SAP has renamed SAP NetWeaver Exchange Infrastructure -- SAP NetWeaver XI -- as SAP NetWeaver Process Integration (SAP NetWeaver PI). NetWeaver PI serves as the integration engine for SAP's implementation of SOA middleware. With NetWeaver PI, SAP has included pre-built integrations for connecting SAP systems to each other and to non-SAP systems. But many SAP users are still not sure what the difference is between NetWeaver PI and NetWeaver XI.

SAP calls XI an integration mediator between entities with varying requirements in terms of connectivity, format, and protocols. According to SAP, XI reduces integration costs by providing a common repository for interfaces. The central component of SAP XI is the SAP Integration Server, which facilitates interaction between diverse operating systems and applications across internal and external networked computer systems.

The components of the SAP XI system are available via a web interface for configuration, integration design, system landscape definition and integration server monitoring.

SAP NetWeaver Process Integration (SAP PI) is SAP's enterprise application integration (EAI) software, a component of the NetWeaver product group used to facilitate the exchange of information among a company's internal software and systems and those of external parties. Before the current version, SAP PI was called SAP Exchange Infrastructure (SAP XI). Like other NetWeaver components, SAP PI is compatible with software products of other companies.

SAP calls PI an integration broker because it mediates between entities with varying requirements in terms of connectivity, format, and protocols. According to SAP, PI reduces the TCO by providing a common repository for interfaces. The central component of SAP PI is the SAP Integration Server, which facilitates interaction between diverse operating systems and applications across internal and external networked computer systems.

PI is built upon the SAP Web Application Server.

First release of SAP Exchange Infrastructure was XI 2.0. Later on, releases 3.0, 7.0, 7.1, 7.1 EHP1 and 7.3 followed. From release 7.0 onwards, SAP Exchange Infrastructure has been renamed as SAP Process Integration (SAP PI).

SAP PI / XI is SAP's middleware technology ( Formerly known as SAP XI or Exchange Infrastructure ). XI is used to connect SAP with different non-SAP SAP systems. There are built-in adapters that can directly connect SAP to other standard third party systems with minimum customization involved. It relies heavily on SAP's Netweaver Platform. For SAP Training, Remote SAP Access

5 Reasons for using SAP NetWeaver Process Integration 7.1

Use Process Integration as an SOA backbone

Establish ES Repository as the central SOA repository in customer landscapes

Leverage support of additional WS standards such as UDDI, WS-BPEL and tasks, WS-RM

Enable high-volume and mission-critical integration scenarios

Benefit from new functionality such as principal propagation, XML validation and BAM capabilities