What is SAP NetWeaver ? 

NetWeaver is the common brand name for all the SAP products that follow the SAP R/3 ERP software. NetWeaver delivers two completely independent (and incompatible) development frameworks. The SAP ABAP engine and the SAP WebDynpro J2EE engine. Most current SAP products are mostly written in ABAP, while Java applications on the J2EE engine gain some popularity.

IDoc is the data format used to exchange data with SAP systems. ALE is called a suite of tools used to control and monitor the flow of IDocs in and out the SAP systems.

Recommend to read the great SAP Netweaver for Dummies book. The book is based on the curriculum of the basic SAPTEC course of the SAP academy and gives a very good overview how the NetWeaver landscape is built and how it evolved from the celebrated SAP R/3.

Why SAP NetWeaver? 

Business-ready integration

ü       Delivers complete business integration of people, information, and business processes

ü       Enables new, cross-functional composite applications such as SAP xApps composite applications

ü       Contains preconfigured, ready-to-use, integrative business content to speed implementation and ROI 

Open and extensible 

ü       Provides the technical foundation for Enterprise Services Architecture, the blueprint that builds on SAP’s more than 30 years of enterprise application experience while taking advantage of flexible Web servicesand key open technologies

ü       Is completely based on open technologies and standards

ü       Provides full interoperability with Microsoft .NET and IBM WebSphere, protecting your investments inthose technologies 

Lower TCO 

ü       Integrates your existing IT investments so you can extract more value and business insight from the systemsyou already have in place

ü       Provides integration at lower cost by reducing the number of connections needed to integrate IT systems

ü      Supports the complete software life cycle of mission-critical applications with the lowest possible TCO 

Clear road map 

ü       Powers all SAP solutions and selected partner solutions as the technical foundation from this point forward