topic Re: ArcGIS Server and CPU cores in ArcGIS Enterprise Questions

ArcGIS Server and CPU cores

ThomasMathew1 — Mon, 07 Nov 2016 06:33:47 GMT

There are two ways cores on a physical machine affect ArcGIS Server.

1. Licensing - Every license of ArcGIS Server is for 4 CPU cores.

2. Performance - The System Design Strategy guide states that peak throughput for ArcGIS Server is reached if total map services instances are 3 - 5 (average 4) per core. Therefore, on a 4 core machine you could get peak throughput by configuring a total 16 map services instances.*

Many computers today have a hyper-threaded CPU which show more number of logical processors than cores. See image below.

On such machines, is ArcGIS Server licensing and performance to consider this as a 4 core or a 8 core machine?

For licensing - should I purchase two licenses?

For performance - can I configure 16 or 32* map service instances?

*4 map service instances per core may not always be the case and this number may change as per you service contents and configuration. For more details, refer to the Server Software Performance section of the System Design Strategy guide.

Re: ArcGIS Server and CPU cores

ThomasBuchmann1 — Mon, 07 Nov 2016 21:14:15 GMT

A per-core-license is for the physical core and not for the logical.

Attention: in a virtualized environment the license would be on vCPU's - whatever there is behind that number.

HyperThreading does not double the performance of your machine. In best cases there is a little gain ( 15%-30% ). For more infos see: Will Hyper-Threading Improve Processing Performance

If ArcGIS Server can really benefit from HyperThreading is a good question. In my opinion ArcGIS Server can be single-threaded (high isolation) or multi-threaded (low isolation) (see: Process threads). If I'm getting this right, I suppose: to take advantage of HyperThreading you should use low isolation (on a physical machine).

Re: ArcGIS Server and CPU cores

ApurvDanke — Thu, 31 Aug 2017 08:55:14 GMT

Hi,

My follow-up question is about whether the logic of 4 cores for 1 license is applicable for ArcGIS Server extensions also, such as Image Server?

For example, we have ArcGIS Server Standard Enterprise and Image Server extension on one server, which has 8 cores. So it means we need 2 licenses (or 2 times the cost of one ArcGIS Server Standard Enterprise license). Do we need 2 licenses for Image Server as well for 8 cores, or is the extension license based on per server or host?

Regards,

Apurv

Re: ArcGIS Server and CPU cores

VinceAngelo — Thu, 31 Aug 2017 12:16:12 GMT

This is less a follow-up than a completely new question, but yes, extensions are licensed using the same model as the base software -- 8 CPU cores = two 4-core licenses. This could be addressed to your marketing/sales rep or a contracts rep if you need further clarification (legal stuff is better asked of corporate representatives than random users on GeoNet).

- V

Re: ArcGIS Server and CPU cores

MichaelRobb — Tue, 17 Oct 2017 22:48:02 GMT

Thomas Buchmann wrote:
A per-core-license is for the physical core and not for the logical.
Attention: in a virtualized environment the license would be on vCPU's - whatever there is behind that number.

HyperThreading does not double the performance of your machine. In best cases there is a little gain ( 15%-30% ). For more infos see: Will Hyper-Threading Improve Processing Performance
If ArcGIS Server can really benefit from HyperThreading is a good question. In my opinion ArcGIS Server can be single-threaded (high isolation) or multi-threaded (low isolation) (see: Process threads). If I'm getting this right, I suppose: to take advantage of HyperThreading you should use low isolation (on a physical machine).

High and Low isolation is no longer a configurable option in 10.5.x through the AGS Manager. Adjusting this has to be done using ArcCatalog or AGS Admin

Re: ArcGIS Server and CPU cores

MichaelRobb — Tue, 17 Oct 2017 22:49:11 GMT

Further:

The 4-core model is only for a new AGS Node. Additional cores on TOP of the already purchased 4-core are purchased 1 each thereafter.

Re: ArcGIS Server and CPU cores

StephanieWidas — Wed, 20 Dec 2017 15:32:17 GMT

With 10.5 - - and the migration from "ArcGIS for Server" to "ArcGIS Enterprise" - - are the number of cores on the server still a factor in licensing and costs? As we move forward and develop our upgrade and migration plan, I'm trying to understand the new licensing structures and how the changes will affect our current configuration (licenses for ArcGIS Desktop, licensing for ArcGIS Server, etc). Am I looking at number of named users, number of cores on my server, a combination of the two, etc?

Thanks in advance,

Stephanie

Re: ArcGIS Server and CPU cores

AzinSharaf — Fri, 30 Nov 2018 00:50:06 GMT

4-core license model is for ArcGIS Server site or ArcGIS Server machines? What happens if we have 1 ArcGIS Server site and two machines (each has 4 cores) (HA mode)?

Re: ArcGIS Server and CPU cores

ThomasMathew1 — Tue, 26 Feb 2019 11:49:01 GMT

4-core license model is for ArcGIS Server licenses, and not for ArcGIS Enterprise Sites. You cannot (should not) set up an active-active HA with only 1 license of GIS Server.

