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
HalWatson
New Contributor III
I have to admit, as someone who has been managing SDE installs since 9.1, I didn't pick up on this paradigm shift until a few days ago when I did a test 10.1 on Oracle install, and realized that with Toad and the Python interpreter in ArcCatalog I could pretty much do everything I needed to get the enterprise geodatabase created, a user-schema geodatabase created, and the .sde connection files to access them created.  I think that is a good step forward for basic installs.  If I can take the SDE Application server out of the picture, that is a big time saver.  The toolbox tools are a little rough, but with arcpy you can get the job done.

It would be great to have access to some more of the sde app server command line tools available via the python arcpy module.  I'm thinking especially of the tools like sdeconfig and sdedbtune, which still seem necessary to me.  I hope that is in the works.  If I'm missing something on that front, I would love to be educated.

Looking at it now, the progression makes sense and I'm glad for the new options.
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YukunXing
New Contributor III
I haven't had much experience with ArcSDE or ArcGIS server in general, and I have one question. While I was reading through the tutorial on ArcGIS API for Silverlight (I believe that was before 10.1 was released) it was mentioned somewhere that to be able to edit a feature class using a web application, the feature class must be stored in an SDE database and published as a feature service. Is the part regarding SDE still true at 10.1?

Our office is finally getting an ArcGIS sever (Standard Edition at the Workgroup level) so we can play with it and look into web map application development. The system admin is going to set it up soon, and the ArcGIS Server 10.1 SP1 installer is all we've got (no Web Adaptor or ArcSDE installer/setup). Is the following scenario for testing purposes possible? If not, what else do we need to install/configure, or what is the alternative?

Install ArcGIS for Sever on sever A;
Using ArcGIS for Desktop on a workstation, create a file geodatabase on either sever A or some other server B on the same office LAN, and create a feature class in the FGDB and publish it as a feature service;
Create a web mapping application and host it on server A (separate IIS set up necessary?);
Display, query, and edit the feature class through the web application over the internet.

If this scenario is possible, does ArcGIS Server create a copy of the feature class and serve the copy when I publish the FC as a service? If that is true, will I be able to access/edit this copy in ArcGIS for Desktop on the workstation?
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JakeSkinner
Esri Esteemed Contributor
Hi Yukon,

You will need the feature class stored in SDE in order to create a feature service.  The ArcGIS for Server Workgroup (Standard Edition) comes with SQL Server Express.  You should be able to download the installation files from the customer care portal:

http://resources.arcgis.com/en/help/main/10.1/index.html#//018t00000010000000

After you install SQL Server Express, you will just need to enable SQL Server Express to store geodatabases:

http://resources.arcgis.com/en/help/main/10.1/index.html#/Enabling_SQL_Server_Express_to_store_geoda...

Additional helpful links:

Setting up a connection:
http://resources.arcgis.com/en/help/main/10.1/index.html#/Setting_up_a_connection_to_SQL_Server/018t...

Adding a database server to Desktop:
http://resources.arcgis.com/en/help/main/10.1/index.html#/Adding_a_database_server_to_ArcGIS_Desktop...

Creating a geodatabase on a database server:
http://resources.arcgis.com/en/help/main/10.1/index.html#/Creating_a_geodatabase_on_a_database_serve...
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YukunXing
New Contributor III
You should be able to download the installation files from the customer care portal:

http://resources.arcgis.com/en/help/main/10.1/index.html#//018t00000010000000



Thank you for the replay Jake, very helpful information. If we have the ArcGIS Sever 10.1 SP1 installer, does it typically include the installation files you mentioned for SQL express (We haven't started installing yet)? I'm hoping it's the case, as due to the structure of our organization, our office is not directly involved in software purchasing/management. I logged into my customer portal with our customer ID, but there is no order history, and I don't see anything for download.
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KarynTareen
New Contributor III
  You will need the feature class stored in SDE in order to create a feature service. 


To confirm, a direct connect is sufficient for a feature service - as long as the database supporting the feature service has the SDE tables within it, correct?
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MarcoBoeringa
MVP Regular Contributor
To confirm, a direct connect is sufficient for a feature service - as long as the database supporting the feature service has the SDE tables within it, correct?


