topic Re: Can you install ArcGIS for Server Advanced Enterprise on SQL Server Express in ArcGIS Enterprise Questions

Can you install ArcGIS for Server Advanced Enterprise on SQL Server Express

JaromHlebasko — Thu, 04 Sep 2014 23:31:12 GMT

I am fairly new to ArcGIS for Server and I am trying to read up on documentation about different database management systems and I cannot seem to find an answer on whether or not I can install ArcGIS for Server Advanced Enterprise on SQL Server Express? I'm trying to set up an Enterprise Geodatabase with the trial version of Server Advanced Enterprise. Any help would be much appreciated.

Re: Can you install ArcGIS for Server Advanced Enterprise on SQL Server Express

AsrujitSengupta — Fri, 05 Sep 2014 02:37:42 GMT

Basically you don't need SQL Server Express or rather any DBMS for installing ArcGIS Server. They are completely separate installations, with no links as such w.r.t installation.

Yes, the SQL Server Express instance can be used to create an sde enterprise geodatabase, as required.

Here are some links for reference. these are for 10.1. You can search for similar links for 10.2.x as well.

• A quick tour of setting up a geodatabase in SQL Server:

ArcGIS Help 10.1

• Creating a database and geodatabase in SQL Server:

ArcGIS Help 10.1

• Enabling geodatabase functionality in an existing SQL Server database:

ArcGIS Help 10.1

• Setting up a connection to SQL Server:

ArcGIS Help 10.1

• Database connections in ArcGIS for Desktop:

ArcGIS Help 10.1

Re: Can you install ArcGIS for Server Advanced Enterprise on SQL Server Express

JaromHlebasko — Fri, 05 Sep 2014 04:15:17 GMT

What exactly is the main difference between Microsoft SQL Server express and just the standard SQL Server? I am leaning towards Amazon Web Services so it would be nice to know exactly what I need to get to effectively run the enterprise that I am wanting. Thank you for your help!

Re: Can you install ArcGIS for Server Advanced Enterprise on SQL Server Express

JakeSkinner — Fri, 05 Sep 2014 12:29:52 GMT

Hi Jarom,

Take a look at the section 'How is ArcSDE technology included in ArcGIS' in the following link. Basically, with SQL Server Express you are limited to the amount of cores and RAM, database size, and the amount of users. With standard SQL Server, there is no limit for any of these.

Re: Can you install ArcGIS for Server Advanced Enterprise on SQL Server Express

JaromHlebasko — Fri, 05 Sep 2014 15:11:08 GMT

Hi Jake,

Thanks for the info! So if I am understanding this correctly and based on the link you gave me, SQL Server Express is included with Desktop Standard & Advanced, Engine, and ArcGIS for Server Workgroup and ArcSDE for all other DBMSs is included with ArcGIS for Server? This being said, I do not have to purchase Standard SQL Server since it comes with ArcGIS for Server Advanced?

Thanks,

Jarom

Re: Can you install ArcGIS for Server Advanced Enterprise on SQL Server Express

AsrujitSengupta — Fri, 05 Sep 2014 15:30:17 GMT

No.

SQL Server Express is a free software anyway and can be downloaded from the Microsoft website for free.

ESRI provides the SQL Server 2008 R2 Express edition along with SDE Personal and SDE Workgroup setups.

SDE Personal comes along with ArcGIS Desktop, SDE Workgroup doesn't.

SQL Server Standard or SQl Server Enterprise is not provided along with any of the ESRI applications. You need to buy it and get the required setups from Microsoft, just like Oracle.

Re: Can you install ArcGIS for Server Advanced Enterprise on SQL Server Express

JakeSkinner — Fri, 05 Sep 2014 15:38:27 GMT

ArcGIS for Desktop Standard and Advanced includes an installation of Microsoft SQL Server Express. These software products also include ArcSDE capabilities to support ArcSDE geodatabases in SQL Server Express for up to three simultaneous desktop users.

