what version does ArcGIS Server use regarding arcpy/Pro/Map ?

Question

Hello could someone explain this to me or point me to a documentation please. I'm not even sure if I am asking the question correctly. Hope the explanation makes sense.

So I published the result from my Script (Geoprocessing tools) in Pro 2.5. The script is in Python 3.x. The web tool (geo-processing tool) works as expected in Portal by users on  ArcGIS Server.

My questions are.

1. What license does the Geoprocessing tool use on the ArcGIS Server to open up Pro. Or does it just use the arcpy library and it does it without even needing a license ?

2. What version does it use of Pro? Can I update the version ?  how does this work ?

I'm asking these questions because my co-workers recently updated to ArcPro 2.7 and when they run the script on their computer it fails because (like always....) things break when updating. So now that I fixed the script for Pro 2.7 when I publish to the ArcServer, will it fail on the Server now when users try to use that webtool because it is for Pro 2.7 and the Server is on whatever it is ?

I just would like to have an understanding on how this works.

Thanks!

Anonymous User · Answer

@JoshuaBixby So yeah as I expected the script works on Pro 2.7 after changing the script a bit but when I publish the tool, it fails on the Server. On the exact line where I made it work for Pro 2.6 +. I will look into another way of doing this I guess.

Why do the python libraries get updated on Pro but can't on Server ?

I have a few other scripts that break after upgrading to 2.6 but work on 2.4. Theses ones I don't publish to the Server but I suspect that they would not work on Server because of the recent changes in python libraries in 2.6+

Anonymous User · Answer

I see. This is making more sense now. 
It seems like the way ths .isWebLayer method on a layer object works is different in 2.4 vs 2.6+

Below is the code for 2.4 .

#create an array with the webservice names coming from the WebmapJson
webLyrsArr = []
for lyr in map.listLayers():
    if lyr.isWebLayer:
        webLyrsArr.append(lyr.name)
        arcpy.AddMessage(webLyrsArr)

I had to change the code below to get it to work on 2.6+

#create an array with the webservice names coming from the WebmapJson
webLyrsArr = []
for lyr in map.listLayers():
    arcpy.AddMessage(lyr.name)
    if lyr.isWebLayer:
        #for Arcgis Pro 2.6+ you have to loop again
        for lyrs2 in lyr.listLayers():
            webLyrsArr.append(lyrs2.name)

I believe it has something to do with grouping layers. When I bring in a mapserver in 2.4 the code works and lists every layer in the mapserver. However, if I try to do that with 2.6 it only adds the Group Name of the layer to the append list, not the layer names inside the group name. I have to do another for loop inside the group to get the layer names. But this does not work in Pro 2.4.

I'm going to try and publish to the Server with the working 2.6 script. I will update when I find out.

JoshuaBixby · Answer

ArcGIS Enterprise/Server Python libraries get installed and updated by Esri, not by users.  Although it is technically possible to update Python packages (not the Python version itself) manually on the server, it isn't supported and there is a likelihood some functionality of the Esri product may break.

Getting back to your script on Pro, Esri puts a lot of emphasis on backwards and forwards compatibility of geoprocessing tools.  Given that Pro 2.4 and Pro 2.7 both are Python 3.x, I am surprised to see a script that ran on 2.4 break on 2.7.   What exactly broke?

In terms of geoprocessing service, a service on the server is completely self contained and does not use any of the binaries or libraries on the Pro client consuming the service.