Does the webgisdr utility back up everything that the ArcGIS Server backup utility backs up?

Question

The documentation for upgrading ArcGIS Enterprise indicates to run the webgisdr utility, plus the ArcGIS Server backup utility, plus the backupdatastore utility. However, the webgisdr utility also does some kind of backup on ArcGIS Server. Is there any benefit to running the ArcGIS Server backup utility if also running the webgisdr utility?

JonathanQuinn · Answer

Hm, there really isn't a need to run separate backups of ArcGIS Server and the ArcGIS Data Store, since those backups are included in the backup of the WebGIS DR tool. We can look into whether we should remove those bullets.

If an upgrade fails, then yes you can't restore a backup taken with the DR tool to get back to a functioning state. You'll need to uninstall, reinstall, and configure the software at the same version you were upgrading from before you restore the backup.

Aaron Booterbaugh, can you expand on your comment below?

Once you upgrade and have to go back without a VM snapshot the new install of the older software has different keys and the DR does not work in this case.

What keys are you referring to? The DR tool simply calls into the import site operations available for each component. As long as the software is installed, authorized, and configured, the restore will go through. This likely takes more time than reverting to a VM snapshot. We put out a blog on minimizing downtime and risk when upgrading which can be followed if resources permit:

Minimize downtime when upgrading ArcGIS Enterprise

Ajbooter · Answer

I would run the ArcServer Backup as well. I have in the past had very little lucky restoring from a DR backup. Using the DR you really need it when you do an upgrade. But found that it is not usable if something goes wrong in an upgrade. Once you upgrade and have to go back without a VM snapshot the new install of the older software has different keys and the DR does not work in this case. If you had to use it in an emergency I would be very hesitant on it doing a recovery.