An SAP S/4HANA system architecture consists of one system-wide Default Profile (DEFAULT.PFL) and one Instance Profile for each running instance. The Default Profile contains parameters common to all instances, while each Instance Profile contains parameters specific to that particular instance.

In this scenario, the system has four distinct instances:

1. One ABAP Central Services (ASCS) instance

2. One Primary Application Server (PAS) instance

3. Two Additional Application Server (AAS) instances

Therefore, the total number of profile files evaluated during a complete system start is the sum of the single Default Profile and the four individual Instance Profiles: 1 + 4 = 5.

B. 4: This count incorrectly omits the single, system-wide Default Profile (DEFAULT.PFL) and only considers the four instance-specific profiles.

C. 3: This count is arbitrary and does not correspond to the standard SAP profile architecture for a system with four instances.

D. 9: This count is incorrect. It might erroneously include obsolete start profiles as separate files or double-count the profiles evaluated by different processes.

1. SAP Help Portal

SAP NetWeaver Application Server for ABAP 7.52

"Parameter Files (Profiles)": This official documentation states

"There are two types of profile: The default profile and the instance profiles... The default profile is located under /usr/sap//SYS/profile/DEFAULT.PFL. It is valid for the whole SAP system... An instance profile... is only valid for one specific instance." This confirms the 1 + N structure

where N is the number of instances.

2. SAP Training Course TADM10 (SAP S/4HANA Installation and Upgrade)

Unit 5: Starting and Stopping an SAP System: This course material explains that the startup process for any instance involves reading its specific instance profile. The instance profile typically contains a parameter that references the default profile

ensuring parameters from both files are read and evaluated for the instance's operation.

3. SAP Training Course TADM12 (SAP S/4HANA System Administration)

Unit 2: The SAP System Kernel: This course details the components of the SAP system

including the profile files located in the globally shared /sapmnt//profile directory. It reinforces the concept of a single DEFAULT.PFL and a unique instance profile for each instance (ASCS

PAS

AAS).