SAP CAL and Cost Estimate!

Estimating the Cost of Hosting an SAP CAL Instance

Table of Contents

1. Factors Influencing Cost
   • Virtual Machine (VM) Type
   • Storage
   • Runtime Hours
   • Data Transfer
   • Region
2. Checking SAP CAL Instance Details
   • Log in to SAP CAL
   • Select your appliance
   • Review system requirements
3. Using CSP Pricing Calculators
   • Amazon Web Services (AWS)
   • Microsoft Azure
   • Google Cloud Platform (GCP)
4. Leveraging Free Trials and Credits
   • AWS Free Tier
   • Azure Free Credit
   • GCP Free Credit
5. Tips for Minimizing Costs
   • Stop Instances
   • Use Auto-Shutdown
   • Select Lower-Cost Regions
   • Monitor Usage

1. Factors Influencing Cost

The cost of hosting an SAP CAL instance on a Cloud Service Provider (CSP) depends on several factors:

• Virtual Machine (VM) Type: The processing power and memory of the VM, often specified by SAP CAL.
• Storage: The amount and type of storage (SSD/HDD) needed for your application.
• Runtime Hours: How long the instance is running, as charges are typically hourly.
• Data Transfer: The cost of transferring data out of the cloud to the internet.
• Region: Costs can vary significantly depending on the geographic location of your resources.

2. Checking SAP CAL Instance Details

• Log in to SAP CAL: Access the SAP Cloud Appliance Library (https://cal.sap.com).
• Select your appliance: Choose the SAP solution you want to deploy.
• Review system requirements: Look for the "System Requirements" or "Infrastructure Details" section, which usually includes:
  • Suggested VM type: (e.g., m5.2xlarge on AWS or Standard_D8s_v3 on Azure)
  • Recommended storage: Size and type of storage needed.

3. Using CSP Pricing Calculators

Each CSP has a pricing calculator to help you estimate costs:

• Amazon Web Services (AWS):
  • Go to the AWS Pricing Calculator.
  • Select "EC2 Instance" and match the recommended type.
  • Add "EBS Storage" as needed.
  • Choose your "Region."
  • Review the hourly/monthly estimate.
• Microsoft Azure:
  • Use the Azure Pricing Calculator.
  • Select "Virtual Machine" and choose the recommended size.
  • Add "Managed Disk" storage.
  • Select your "Region."
  • Review the cost estimate.
• Google Cloud Platform (GCP):
  • Use the GCP Pricing Calculator.
  • Add a "Compute Engine" instance with the recommended type.
  • Include "Persistent Disk" storage.
  • Choose your "Region."
  • Get a detailed cost breakdown.

4. Leveraging Free Trials and Credits

• AWS: The AWS Free Tier offers 750 hours/month for some instances and storage for 12 months.
• Azure: $200 free credit for 30 days, plus some free services.
• GCP: $300 free credit for 90 days.

5. Tips for Minimizing Costs

• Stop Instances: Turn off instances when not in use to save on runtime costs.
• Use Auto-Shutdown: Schedule automatic shutdowns.
• Select Lower-Cost Regions: Compare prices across regions.
• Monitor Usage: Track expenses using the CSP's billing dashboard.