SAP CAL and CSP a quick brief

Understanding SAP Cloud Appliance Library (CAL) and Cloud Service Providers

Table of Contents

1. What is SAP Cloud Appliance Library (CAL)?
2. What is a Cloud Service Provider (CSP)?
   • Examples of CSPs
3. Does using a CSP with CAL cost money?
   • Infrastructure Costs
   • SAP CAL Fees
   • Free Tier Options
4. What should you do?
   • Choose a CSP
   • Check for Free Credits
   • Estimate Costs
   • Turn Off Instances

1. What is SAP Cloud Appliance Library (CAL)?

SAP CAL allows you to quickly deploy pre-configured SAP solutions in the cloud. This is incredibly useful for:

• Testing: Trying out new SAP solutions or features without affecting your existing systems.
• Demos: Showcasing SAP products to potential customers or stakeholders.
• Development: Building and testing custom applications on a dedicated SAP environment.

2. What is a Cloud Service Provider (CSP)?

Think of CSPs as the providers of the underlying infrastructure for your cloud applications. They offer services like:

• Virtual Machines: These act like your computers in the cloud.
• Storage: Space to store your data and applications.
• Networking: Connecting your applications to the internet and other resources.

Examples of CSPs:

• Amazon Web Services (AWS)
• Microsoft Azure
• Google Cloud Platform (GCP)
• SAP Business Technology Platform (BTP)

When you use SAP CAL, your chosen SAP solution runs on the infrastructure of one of these CSPs.

3. Does using a CSP with CAL cost money?

Yes, there are costs associated with using a CSP:

• Infrastructure Costs: CSPs charge you based on the resources you consume, such as:
  • How many virtual machines you use.
  • How much storage space you need.
  • How much data you transfer over the network.

These costs can vary depending on the CSP, the region where your resources are located, the size of the virtual machines, and how long you use them.

• SAP CAL Fees: While some SAP CAL applications might be free to use (especially for trials), you are still responsible for paying the underlying CSP costs.
• Free Tier Options: Some CSPs offer free tiers or trial credits for new users. This can be a great way to minimize costs, especially when you're just testing out an SAP CAL application.

4. What should you do?

• Choose a CSP: Consider factors like pricing, available regions, and free trial options when selecting a CSP.
• Check for Free Credits: Take advantage of any free trials or credits offered by the CSP to test your CAL application.
• Estimate Costs: Use the cost calculators provided by CSPs to get an idea of your potential expenses.
• Turn Off Instances: When you're not actively using your SAP CAL instance, remember to stop or deallocate the resources to avoid unnecessary charges.

I'm happy to help you choose a CSP or estimate costs for your specific SAP CAL instance. Just let me know the application you're interested in and any specific requirements you might have!