Error
Error Code:
18
SAP S/4HANA Error 18: Service Shutdown Encountered
Description
Error 18, ERR_SERVICE_SHUTDOWN, indicates that an SAP S/4HANA service or component is currently in the process of shutting down or has already terminated. This typically occurs during planned system maintenance, unexpected resource issues, or critical configuration errors. It can disrupt ongoing business operations and access to specific functionalities within the ERP system.
Error Message
ERR_SERVICE_SHUTDOWN
Known Causes
4 known causesPlanned System Shutdown
The SAP S/4HANA system or a specific service is undergoing scheduled maintenance or a controlled shutdown initiated by administrators.
Insufficient System Resources
The service may shut down unexpectedly due to a lack of available memory, CPU, or other critical system resources required for its operation.
Incorrect Service Configuration
Misconfigurations in service parameters, dependencies, or corrupted configuration files can lead to the service failing or initiating an unexpected shutdown.
Dependent Service Failure
A critical internal or external service that the SAP S/4HANA component relies upon has failed or shut down, causing a cascading termination.
Solutions
3 solutions available1. Restart SAP Application Server Instance easy
A quick restart of the affected SAP application server instance often resolves temporary service shutdown issues.
1
Identify the SAP application server instance that is reporting the ERR_SERVICE_SHUTDOWN error. This can usually be found in the SAP system logs (SM21) or by checking the status of the instance in transaction SM51.
2
Access the SAP host where the instance is running. You will need administrative privileges on this host.
3
Open a command prompt or terminal on the SAP host.
4
Navigate to the SAP instance's 'work' directory. This is typically located in the SAP instance's profile directory, e.g., '/usr/sap/<SID>/<InstanceName>/work'.
5
Execute the SAP instance control script to stop the instance.
./sapcontrol -nr <InstanceNumber> -function Stop6
Wait for the instance to completely stop. You can verify this by checking the process list or by running the 'GetProcessList' function in sapcontrol.
./sapcontrol -nr <InstanceNumber> -function GetProcessList7
Once the instance has stopped, start it again.
./sapcontrol -nr <InstanceNumber> -function Start8
Verify that the instance has started successfully and that the ERR_SERVICE_SHUTDOWN error is no longer occurring by checking SM51 and SM21.
2. Investigate Underlying System Resource Issues medium
This error can be a symptom of resource exhaustion on the SAP application server or the underlying operating system.
1
Monitor CPU utilization on the SAP application server host. High CPU usage can lead to services becoming unresponsive and shutting down.
top2
Check available memory (RAM) on the SAP application server host. Insufficient memory can cause processes to be terminated by the operating system.
free -m3
Examine disk space on the SAP application server host, especially for the directories where SAP logs, traces, and temporary files are stored.
df -h4
Review the operating system's system logs (e.g., /var/log/messages on Linux, Event Viewer on Windows) for any critical errors or warnings that coincide with the ERR_SERVICE_SHUTDOWN.
5
Analyze SAP system logs (transaction SM21) for preceding errors or warnings that might indicate the root cause of the service shutdown. Look for messages related to memory allocation, timeouts, or external communication failures.
6
If resource issues are identified, take appropriate action such as optimizing processes, increasing hardware resources, or clearing temporary files.
3. Review SAP Gateway Configuration and Status medium
The SAP Gateway is crucial for inter-process communication. Issues with the Gateway can lead to service shutdowns.
1
In SAP, navigate to transaction SMGW (Gateway Monitor).
2
Check the status of the Gateway. Ensure it is running and that there are no error messages or warnings displayed.
3
Examine the Gateway log files (usually accessible via SMGW -> Goto -> Trace -> File) for any specific error messages related to communication or registered programs.
4
Verify the Gateway settings in the instance profile (rz10 or rz11) for parameters like 'gw/acl_mode' and 'gw/reg_info'. Ensure they are correctly configured and not overly restrictive.
5
If the Gateway is not running, attempt to start it using transaction SMGW or via the SAP control script on the host.
./sapcontrol -nr <InstanceNumber> -function StartGateway6
Check for any registered programs in SMGW. If critical programs are not registered, it might indicate an issue with the registration process or the program itself.