ArcGIS for Server is still a separate product that you will need to purchase. There are two levels, Workgroup or Enterprise. Workgroup is for SQL Server Express, and Enterprise is for any of the other supported RDBMs, i.e. Oracle, SQL Server, Informix, DB2, or PostgreSQL.

With each level there are three editions: Basic, Standard, and Advanced. Here is a functionality matrix that describes the capabilities of each:

http://www.esri.com/library/brochures/pdfs/arcgis-server-functionality-matrix.pdf

So, with just ArcGIS for Desktop (Standard or Advanced) you can use an enterprise geodatabase with SQL Server Express with three simultaneous users. If you needed up to 10 users, you could purchase ArcGIS for Server Workgroup (Basic). If you wanted to be able to create map services, you would want to purchase ArcGIS for Server Workgroup (Standard). You can refer to the functionality matrix to see if you need ArcGIS for Server Workgroup (Advanced).

If you needed more than 10 users you would want to purchase ArcGIS for Server Enterprise (Basic). If you wanted to be able to create map services as well, you would want to purchase ArcGIS for Server Enterprise (Standard). You can refer to the functionality matrix to see if you need ArcGIS for Server Enterprise (Advanced).

With an enterprise level, you will need to purchase the RDBMS yourself. In the original link I sent, see the following line:

ArcSDE support at the enterprise server level can scale to databases of any size and number of users and runs on computers of any size and configuration. ArcGIS for Server, you provide your own DBMS license for this level of ArcSDE use.

Re: Can you install ArcGIS for Server Advanced Enterprise on SQL Server Express

JaromHlebasko — Fri, 05 Sep 2014 16:06:10 GMT

All of this information is fantastic, thank you! I guess my main issue is this: I am looking at becoming an ASP (application service provider) by purchasing ArcGIS for Server Enterprise Advanced which will allow me to have any number of users I want. I want to install the server on Amazon Web Services and I noticed that there are several different options to use while doing so. I have used the Cloud Builder provided by ESRI and noticed that there are several DBMSs to choose from. Based on the management system I choose, the pricing tier goes up or down on Amazon. With Amazon services, they allow me to choose an operating system as well as a database management system but do I need to purchase these licenses (Windows Server & SQL Server) as well or does Amazon take care of that based on the fees they charge? From what you're saying, SQL Server Express will only allow me to have 3 simultaneous users via ArcGIS for Desktop but if I was to register it with my server, I could only use it for a workgroup license level.

At the end of the day, I want my users to be able to use map services out in the field and leverage editing capabilities provided by an Enterprise Geodatabase. I know I am probably all over the map with my questions. Sorry for the confusion!

Re: Can you install ArcGIS for Server Advanced Enterprise on SQL Server Express

JakeSkinner — Fri, 05 Sep 2014 16:15:42 GMT

With Amazon services, they allow me to choose an operating system as well as a database management system but do I need to purchase these licenses (Windows Server & SQL Server) as well or does Amazon take care of that based on the fees they charge?

I believe these fees are taken care of by Amazon.

Re: Can you install ArcGIS for Server Advanced Enterprise on SQL Server Express

AsrujitSengupta — Fri, 05 Sep 2014 16:31:28 GMT

You can use a SQL Server Express instance to create an sde enterprise geodatabase and use it for publishing the Map Services. That way there will be no limitation on the number of connections.

But as Jake had mentioned previously, you should take a look at the limitations of SQL Server Express once, specially the database size limit (each database has a limitation of 10GB in size). However, you can create multiple databases if that works for you.

Re: Can you install ArcGIS for Server Advanced Enterprise on SQL Server Express

JaromHlebasko — Fri, 05 Sep 2014 16:46:27 GMT

There may be no limit on the number of connections but is there a limit on how many users can edit the data with SQL Server Express? And if so, can you create multiple databases with the same limit?

Re: Can you install ArcGIS for Server Advanced Enterprise on SQL Server Express

AsrujitSengupta — Fri, 05 Sep 2014 18:03:46 GMT

No, if its an sde enterprise geodatabase...there is no limit on the number of connections or the number of simultaneous editors.

