In SAP terminology, what is SAP R/3 and how is its basic three tier architecture structured?

Introduction / Context:
SAP R/3 is a classic version of SAP ERP that introduced a three tier client server architecture. Many exam questions ask you to describe what SAP R/3 is and how its basic layers are structured. Understanding this architecture helps explain how user interfaces, application logic, and data storage are separated in large enterprise systems.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The context is SAP ERP, not standalone desktop software or hardware devices.
• R/3 indicates a three tier or three layer architecture.
• The tiers are presentation, application, and database.

Concept / Approach:
In SAP R/3, the presentation server runs the SAP graphical user interface on client machines. The application server executes ABAP and other business logic, processes transactions, and coordinates workflows. The database server stores tables, indexes, and other persistent data. This separation improves scalability, allows multiple application servers to share one database, and supports secure centralised data management. The three tiers communicate over network protocols as users perform business transactions.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that R/3 is an SAP ERP product based on a three tier client server concept.Step 2: Identify the three tiers: presentation layer for user interface, application layer for business logic, and database layer for data storage.Step 3: Review the answer options and find the one that explicitly describes these three layers and their roles.Step 4: Option A states that SAP R/3 is a three tier client server ERP system and correctly names presentation, application, and database layers.Step 5: Select option A as the correct answer.

Verification / Alternative check:
SAP documentation and training material consistently depict R/3 as a three tier architecture. Diagrams show SAP GUI at the client side, application servers in the middle, and a relational database server at the bottom. None of these materials describe R/3 as a spreadsheet, hardware device, or email service, which confirms that option A is accurate.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option B treats R/3 as a single user spreadsheet, which contradicts its multi user enterprise nature. Option C wrongly labels it as hardware instead of software. Option D presents it as a cloud email service, which does not match its ERP role or three tier structure.

Common Pitfalls:
Students sometimes confuse the terms R/3 and SAP ERP more generally, or they mix up the roles of application and database servers. Another pitfall is thinking of the presentation server as storing data; in fact, it mainly handles the user interface. Understanding these distinctions is important for troubleshooting and system design discussions.

Final Answer:
SAP R/3 is a three tier client server ERP system in which the presentation layer runs on client machines, the application layer processes business logic, and the database layer stores all business data.