Why would I install ArcSDE with 10.1?

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05-10-2012 11:01 AM
AlanToms
Occasional Contributor
Hello all,
Why would I install ArcSDE with 10.1?  It seems I can us ArcCatalog to create an enterprise geodatabase without SDE then have all my users use direct connections.  What am I missing?

Thank you
Alan
71 Replies
AlaaKutbi
New Contributor II
Just to make sure that I understood you correctly.
What you are saying is I do not need to install ArcSDE on the database server because the client contains the SDE functionality.
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AlaaKutbi
New Contributor II
Another way of sying it:

- I could use direct connection without ArcSDE installed for two-tier topology.
- I could use ArcSDE to hide or conceal the database in a three-tier topology.

am I right?
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MarcoBoeringa
MVP Regular Contributor
Just to make sure that I understood you correctly.
What you are saying is I do not need to install ArcSDE on the database server because the client contains the SDE functionality.


Yes, this is true, but in a 2-tier Direct Connect situation, be aware you may need to install other additional software like Oracle Client on the client ArcGIS computer, to get the connection to your database up and running. This is not necessary with a separate server side 3-tier installation of ArcSDE.

Another way of saying it:

- I could use direct connection without ArcSDE installed for two-tier topology.
- I could use ArcSDE to hide or conceal the database in a three-tier topology.

am I right?


Yes, that is about the story, although "hide" is probably a bit overstated, you will always have some database related stuff, like database login with username and password, that is there on the client side. And again be aware that for Oracle, you need to install Oracle Client in a two-tier topology, and that it needs to be a 32-bit version, as ArcGIS is still 32-bit.

Also, rephrasing the first sentence to:

- I could use direct connection without ArcSDE installed on a server for two-tier topology.

is probably a bit more accurate, as, as you now understand, ArcSDE is always installed on the client side as part of the ArcGIS installation.

ArcSDE is the engine of the "car" called "geodatabase"... Take away the engine entirely, and you will grind to a halt.
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FionaHatfield
New Contributor
Hi,
I'm trying to wrap my head around this, as I setup my test server for our upgrade.

I have set up my server with Windows Server 2008 R2 sp1 and SQL Server 2012 standard edition.
I have installed ArcGIS desktop 10.1 + sp1
I ran through the ArcGIS for Server 10.1 sp1 installer but did not create a ArcGIS Server site. (essentially I needed the authorization file for the create enterprise geodatabase tool )

I then ran the tool > 'Create Enterprise Geodatabase'
I loaded some data into the geodatabase, registered as versioned.
When exploring the schema all the SDE and GDB tables are present.

Am I missing something? Do I need to install ArcSDE 10.1 to get the multi user/versioning/history capabilties of ArcSDE, or as this discussion indicates this is now inherent in the desktop.

I still am not 100% clear why I would need to install the ArcSDE application server or command line tools.
If I am managing data via desktop (ArcMap & ArcCatalog) I do not need to install anything further
If I am managing data via web editing tools I do need to install the ArcSDE application server.

Thank you for any clarification you can provide.
Fiona
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AlanToms
Occasional Contributor
Yeah it took me a bit to get it as well.  The ArcSDE Command Line tools do not need to be installed unless you want to run stuff with a command line or need to do some major troubleshoot. 

Hi,
I'm trying to wrap my head around this, as I setup my test server for our upgrade.

I have set up my server with Windows Server 2008 R2 sp1 and SQL Server 2012 standard edition.
I have installed ArcGIS desktop 10.1 + sp1
I ran through the ArcGIS for Server 10.1 sp1 installer but did not create a ArcGIS Server site. (essentially I needed the authorization file for the create enterprise geodatabase tool )

I then ran the tool > 'Create Enterprise Geodatabase'
I loaded some data into the geodatabase, registered as versioned.
When exploring the schema all the SDE and GDB tables are present.

Am I missing something? Do I need to install ArcSDE 10.1 to get the multi user/versioning/history capabilties of ArcSDE, or as this discussion indicates this is now inherent in the desktop.

I still am not 100% clear why I would need to install the ArcSDE application server or command line tools.
If I am managing data via desktop (ArcMap & ArcCatalog) I do not need to install anything further
If I am managing data via web editing tools I do need to install the ArcSDE application server.

Thank you for any clarification you can provide.
Fiona
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MarcoBoeringa
MVP Regular Contributor
I then ran the tool > 'Create Enterprise Geodatabase'
I loaded some data into the geodatabase, registered as versioned.
When exploring the schema all the SDE and GDB tables are present.


Hi Fiona,

Good, this means you are most likely "up-and-running", and can start using ArcGIS to fill and use your ESRI geodatabase

Am I missing something? Do I need to install ArcSDE 10.1 to get the multi user/versioning/history capabilities of ArcSDE, or as this discussion indicates this is now inherent in the desktop.


I still am not 100% clear why I would need to install the ArcSDE application server or command line tools.


No, you do not need to install an ArcSDE 10.1 application server to get full geodatabase functionality, including multi user/versioning/history.

As I and others have attempted to explain in this thread, ArcSDE's software components in the form of DLLs (Dynamic Link Libraries) form an inherent - and VITAL - part of any "client" ArcGIS application, most prominently "ArcGIS for Desktop" and "ArcGIS for Server" (Server is after all a "client" of the DBMS too, e.g. Oracle, Microsoft SQL Server). They are installed by default as part of the respective software's installation.

