Remote Function Calls (RFCs)
This section provides comprehensive documentation on SAP Remote Function Calls (RFCs), which are essential for system integration and remote communication in SAP environments.
What are RFCs?
Remote Function Calls (RFCs) are SAP's mechanism for communication between SAP systems or between SAP and non-SAP systems. They allow programs to call and execute function modules on remote systems, enabling distributed processing and system integration.
Key Concepts
RFC Types
- Synchronous RFC (sRFC): The calling program waits until the called function is executed completely.
- Asynchronous RFC (aRFC): The calling program continues execution without waiting for the called function to complete.
- Transactional RFC (tRFC): Ensures that a function module is executed exactly once on the target system, even in case of communication failures.
- Queued RFC (qRFC): Similar to tRFC but with additional queue management to control the sequence of execution.
- Bgd RFC (bgRFC): Background RFC, an enhanced version of qRFC with improved performance and monitoring capabilities.
RFC-Enabled Function Modules
Function modules must be specifically designated as "RFC-enabled" to be called remotely. This requires:
- Setting the "Remote-Enabled Module" attribute
- Proper parameter typing and handling
- Appropriate exception management
Documentation Sections
Standard RFCs
Documentation on standard RFC-enabled function modules provided by SAP. These are ready-to-use functions for common integration scenarios.
Custom RFCs
Guidelines and examples for creating custom RFC-enabled function modules for specific business requirements.
Common Use Cases
- System-to-system data exchange
- Integration with third-party applications
- Distributed processing across multiple SAP systems
- Batch data processing
- Real-time data synchronization
RFC Security
RFCs can pose security risks if not properly managed. Key security considerations include:
- Authorization checks for RFC users
- Secure storage of RFC destination credentials
- Network security for RFC communication
- Regular auditing of RFC usage
Best Practices
- Implement proper error handling in RFC-enabled function modules
- Use transaction RFCs (tRFC/qRFC) for critical business processes
- Monitor RFC execution with transaction SM58
- Document RFC interfaces thoroughly
- Test RFC connections before production deployment
Tools for RFC Management
- SM59: RFC Destinations Configuration
- SM58: Asynchronous RFC Error Log
- RSARFCSE: RFC Security Analysis
- RSRFCCHK: RFC Consistency Check