Karyn,

ArcGIS for Server is, just like ArcGIS for Desktop, fully capable of using both an ArcSDE Application Server, or Direct Connect, for connecting to an enterprise geodatabase.

From a functionality point of view, there is absolutely no difference between using an Application Server or Direct Connect. So yes, "Direct Connect" is sufficient for ArcGIS for Server to create (editable) Feature Services.
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MarcoBoeringa
MVP Regular Contributor
I think the length and complexity of this thread make a VERY good case for someone overhauling BOTH the ArcSDE and ArcGIS Server installation documentation.


Well, it isn't an overhaul, but I now published a document describing "The ESRI Geodatabase Framework" (as I call it and see it) in another forum thread. It may be a good read for people interested in the contents of this thread and help out with a better understanding of 2-tier Direct Connect and 3-tier Application Server connections to geodatabases:

"The ESRI Geodatabase Framework" PDF

Please post any comments to the document in that thread and not here.

Marco
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RichardWatson
Frequent Contributor
http://forums.arcgis.com/threads/85096-Deprecation-plans-for-10.1-and-10.2

"ArcGIS 10.2 will be the last major release to include the ArcSDE application server. Esri
encourages those that have deployed an ArcSDE application server to move to new
database connections introduced in 10.1 as part of their next upgrade."
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MarcoBoeringa
MVP Regular Contributor
http://forums.arcgis.com/threads/85096-Deprecation-plans-for-10.1-and-10.2

"ArcGIS 10.2 will be the last major release to include the ArcSDE application server. Esri
encourages those that have deployed an ArcSDE application server to move to new
database connections introduced in 10.1 as part of their next upgrade."


Yes, I saw this too. Interesting, I had not yet seen this updated deprecation plan of the 7th of May including the changes expected for 10.2 and beyond and the now officially announced deprecation of the ArcSDE Application Server, ArcSDE Command Line tools and ArcSDE C/Java SDKs after 10.2.

Not unexpected, but still, I wonder if there might be future extension for this deprecation... To many people may still depend on it and not yet be in a situation to make all the necessary changes in time. Just look at VBA... extended to 10.2 while initially announced deprecated at 10.1...

Anyway, I am in the process of creating two updated Geodatabase Framework diagrams that will incorporate and show this deprecation to make it more understandable. One diagram will depict the situation at 10.2, the other the situation beyond (well, at least as far as my "crystal ball" in the form of this deprecation plan allows me...).
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TimHayes
Occasional Contributor III
I have found it easier to do the following using SQL Server Management Studio 2008 R2:

In assigning users, roles, and permissions inside ArcCatalog, you get a dialog box, but no list of choices for the types of roles/permissions you can assign. In SQL Server Management Studio, you do this and their dialog box provides you a list of check boxes. You choose which box(es) to check for roles/permissions. It also verifies that you have the correct syntax and username does in fact exist on the network. Using ArcCatalog, you would never know this as it does not verify the user name to see if you typed it correctly or exists.

I found myself having to use a little of both together to manage our Geodatabases: SQL Server Management Studio and ArcCatalog Geodatabase Administration.

I only use ArcCatalog Geodatabase Administration for:

1) Creating my schema (using X-Ray Geodatabase, a great tool from ESRI!) - anyone who is managing Enterprise Geodatabase should use X-Ray Geodatabase!

2) Editing my Geodatabase (Includes Post and Reconcile operations)

3) Setting up Versioning

4) Creating/Managing Replicas 

5) Archiving

5) Seeing who is connected, and identifying Locks



I only use SQL Server Management Studio to:

1) Set up my Instance

2) Create Database (name only, not the schema)

3) Assign Users/Roles/Permissions


I use SDE, but this runs in the background allowing me to do what I need to do.

Personally, I found the SDE Command Line to be obnoxious, exceedingly difficult, and cumbersome. We are a two person, very overworked GIS shop and do not have the time to learn the commands and syntax. I say use the dialog and check boxes it will make your life much easier.