Deep Dive: Implementing Seamless SAP Data Management with SUSE and Denodo

Authored by Suresh S, Partner Solution Architect, SUSE

Introduction

As enterprises race to modernize their data ecosystems, integrating complex SAP workloads across hybrid environments demands more than foundational stability—it requires intelligent, real-time data integration. This post explores the technical mechanics of integrating SUSE Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications with Denodo’s Data Virtualization Platform and how this partnership empowers organizations to drive operational agility, boost performance, and reduce complexity.

Architecture Overview

At the core of the integration is SUSE Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications, which provides high availability and optimized system performance. This infrastructure is paired with Denodo’s logical data virtualization layer, which delivers real-time access across SAP and non-SAP systems, without the need for traditional data replication.

Key Architecture Components

The solution architecture is anchored on SUSE Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications. It offers a resilient platform for running SAP workloads with high availability clustering via Pacemaker, automated system tuning specifically for SAP HANA, and seamless integration across on-premises environments, data centers, and cloud platforms such as AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud.

On top of this, the Denodo Platform connects to diverse data sources—including SAP ECC, S/4HANA, SAP BW, Snowflake, Salesforce, and REST APIs—to build a logical data layer. This layer exposes unified views to tools like Power BI, Tableau, or custom applications. Role-based access control and data lineage tracking ensure governance, security, and compliance across the enterprise.

Key Integration Benefits – Technical Deep Dive

1. Advanced Security Governance

SUSE Linux is Common Criteria EAL 4+ certified and supports SLSA 4 compliance, providing a secure base for SAP workloads with features like secure boot, encrypted file systems, and detailed audit logging. Denodo strengthens data-level security with fine-grained role-based access control (RBAC), column, row-level data masking, and support for OAuth and SAML. Together, they deliver a centralized, policy-driven governance across diverse data sources.

2. Real-Time Data Integration Without ETL Overhead

Denodo enables real-time querying of live SAP data using optimized adapters and standard JDBC/ODBC connectivity. It allows seamless integration of SAP and non-SAP data, including cloud storage, Excel files, and NoSQL databases, eliminating the need for traditional ETL processes. Selective caching of data from virtual views ensures low latency where needed, as well as lower data-source load, whilst preserving flexibility of the virtualization platform.

Real-World Case Studies

A global healthcare provider needed to connect their SAP system with customer relationship management and logistics platforms to access real-time insights. By deploying Denodo on SUSE Linux for SAP,  creating a unified virtualized data layer. This led to a 60% reduction in procurement time and enhanced governance through robust audit trails.

A multinational pharmaceutical and cosmetics company faced fragmented data across SAP and non-SAP silos and relied heavily on manual reporting. By leveraging Denodo’s data virtualization to deliver live data into analytics tools, the organization achieved greater reporting agility and empowered non-technical users with self-service data access.

A leading firm in the aerospace industry struggled with a complex data landscape spread across SAP, Oracle, and various in-house systems. By implementing Denodo on SUSE Linux, were able to deliver real-time executive dashboards without relying on traditional ETL pipelines, resulting in a 70% improvement in decision-making speed.

Performance Optimization Tips

To maximize performance, organizations can use Denodo’s caching selectively for high-load SAP queries to reduce round-trip and latency. SUSE’s tuned profiles for SAP HANA should be configured to ensure optimal memory handling. Enabling data lineage and tagging in Denodo enhances traceability for compliance audits. Additionally, using SUSE High Availability (HA) with system replication ensures zero-downtime SAP workloads during maintenance periods.

Conclusion

SUSE and Denodo’s integrated stack forms a powerful, future-ready foundation for SAP modernization. Whether you are running SAP ECC, migrating to S/4HANA, or deploying across multi-cloud environments, this partnership offers unmatched performance, security, and agility. Enterprises no longer need to choose between innovation and stability—they can have both.

Call to Action

Looking to accelerate your SAP data integration journey?
Explore how SUSE and Denodo can help you build a real-time, scalable, and secure data strategy—without re-architecting your entire landscape.

👉 Contact our experts and book a demo to see how this integration works in action.