To check the current version, use transaction code - SM51 > Go to Release Notes. exec files replace old executable files in SAP system. It starts and stops application services such as message server, dispatcher, etc.
It consists of executable program under the path - '/sapmnt//exe' for UNIX and \usr\sap\SID\SYS\exe\run Windows. Kernel is an executable program that exists between SAP Applications and Operating System.
