Transport log troubleshooting is an essential part of maintaining a stable SAP landscape. When transports fail, it can halt development, testing, or even production go-lives.
Here's a detailed guide to transport log troubleshooting in SAP Basis:
Transport Log Troubleshooting in SAP Basis
Transport logs provide the detailed narrative of what happened during an export or import process of a transport request (TR). When a transport fails or behaves unexpectedly, these logs are your primary source of information for diagnosing and resolving the issue.
I. Understanding Transport Logs - Where to Find Them
SAP generates various logs for transports, each providing different levels of detail and scope.
-
Transport Request Logs (Individual TR Logs):
- Purpose: Detailed log for a specific transport request, covering both its export and import phases.
- Location:
- STMS Transaction: The most common way.
- For Export Logs: Go to
SE09
/SE10
, select the released TR, and choose "Request/Task" -> "Display Logs". - For Import Logs: Go to
STMS_IMPORT
, select the relevant system's import queue, select the TR, and choose "Logs" -> "Import Log".
- For Export Logs: Go to
- OS Level: Files are stored in the
usr/sap/trans/log
directory.- Export logs:
E<TR_NUMBER>.<SID>
(e.g.,E900001.DEV
). - Import logs:
I<TR_NUMBER>.<SID>
(e.g.,I900001.QAS
).
- Export logs:
- STMS Transaction: The most common way.
-
tp
System Log (SLOG
andULOG
):- Purpose: Global log files that record all
tp
(transport program) activities across the entire transport domain. - Location:
- STMS Transaction:
STMS_IMPORT
-> GoTo ->tp
System Log (This aggregatesSLOG
andULOG
). - OS Level:
usr/sap/trans/log
directory.SLOG<date>
: System Log (maintp
activity log).ULOG<date>
: User Log (recordstp
calls initiated by specific users).
- STMS Transaction:
- Content: Provides an overview of
tp
calls, return codes, and general messages, helping identify iftp
itself had issues or if specific transports failed.
- Purpose: Global log files that record all
-
RFC Logs:
- Purpose: Logs related to the Remote Function Call (RFC) communication used by TMS to interact between systems (e.g.,
TMSADM
user RFCs). - Location:
SM59
: Test the RFC connection. Any immediate errors will show up here.SM21
: System Log (look for RFC-related errors).dev_rfc<x>
files in the work directory (/usr/sap/<SID>/<Instance>/work
).
- Purpose: Logs related to the Remote Function Call (RFC) communication used by TMS to interact between systems (e.g.,
-
Work Process Developer Traces (
dev_w*
):- Purpose: Detailed logs from individual work processes. If a transport step involves ABAP programs (e.g., activating objects, running post-import methods), errors might be logged here.
- Location:
ST11
or directly at the OS level in the work directory (/usr/sap/<SID>/<Instance>/work
). Look for thedev_w*
files active during the transport time.
-
ICM Logs (
dev_icm
):- Purpose: For web-based transports or communication errors involving ICM.
- Location:
ST11
or OS level in the work directory (/usr/sap/<SID>/<Instance>/work
).
II. General Troubleshooting Approach
-
Start with
STMS_IMPORT
:- Check the import queue of the target system. What is the status of the transport request (TR)?
- Red Icon (Error): Indicates a failed import.
- Yellow Icon (Warning): May have had minor issues, check logs.
- Green Icon (Successful): But still check logs for any warnings/info messages.
- Double-click the TR or select "Logs" -> "Import Log". This is your first stop for specific TR import errors.
- Check the import queue of the target system. What is the status of the transport request (TR)?
-
Analyze the Import Log:
- Return Code (RC):
- RC=0: Successfully imported (or no objects to import).
- RC=4: Warnings. Check the log for details; it might be acceptable.
- RC=8: Errors, but generally recoverable. Check log for details. Often due to objects not active, insufficient permissions, or minor inconsistencies.
- RC=12 or RC=14 or RC=16: Serious errors. Import failed, objects might be inconsistent. Requires urgent attention.