You can't access or run an ESRI geodatabase without these DLLs that incorporate all the functionality and logic of ArcSDE to handle ESRI geodatabases (at least not by re-doing years long software development by ESRI and at great risk of corrupting the database in case you want to edit something).

Like I wrote in my last post:

*************************************
ArcSDE is the "engine" of the "car" called "geodatabase"... Take away the engine entirely, and you will grind to a halt.
*************************************

However, if this sentence still leaves you confused, think of the ArcSDE application server running on a remote server being "public transport", and the ArcSDE DLLs on your local computer as part of "ArcGIS for Desktop" as your "private car". Both share an "engine" (THIS IS ARCSDE!), but they are independent and both get you from A to B (allow you to access an ESRI geodatabase with all of it's functionality).

It is up to you to decide if you want to travel by "public transport" or use your "private car". One mode of transport may be faster than the other (or the other way around), depending on the conditions in your local "area"...

To also recap some of the very good comments by the ESRI staff in this thread (Russell Brennan in this case):

"Fast forward to 10.1 - We have tried to allow you to manage your Geodatabase completely within ArcGIS applications (ArcCatalog, ArcMap, ArcGIS Server, etc). This is done through the use of dialogues in ArcMap/Catalog and the use of geoprocessing."

"If you determine that you really need the application server or the command line utilities they are available as a separate install."


These comments mean that only in some exceptional cases, you might need one of the command line tools. Until you run into some serious trouble that really can't be dealt with using ArcGIS's new tools, you should be fine using Direct Connect and leaving your setup as it is now.
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BrianKaplan
Occasional Contributor
HI All,  Please help me understand this for the personal ArcSDE.  For the previous item...

No, you do not need to install an ArcSDE 10.1 application server to get full geodatabase functionality, including multi user/versioning/history.


So can I still use a personal ArcSDE with Desktop without ArcGIS Server, say on a laptop?  If so, do I need to through through the same procedure for creating or enabling a enterprise geodatabase?  If, so how.  The create geodatabase requires an authorization code for ArcGIS Server.

Thanks

Brian Kaplan
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MarcoBoeringa
MVP Regular Contributor
HI All,  Please help me understand this for the personal ArcSDE.  For the previous item...

No, you do not need to install an ArcSDE 10.1 application server to get full geodatabase functionality, including multi user/versioning/history.


So can I still use a personal ArcSDE with Desktop without ArcGIS Server, say on a laptop?  If so, do I need to through through the same procedure for creating or enabling a enterprise geodatabase?  If, so how.  The create geodatabase requires an authorization code for ArcGIS Server.

Thanks

Brian Kaplan


Brian, there is no "personal ArcSDE", there is just the ArcSDE DLL's that incorporate all the functionality to allow a Direct Connect connection on your local personal PC to a (remote) enterprise geodatabase, but that isn't a product called "personal ArcSDE".

Additionally, if you want to create an enterprise geodatabase (so no file geodatabase), you will need an ArcGIS for Server commercial licence, as ArcSDE / ArcGIS for Server is a sale / non-free product of ESRI, and using an enterprise geodatabase requires this licence, even if you only start using it for testing purposes. That is why you are being asked for an authorization code.

You may be able to get a temporary trial licence for free for testing purposes, IDK, but as soon as you start deploying it, you will surely need a true paid licence. For that, there are two possible licencing levels: "ArcGIS for Server Enterprise" and "ArcGIS for Server Workgroup", see this page:

http://www.esri.com/software/arcgis/arcgisserver/features/enterprise-workgroup
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BrianKaplan
Occasional Contributor
Brian, there is no "personal ArcSDE", there is just the ArcSDE DLL's that incorporate all the functionality to allow a Direct Connect connection on your local personal PC to a (remote) enterprise geodatabase, but that isn't a product called "personal ArcSDE".

Additionally, if you want to create an enterprise geodatabase (so no file geodatabase), you will need an ArcGIS for Server commercial licence, as ArcSDE / ArcGIS for Server is a sale / non-free product of ESRI, and using an enterprise geodatabase requires this licence, even if you only start using it for testing purposes. That is why you are being asked for an authorization code.

You may be able to get a temporary trial licence for free for testing purposes, IDK, but as soon as you start deploying it, you will surely need a true paid licence. For that, there are two possible licencing levels: "ArcGIS for Server Enterprise" and "ArcGIS for Server Workgroup", see this page:

http://www.esri.com/software/arcgis/arcgisserver/features/enterprise-workgroup



Hi Marco,

Thank you for your reply.  I must have used the wrong terminology.  The install for ArcGIS Desktop includes an option to enable geodatabase storage on SQL Server Express.  Isn't this not an enterprise geodatabase?
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VinceAngelo
Esri Esteemed Contributor
Enterprise geodatabases, which run in many different flavors of RDBMS software, require an
ArcGIS for Server Enterprise license.  Desktop (formerly known as "Personal") and Workgroup
multiuser geodatabases (which only run in SQL-Server Express, and are subject to restrictions
in user count, storage, RAM, and CPU cores) are available at different licensing levels. 

The Multiuser Geodatabase page breaks down the options.

- V
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