How To Fix GW017 - External security not activated

SAP Error Message - Details

• Message type: E = Error

• Message class: GW - Message Texts for Gateway

• Message number: 017

• Message text: External security not activated

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 GW017 - External security not activated ?

  The SAP error message GW017 ("External security not activated") typically occurs in the context of SAP Gateway services when there is an attempt to access a service that requires external security features, but those features have not been properly configured or activated.
  Cause:
  
  External Security Not Configured: The system is set up to require external security (like OAuth, SAML, etc.), but the necessary configurations have not been made.
  Service Activation: The specific service you are trying to access may not be activated for external security.
  Authorization Issues: The user or service account may not have the necessary authorizations to access the service.
  Gateway Configuration: The SAP Gateway might not be configured to handle external security mechanisms.
  
  Solution:
  
  
  Activate External Security:
  
  Go to transaction code SPRO and navigate to the following path:
  SAP NetWeaver -> Gateway -> OData Channel -> Configuration -> General Settings -> Activate External Security
  
  Ensure that the external security settings are activated.
  
  
  
  Check Service Registration:
  
  Use transaction /IWFND/MAINT_SERVICE to check if the OData service is registered and activated.
  If the service is not activated, activate it.
  
  
  
  Review Security Settings:
  
  Check the security settings for the OData service. Ensure that the necessary authentication methods (like Basic Authentication, OAuth, etc.) are properly configured.
  If using OAuth, ensure that the OAuth client is correctly set up in the system.
  
  
  
  User Authorizations:
  
  Verify that the user or service account has the necessary authorizations to access the OData service. This may involve checking roles and profiles assigned to the user.
  
  
  
  Check Gateway Configuration:
  
  Ensure that the SAP Gateway is properly configured to handle external security. This may involve checking the configuration in transaction /IWFND/GW_CLIENT or /IWFND/ERROR_LOG for any additional error messages.
  
  
  
  Consult Documentation:
  
  Refer to the official SAP documentation for more detailed steps on configuring external security for your specific version of SAP.
  
  
  
  Related Information:
  
  SAP Notes: Check for any relevant SAP Notes that may address specific issues related to the GW017 error.
  SAP Community: Engage with the SAP Community forums for insights from other users who may have encountered similar issues.
  System Logs: Review system logs (transaction SLG1) for any additional error messages that may provide more context on the issue.
  
  By following these steps, you should be able to resolve the GW017 error and ensure that external security is properly activated for your SAP Gateway services.