Server hardware scenarios for ArcGIS Server Enterprise/Standard,

Question

We got one license for ArcGIS server (Enterprise/Standard). The ArcGIS Server is deployed on a server machine where enterprise data (Arcsde/SQL server) is shared by multiusers (editiors + viewers) and data (mxd, tbx, iamges, etc) is published. Web applications are built also to read their URLs from this server.

Facts:
??? The concurrent database editors might reach 17
??? The concurrent database viewers might reach 30
??? The concurrent data (mxd, tbx, images, etc.) publishers might reach 10
??? The concurrent users who might access the web applications might reach 500

Which scenario might be the best?

1. To purchase ONE high capacity server in terms of CPU (cores) and RAM to serve (17 editors, 30 viewers, 10 publishers, 500 viewers of the web application)

2. Or to purchase TWO regular servers (in terms of CPU and Ram capacity):

o one server for database: to serve 17 concurrent editors + 30 concurrent viewers+ 10 concurrent publishers
o and another one to accommodate the web applications (these applications are still taking their URLs from server one) that to be concurrently accessed by 500 users.

Thank you

Best

Jamal

JamalNUMAN · Answer

Jamal,

Maybe others will join-in with more concrete recommendations, but in general, questions like these can be hard to answer without detailed knowledge of the type of data and services you would like implement.

One thing though, I can imagine the two server setup with data for the webservices being directly accessed from another server, causing issues with network traffic. You may wish to replicate the database to a second child database on the webserver.

In general though, having a two server setup, with one server being "production", and a second server doing the task of the "webserver", this last one best located within a so-called "demilitarized zone" inbetween two - preferably hardware based - firewalls, is a recommended approach.

You may find the resources on this ESRI page useful though in making strategic decisions about your system design:

System Design Strategies Preface
http://wiki.gis.com/wiki/index.php/System_Design_Strategies_Preface

Very much appreciated Marco. The answer you have provided is very useful and the link as well