- Error Messages: Read the error messages carefully. They often point directly to the cause:
- "Object <object_name> is locked"
- "No active version found for object <object_name>"
- "SYNTAX ERROR in program <program_name>"
- "Insufficient authorization"
- "DDIC activation failed"
- "Post-import method failed"
- "RFC connection error"
- Phases: Pay attention to which phase the import failed (e.g., "Main import", "Dictionary activation", "Post-import methods").
- Return Code (RC):
-
Check
tp
System Log (SLOG
/ULOG
):- If the import log is too generic, or if
tp
itself seems to be having issues (e.g., imports hanging), checkSTMS_IMPORT
-> GoTo ->tp
System Log. - Look for entries corresponding to the time of your failed transport. This log will show
tp
calls, their return codes, and system-wide messages.
- If the import log is too generic, or if
-
Check Work Process Developer Traces (
dev_w*
):- If the import log or
tp
log points to an ABAP-related error (e.g., object activation, syntax errors, short dumps), go toST11
. - Identify the work process that was active during the import time (check timestamps).
- Open the
dev_w<x>
file and search for keywords from the error message or common error terms likeERROR
,FATAL
,ABORT
,ASSERTION FAILED
,SHORTDUMP
.
- If the import log or
-
Check System Log (
SM21
):SM21
provides a chronological list of system messages. Filter by time range.- Look for database errors, RFC errors, security issues, or any critical system events that occurred during the transport.
-
Check
SM59
for RFC Issues:- If logs indicate RFC connection problems (
TMSADM
user related), go toSM59
. - Test the relevant RFC destination (e.g.,
TMSADM@<SID>.DOMAIN_<SID>
) by clicking "Connection Test" and "Authorization Test".
- If logs indicate RFC connection problems (
III. Common Transport Failure Scenarios and Solutions
Here's a breakdown of frequent issues and their fixes:
Scenario 1: Return Code 8 (Warning/Minor Error)
- Symptom: Import log shows RC=8.
- Common Causes & Solutions:
- "Object already exists in non-modifiable version": The object being transported already exists in the target system and might be locked or locally modified.
- Solution: Check object lock (
SE03
,SM12
). If the local object is not needed, proceed. If it's a conflict, address the modification.
- Solution: Check object lock (
- "Object not activated": ABAP dictionary objects (tables, views, data elements) might have been transported but failed to activate.
- Solution: Go to
SE11
(for DDIC) orSE38
(for programs) in the target system, select the object, and manually activate it. Check for any syntax errors during activation.
- Solution: Go to
- "Syntax error in program": ABAP program has syntax errors.
- Solution: Go to
SE38
in the target system, open the program, perform a syntax check, and correct errors (if allowed in a modifiable client) or re-transport a corrected version.
- Solution: Go to
- "No active version found": The source system didn't have an active version of the object.
- Solution: Go back to the source system, activate the object (
SE11
/SE38
), then release and re-transport.
- Solution: Go back to the source system, activate the object (
- "Object already exists in non-modifiable version": The object being transported already exists in the target system and might be locked or locally modified.
Scenario 2: Return Code 12 or 14 (Serious Error)
- Symptom: Import log shows RC=12 or 14. Transport is typically aborted.
- Common Causes & Solutions:
- "Post-import method <method_name> failed": A specific program (e.g.,
RDDIMPD_CLIENT_COPY_100
) designed to run after import failed. This is common for client copy related transports, authorization changes, or specific customizing.- Solution:
- Analyze the specific import log of the TR for details on the post-import method error.
- Often, the method will have its own detailed log (e.g., for
RDDIMPD_CLIENT_COPY_100
, checkSCC3
). - Run the post-import method manually if possible (via
SE38
or specific transaction, or retry import). - Check user
DDIC
password in client 000; some post-import methods require it.
- Solution:
- "Short dump during import": An ABAP program encountered a runtime error during the import.
- Solution: Go to
ST22
in the target system, analyze the short dump. It will point to the program and error. This usually indicates an inconsistency or a bug.
- Solution: Go to
- Insufficient Authorizations: The
DDIC
user (or the user performing the import) lacks necessary authorizations.- Solution: Ensure
DDIC
in client 000 hasSAP_ALL
orS_CTS_ADMIN
profile. Check for specific authorization objects in the dump or log.