Re: Can you install ArcGIS for Server Advanced Enterprise on SQL Server Express

JaromHlebasko — Fri, 05 Sep 2014 18:24:35 GMT

So based on what I am trying to accomplish, SQL Server Express should suffice unless I have a 10 GB size limit problem? Thank you so much for your help!

Re: Can you install ArcGIS for Server Advanced Enterprise on SQL Server Express

CattyannCampbell — Fri, 05 Sep 2014 18:43:19 GMT

You can't have more than one editor at a time with SQL Server Express. I got burned by this and had to revert back to Enterprise version after spending more than a few hours on the phone with ESRI Support. I thought I could install Express and go since our databases aren't that large at least not what I wanted for editing but when I tried to have more than one editor the trouble started. If you are just starting out install the SQL server Enterprise and be done with it.

Re: Can you install ArcGIS for Server Advanced Enterprise on SQL Server Express

AsrujitSengupta — Fri, 05 Sep 2014 19:00:04 GMT

Cattyann Campbell‌: What you are talking about is a SDE personal geodatabase. Which has a limitation as discussed in this thread above.

I am suggesting the use of an SDE Enterprise geodatabase to Jarom Hlebasko‌. Please note the difference.

Re: Can you install ArcGIS for Server Advanced Enterprise on SQL Server Express

JakeSkinner — Fri, 05 Sep 2014 19:00:49 GMT

With SQL Server Express Personal Edition (believe it's called Update Extension now), you can only have one editor. If you are using SQL Server Express Workgroup Edition, you can have 10 simultaneous users/editors:

ArcGIS Help (10.2, 10.2.1, and 10.2.2)

With ArcGIS for Desktop (Standard and Advanced) and ArcGIS Engine with the Geodatabase Update extension, you can set up a database server and create geodatabases that can be accessed by a few users and edited by one user at a time.

With ArcGIS for Server Workgroup using , you can set up a database server and create geodatabases from within ArcGIS for Desktop that can be accessed by up to 10 users at a time, all of whom can be editing concurrently. When using the database servers licensed through ArcGIS for Server Workgroup, you can also connect to the geodatabases using web applications, for which there is no connection limit.

Re: Can you install ArcGIS for Server Advanced Enterprise on SQL Server Express

CattyannCampbell — Fri, 05 Sep 2014 19:22:36 GMT

The issue I ran into is that when I installed SQL Server Express as you are suggesting the only database I could create from that was the SDE personal database did not know that would happen I was very surprised and wasted a lot of time with ESRI tech support trying to undo this. Perhaps I missed a check box somewhere but that's what happened when I tried the SQL Server Express Route.

Re: Can you install ArcGIS for Server Advanced Enterprise on SQL Server Express

AsrujitSengupta — Fri, 05 Sep 2014 19:26:18 GMT

The SDE Personal comes along with ArcGIS Desktop, thus has its limitations.

In this case here Jarom, already had a ArcGIS for Server enterprise license available to him. Thus he can create SDE Enterprise geodatabases as well. This was my reason for suggesting the creation of an sde enterprise gdb.

Re: Can you install ArcGIS for Server Advanced Enterprise on SQL Server Express

CattyannCampbell — Fri, 05 Sep 2014 19:45:33 GMT

Maybe I should have contacted you instead of ESRI tech support because we also have an ArcGIS Server Enterprise License thought I would have gotten the option to use that with the express install

but I ended up with Personal SDE being installed instead. I've since scrapped it and reverted back to our Enterprise version maybe I'll take this up again when we move up 10.3.

Thanks for your feedback.

Re: Can you install ArcGIS for Server Advanced Enterprise on SQL Server Express

AsrujitSengupta — Fri, 05 Sep 2014 19:56:18 GMT

I am a part of that *famed* ESRI Tech Support team

However yes, feel free to refer to this thread in your Support request or mention my name in case you face any issues while upgrading to 10.3.