role of an application server?
Do you think SAP is a database?
What is client administration in SAP systems?
What is the use of reference and service user in SAP?
What is the difference between central instance & application server?
Define supplementation language.
What is SAP single stack system?
Explain what is Data Sets in SAP?
Define logon groups?
What are the different types of transport requests in SAP basis?
What is private mode?
What is OK code? What are the differences between OK code and T-code?
How do you apply SAP notes to the SAP system?

In-depth SAP Basis interview questions

Here are some in-depth SAP Basis interview questions that you may be asked if you have some prior experience in the field:

Define BASIS R/3.
What is the purpose of TDEVC?
What is t-code SCC3 - client copy and transport log analysis?
What is the use of t-code SCC3 - client copy and transport log analysis?
What are the different types of RFC?
Explain what is Transactional RF.
What is the difference between SDM and JSPM?
What is SGEN in SAP Basis?
What is the purpose of table TADIR?
How do you differentiate between a Unicode and Non-Unicode system?
Describe roll-in, roll-out, response time and wait time.
What are the steps you will take while writing the IDs?
What are the tools to install JAVA patches?
What are the types of Transport requests?
What is the difference between consolidation and development route?
What is load balancing in SAP?
What is the difference between asynchronous and synchronous transport?
What are the different types of transport queries?
What is LUW?
In which directory are transport data files stored?

Practical SAP Basis interview questions

Here are some practical SAP Basis interview questions that you may be asked by the interviewer if you have prior experience with SAP Basis or the job requires you to know so:

Can you delete saved queues in SQM3?
How do you maintain roles in SAP systems?
How do you apply patches?
Can you install SAP patches when other users are online?
Can you get a list of the users with development access on a particular system?
How do you find out the dialog response time?
How to disable import all option from STMS in SAP?
Can you collect user details in transaction SM04?
How do you restrict multiple logins of users in SAP?
What is OCM and how to apply OCM Patches?
How do you determine whether your SAP server is unicode or ASCII?
What command line is used to take a backup?
The central system log will store in which directory?
How do you perform the transport?
How to perform a SAP-export and import tables in SAP from OS level?
What is the Tcode for displaying and deleting the locked objects?
What is the process of transferring the package from one client to another client made by ABAPER's?

Common interview questions

Here are some common HR questions that the interviewer may ask you during your interview process:

Why should we hire you?
How do you think your strengths can help in this position?
How are you improving on your weaknesses?
How do you manage your time?
What motivates you?
What do you do apart from work?
Would you consider yourself as discipline?
Would you consider yourself to be a team player?
Do you see yourself working in SAP Basis three years from now?
What do you think is the difference between working harder and working smarter?
How often do you code?
Tell us about your journey in SAP Basis.
Are you open to working on weekends or night shifts?
Would you like to travel?
Would you like us to provide accommodations?
Give us three reasons why you want this role.
Do you know the responsibilities of this job?
What are the skills apart from those mentioned in the job description that can help you in the role?
Mention your greatest achievements so far.
Are you a good mentor?

Example SAP Basis interview questions with answers

Here are a few example questions and answers that can help you better prepare yourself for your upcoming interview:

1. What is SAP Basis?

This is a general and basic question that your interviewer may ask you if you are new to the field. If they ask this question to you for an experienced role, it is a warm-up question to help you boost your confidence. If you have proper experience, you can use this question to share your experiences with SAP Basis.

Example: "SAP Basis is the technological underpinning that allows SAP applications to work. It includes middleware programmes and technologies that enable SAP applications to be interoperable and portable across systems and databases."

2. Define Basis R/3

While reviewing this question, also consider reviewing related topics. Try answering with a short and concise reply and prepare yourself for follow-up questions based on your answer. Make sure to mention that Basis is basically a collection of R/3 applications since that can work as a keyword.

Example: "Basis is basically a collection of R/3 system applications that provide an interface to the user. The user can start the ABAP/4 programs using this interface. This is R/3's operating system. That is, it lies between the ABAP/4 code and the operating system of the machine."

3. What is SAP IDES?

Define SAP IDES and explain the term with some examples in relation to SAP and R/3.

Example: "In the R/3 System, SAP Internet Demonstration and Evaluation System (IDES) represents a model corporation. A worldwide corporation with subsidiaries in a number of countries make IDES. IDES is a database that holds application data for a variety of business scenarios that the SAP system may execute."

4. What is the difference between support package, kernel and SAP note?

Mention any two or three differences in the three and explain each of them in a sentence or two.

Example: "SAP support packages are a collection of fixes that the transaction may use. Kernel, like other software, contains executable files, and when running a Kernel, a new version of the .exe file replaces the earlier versions. A SAP note is a type of error that occurs in a single transaction or program and by implementing a SAP note, you can fix this."

5. Can you delete saved queues in SQM3?

Define SQM3 and briefly explain its usage. This can show the interviewer that you have practical knowledge of the topic.

Example: "Yes, Users normally use SMQ3 in exceptional cases that are then addressed, and it's not uncommon for thousands of entries to accumulate. There is a report called RSTRFCIT that is used to clean up SMQ3 entries, however it only accepts TID and queue name as input. Another approach is to generate a Z-report using the TRFC QINS DELETE QUEUE function module, which deletes the previously stated stored queue."

6. Define logical system? How to create it and why?

You want to list the steps in the right order while answering this question. Keep each step short and stay on topic.

Example: "A logical system is a collection of applications that operate together to process a single piece of data. For ALE communication across SAP systems, you can use a logical system to identify an individual client in a system. We can define all communication in ALE as linkages between logical systems. TCODE used is SPRO."

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