- Solution: Ensure
- Database Errors: Database inconsistencies or space issues.
- Solution: Check
DB02
for space,SM21
for database-related errors. Involve DBA if needed.
- Solution: Check
- Object locked in target: Object is locked by a user or another process.
- Solution: Identify the lock (
SM12
,SE03
) and remove it if safe, then retry import.
- Solution: Identify the lock (
- "Table space full" or "Rollback segment too small":
- Solution: Extend tablespaces/rollback segments in the database.
- "Post-import method <method_name> failed": A specific program (e.g.,
Scenario 3: Transport Hanging/Stuck
- Symptom: Transport status in
STMS
doesn't change, ortp
process appears to be running indefinitely. - Common Causes & Solutions:
RDDIMPDP
Job Not Running: The main transport background job (RDDIMPDP
) is not scheduled or has failed/canceled.- Solution: Go to
SM37
, checkRDDIMPDP
job status. If not scheduled, go toSE38
and runRDDNEWPP
. Schedule it in client 000.
- Solution: Go to
tp
Process Stuck at OS Level: Thetp
executable is stuck, consuming CPU or not progressing.- Solution: At the OS level, find the
tp
process (usingps -ef | grep tp
on Unix/Linux, Task Manager on Windows) and terminate it. Then, restart the import. Use caution when terminating processes.
- Solution: At the OS level, find the
- Network/File System Issues: Intermittent loss of connection to
usr/sap/trans
.- Solution: Verify network connectivity and shared directory accessibility.
- Database Deadlock: A long-running database transaction is blocking
tp
.- Solution: Check
SM21
and database tools. Involve DBA.
- Solution: Check
Scenario 4: Transport Does Not Appear in Import Queue
- Symptom: Transport released in DEV, but not visible in QAS import queue (
STMS_IMPORT
). - Common Causes & Solutions:
- Export Failed: The export phase on the source system (DEV) failed.
- Solution: Check the export log of the TR in
SE09
/SE10
on DEV. Look for errors.
- Solution: Check the export log of the TR in
- Incorrect Transport Route/Layer: The TR's transport layer is not correctly linked to a consolidation route to the target system.
- Solution: In
STMS
on the Domain Controller, go to "Transport Routes." Verify the consolidation route from DEV to QAS and its assigned transport layer. Ensure the TR's objects belong to that layer.
- Solution: In
- Transport Directory Inaccessible during Export:
tp
could not write the data/cofiles tousr/sap/trans
.- Solution: Verify permissions and space on
usr/sap/trans
from the source system.
- Solution: Verify permissions and space on
- Buffer Inconsistency: The target system's import queue buffer file (
usr/sap/trans/buffer/<SID>buffer
) is corrupted or not updated.- Solution: On the target system, try
STMS_IMPORT
-> "Extras" -> "Other Requests" -> "Add" to manually add the TR number if it was successfully exported. If the buffer is inconsistent, a buffer reset might be needed (use with caution and after backup, usuallytp check DATAFILE system
andtp addtobuffer
commands).
- Solution: On the target system, try
- Export Failed: The export phase on the source system (DEV) failed.
IV. Key Tools for Troubleshooting
STMS
: Transport Management System (main entry point)STMS_IMPORT
: Import Queue managementSE09
/SE10
: Transport Organizer (Request/Task creation, release, log display)SM59
: RFC Destination maintenanceSM21
: System Log (for critical events, RFC errors, DB errors)ST11
: Display Developer Traces (dev_w*
,dev_icm
,dev_tp
, etc.)SM37
: Background Job management (forRDDIMPDP
)ST22
: ABAP Short Dump analysisAL11
: Display SAP Directories (forusr/sap/trans
)- OS Level Commands:
ps -ef
,top
,df -h
,ls -l
(Unix/Linux); Task Manager,dir
(Windows) for process and file system checks.
By systematically using these tools and understanding the common failure points, Basis administrators can efficiently troubleshoot and resolve transport issues, ensuring the smooth flow of changes across the SAP landscape.
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