How To Fix 5A186 - RFC communication error

SAP Error Message - Details

• Message type: E = Error

• Message class: 5A - Basis Personnel Management

• Message number: 186

• Message text: RFC communication error

Self-Explanatory Message

Since SAP believes that this specific error message is 'self-explanatory,' no more information has been given.The majority of messages in the SAP system have a message text, however this is frequently insufficient to comprehend or resolve the problem.

To make things easier, more detailed information is frequently added to describe the issue, how to fix it, and the necessary steps or configuration modifications.

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Smart SAP Assistant

• What is the cause and solution for SAP error message 5A186 - RFC communication error ?

  The SAP error message 5A186 indicates an RFC (Remote Function Call) communication error. This error typically occurs when there is a problem with the connection between the SAP system and another system, which could be another SAP system or a non-SAP system. Here are some common causes, potential solutions, and related information for this error:
  Causes:
  
  Network Issues: Problems with the network connection, such as firewalls blocking the communication or network outages.
  Configuration Errors: Incorrect RFC destination configuration in the SAP system, such as wrong IP addresses, ports, or connection parameters.
  Authorization Issues: The user credentials used for the RFC connection may not have the necessary authorizations.
  System Availability: The target system may be down or not reachable due to maintenance or other issues.
  Timeouts: The RFC call may be timing out due to long processing times or network latency.
  
  Solutions:
  
  
  Check Network Connectivity:
  
  Ensure that the network connection between the systems is stable and that there are no firewalls blocking the required ports.
  Use tools like ping or traceroute to test connectivity.
  
  
  
  Verify RFC Destination Configuration:
  
  Go to transaction SM59 in the SAP GUI and check the configuration of the RFC destination.
  Ensure that the connection type, target host, and service number (port) are correctly configured.
  
  
  
  Test the RFC Connection:
  
  In transaction SM59, select the RFC destination and use the "Connection Test" option to verify if the connection can be established successfully.
  
  
  
  Check User Authorizations:
  
  Ensure that the user credentials used for the RFC connection have the necessary authorizations to perform the required actions.
  
  
  
  Review System Logs:
  
  Check the system logs (transaction SM21) for any additional error messages or warnings that might provide more context about the issue.
  
  
  
  Monitor System Availability:
  
  Ensure that the target system is up and running. If it is down for maintenance, wait until it is back online.
  
  
  
  Increase Timeout Settings:
  
  If the issue is related to timeouts, consider increasing the timeout settings in the RFC destination configuration.
  
  
  
  Related Information:
  
  SAP Notes: Check SAP Notes for any known issues or patches related to RFC communication errors. You can search for specific notes using the SAP Support Portal.
  Documentation: Review the SAP documentation for RFC communication to understand the configuration and troubleshooting steps better.
  SAP Community: Engage with the SAP Community forums to see if other users have encountered similar issues and what solutions they found effective.
  
  If the problem persists after trying the above solutions, it may be necessary to involve your SAP Basis team or SAP support for further investigation.