If you have more than 1 machine available for your deployment, the option to split the components available with an ArcGIS Enterprise site (Portal for ArcGIS, Web Adaptor, ArcGIS Data Store and ArcGIS Server) is available to you.

Re: ArcGIS Server and CPU cores

MichaelRobb — Mon, 13 May 2019 20:21:52 GMT

Azin Sharaf wrote:
4-core license model is for ArcGIS Server site or ArcGIS Server machines? What happens if we have 1 ArcGIS Server site and two machines (each has 4 cores) (HA mode)?

Then you are required to buy two (2) 4-core Enterprise Standard or Advanced licensing for each discrete installation instance.

FYI: 4-core Enterprise ArcGIS Server is a separate SKU vs buying additional core licenses.

The wording would be as follows - Any discrete NODE (VM) must start with 4-core license purchase. Each discrete setup can add additional cores (any number) thereafter (separate SKU when purchasing) Any discrete site can be added to a SITE. (this used to be called NODES and CLUSTERS).

Re: ArcGIS Server and CPU cores

JamalNUMAN — Tue, 26 Nov 2019 09:15:28 GMT

Hi Vince,

I don’t feel that the question is answered.

If the machine has 6 cores and 12 logical processors, how this is considered for ArcGIS Server? Does the ArcGIS Server work based on the cores or logical processors?

Re: ArcGIS Server and CPU cores

VinceAngelo — Tue, 26 Nov 2019 18:34:46 GMT

So here's what the the documentation says (my emphasis):

The ArcGIS Server component of ArcGIS Enterprise is licensed by CPU cores. Cores are part of the computer’s CPU (Central Processing Unit) that determines the number of instructions that can be processed at a given time. A 4-core processor can handle four sets of instructions at once. Many modern CPUs further support a technology known as hyper-threading that allows a single core to run multiple concurrent sets of instructions. Hyper-threads do not count towards the licensed cores. Licensed cores can be counted by physical cores or virtual cores, whichever is more advantageous to you. The minimum purchase for ArcGIS Enterprise is an “up-to-4 core” license* which can be installed on a two or four core machine. If your machine has more than 4 cores (physical or virtual), you can purchase additional cores, or virtualize the machine so that the 4-core license of ArcGIS Enterprise is only installed on 4 (virtual) cores and thereby satisfies the license requirement. If a 4-core license is installed on an 8-core physical machine without virtualization, then ArcGIS Enterprise will use all 8 cores and would be in violation of the license agreement until you purchase a license for the four “additional cores”.

And further:

Note that early generations of Microsoft Azure VMs used physical core equivalents, listed in terms of “cores”, whereas later generation Microsoft Azure VMs use vCPUs that correspond to a hyper-thread. It is important to calculate the physical core equivalent correctly based on the specific generation of VM that is chosen.
*Note: ArcGIS Enterprise requires a minimum initial license purchase of 4 cores per physical location. The minimum for ArcGIS Enterprise Workgroup is 2 cores. Additional cores may be licensed in 2-core increments. ArcGIS Enterprise Workgroup is not licensed for multi-machine environments

If you find this unclear, you should contact Customer Service, Tech Support, or your local marketing representative.

- V

Re: ArcGIS Server and CPU cores

JamalNUMAN — Thu, 28 Nov 2019 06:08:59 GMT

I’m convinced that having our enquires answered via forum is much more conformable, transparent, and robust than having one-one discussion with resellers. We are not asking here about the prices but focusing on how the technology works.

All what we wanted to know here if esri licensing is based on the number of cores OR the number of logical processors? according to the case below, is it 6 cores or 12?

Re: ArcGIS Server and CPU cores

MichaelRobb — Fri, 29 Nov 2019 00:17:12 GMT

Jamal, the answer to your question

Re: ArcGIS Server and CPU cores

VinceAngelo — Fri, 29 Nov 2019 17:02:58 GMT

Actually, you are not asking how the technology works, but how it is licensed, which is a legal question. Since an incorrect answer provided by anyone except an official Esri representative does not protect you from a lawsuit, you probably ought to be more concerned about getting official Esri clarification (which is not generally provided in this community). If you had consulted with your own legal staff, and the documentation I referenced did not make it clear, they would want you to have something in writing, or at least in a one-on-one discussion with resellers, with a follow-up e-mail.

I did not, and will not, explicitly answer the question because my answer has no value. If all the documentation references leave you unsure of their meaning, then you should contact your legal staff or Esri's formal representatives for clarification. In the end, free legal advice on the Internet isn't worth what you paid for it.

- V

Re: ArcGIS Server and CPU cores

JamalNUMAN — Sat, 30 Nov 2019 06:00:06 GMT

I got your point Vince

Thanks

Jamal

Re: ArcGIS Server and CPU cores

JamalNUMAN — Sat, 30 Nov 2019 06:06:18 GMT

Many thanks Michael for the precise answer

Best

Jamal

Re: ArcGIS Server and CPU cores

SadiqS — Wed, 01 Sep 2021 14:12:35 GMT

Thank you for the detailed explanation. This really helps to understand how ArcGIS Server licensing works.