Hardware Requirements for SAP S/4HANA Migration Explained
Migrating to SAP S/4HANA is not just a software upgrade. It is a shift to a new technical foundation built around in-memory computing, and working with an experienced provider like Accely SAP migration partner can help organizations navigate this transition more effectively. That shift puts hardware decisions front and center. If the infrastructure is undersized or poorly planned, performance issues will follow. If it is oversized, costs can spiral quickly. This article explains the core hardware requirements for an SAP S/4HANA migration, focusing on what actually matters rather than marketing claims or vendor hype.Why hardware matters more with S/4HANA
SAP S/4HANA design enables real-time analytics and faster transactions. But it also means hardware limitations are exposed much faster than in classic SAP ECC systems.
CPU speed, memory capacity, storage latency, and network throughput all directly affect system behavior. Hardware is no longer a background decision handled late in the project. It shapes timelines, system sizing, and long-term scalability from day one.
CPU requirements: fewer cores, higher performance
SAP HANA benefits more from high clock speed than from a large number of slow cores. This differs from traditional databases, which scale mainly through parallelism.
Key CPU considerations include:
- High single-core performance
Many HANA operations are CPU-bound. Faster cores often outperform higher core counts. - Certified processors only
SAP certifies specific CPU models for HANA. Most deployments use Intel Xeon or AMD EPYC processors approved by SAP. - NUMA awareness
Multi-socket systems must be configured carefully. Poor NUMA alignment can cause memory access delays that are hard to diagnose later.
For most production systems, fewer but faster CPUs deliver better, more predictable results than dense-core configurations.
Memory sizing: the most critical decision
Memory is the defining requirement for SAP S/4HANA. Since operational data resides in RAM, underestimating memory leads to immediate performance problems.
When sizing memory, consider:
- Database footprint
This includes tables, indexes, and delta storage. Unicode systems and custom code increase memory consumption. - Growth over time
Sizing only for current data volumes is risky. A three- to five-year growth horizon is common practice. - Temporary workload peaks
Data loads, month-end close, and MRP runs can spike memory usage.
SAP provides sizing tools and reports, but they rely on accurate source system data. Memory should never be sized “tight.” A safety buffer is not optional; it is a necessity.
Storage: performance before capacity
Although SAP HANA is memory-centric, storage still plays a vital role. Logs, savepoints, backups, and system restarts all depend on fast and reliable disks.
Important storage guidelines include:
- Low latency for log volumes
Log writes are synchronous. Slow disks directly affect transaction response times. - High throughput for data volumes
Savepoints and system recovery depend on sustained write and read speeds. - Enterprise-grade SSD or NVMe
Traditional spinning disks are no longer suitable for production HANA systems.
Capacity planning matters, but performance characteristics matter more. Storage that meets size requirements but misses latency targets will fail under load.
Network: often overlooked, rarely forgiving
Network design becomes especially important in scale-out landscapes and high-availability setups.
Key network requirements include:
- High bandwidth
10 GbE is a baseline for many deployments. Larger systems often require 25 GbE or more. - Low latency
Internal HANA communication and system replication are sensitive to delays. - Dedicated network paths
Separating client traffic, replication, and backup traffic reduces contention and improves stability.
Ignoring network planning can undermine even the best CPU and memory setup.
Virtualized, cloud, or bare metal?
SAP S/4HANA can run on physical servers, virtualized platforms, or public cloud infrastructure. Each option has hardware implications.
- Bare metal offers maximum control and predictable performance. It is often chosen for large or latency-sensitive systems.
- Virtualization adds flexibility but requires strict adherence to SAP and hypervisor guidelines.
- Cloud platforms shift hardware responsibility to the provider, but sizing decisions still matter. Overprovisioning in the cloud can be expensive.
The right choice depends on workload, compliance requirements, and operational maturity.
High availability and disaster recovery hardware
Production S/4HANA systems rarely run alone. High-availability and disaster-recovery setups introduce additional hardware requirements.
These typically include:
- Secondary systems with equal or near-equal sizing
- Dedicated network bandwidth for replication
- Sufficient storage for backups and snapshots
Cutting corners here increases risk. Recovery objectives should drive hardware decisions, not the other way around.
Final thoughts
Hardware planning for SAP S/4HANA migration is not a checkbox exercise. It requires a clear understanding of how HANA uses resources and how your business workloads behave.
CPU speed, memory capacity, storage latency, and network design all interact. Weakness in one area affects the whole system. The most successful projects treat hardware sizing as a strategic decision, validated early and reviewed often.
Get the hardware right, and S/4HANA delivers on its promise. Get it wrong, and no amount of tuning will fully compensate.
