License Manager Options 11.3 for ArcGIS Pro

[forestknutsen1]

I am building out new ArcGIS Enterprise 11.3 servers (portal, server, datastore).

I see there is now an option to license ArcPro with the portal install. Right now we are doing this with ArcGIS Online.

1. What is the advantage of moving this function to portal? It seems like moving this to portal could simplify the sign in experience for the users as they could use their AD account that they use to log into portal for the ArcPro. Right now they have to use the AGOL account.
2. To get it set up I have to install the FlexNet server on my portal server? 
3. The license creation process file asks for a port for the license server is there a recommended port for this?
4. We have a license manager setup on a non portal server at this time for ArcMap 10.8.1. We could move all this over to the new license manager on the portal box as well, right? We would just not be able to interact with it via portal for the desktop licenses like we would with ArcPro.
5. Does it mater when I install the FlexNet license manager on th 11.3 portal box? Do I have to install it before portal etc. or can it go after the portal has been setup.

Thanks!
 

[MarceloMarques]

@forestknutsen1 

1. What is the advantage of moving this function to portal? It seems like moving this to portal could simplify the sign in experience for the users as they could use their AD account that they use to log into portal for the ArcPro. Right now they have to use the AGOL account.

[Marcelo]: users login to Portal in ArcGIS Pro using their Portal accounts, and the Portal account has the user type assigned, which has the ArcGIS Pro license assigned in Portal. Therefore, Portal users in ArcGIS Pro can access ArcGIS Pro Licenses via Portal. 

2. To get it set up I have to install the FlexNet server on my portal server? 

[Marcelo}: you need to install the ArcGIS License Manager on the portal server or in another separate machine, I suggest to create a new VM for the LM.

3. The license creation process file asks for a port for the license server is there a recommended port for this?

[Marcelo]: see the documentation below for ArcGIS License Manager ports.

Defining port@host to one or more license servers—License Manager Guide | Documentation (arcgis.com)

How To: Configure the ArcGIS License Manager to Work through a Firewall (esri.com)

FAQ: What Are the Necessary Procedures and Common Questions for a Complete ArcGIS pro Lice (esri.com...

[Marcelo}: once the ArcGIS License Manager is installed, we authorized the licenses by using the "Named User" license option and we select the Portal license file as the source of the ArcGIS Pro licenses. If your Portal license file does not contain the "Named User" licenses for Pro then contact your Esri Account Manager or visit myesri.com for license assistance.

4. We have a license manager setup on a non portal server at this time for ArcMap 10.8.1. We could move all this over to the new license manager on the portal box as well, right?

[Marcelo]: you need to keep that ArcGIS License Manager for ArcMap users, you cannot use it for Portal Pro "Named User" licenses.

We would just not be able to interact with it via portal for the desktop licenses like we would with ArcPro.

{Marcelo]: you need to install a new ArcGIS License Manager in the Portal machine or in a new machine, best practice, create a new VM for the new LM.

5. Does it mater when I install the FlexNet license manager on th 11.3 portal box? Do I have to install it before portal etc. or can it go after the portal has been setup.

[Marcelo}: always complete the ArcGIS Enterprise Portal/Server/Datastore installation and configuration first then the last step is to install the ArcGIS License Manager, then use the LM Administrator to authorize the Pro Named User Licenses using the Portal authorization file, then you can use Portal Administrator to configure the LM for Portal. See the documentation below for more details.

Configure ArcGIS Pro licenses—Portal for ArcGIS | Documentation for ArcGIS Enterprise

I hope this helps.

[forestknutsen1]

@MarceloMarques  thanks for all the great feedback! I have a few follow up questions.

1. Okay, I like this. I think it is worth while moving over to this pattern from AGOL. I think it will save time on the GIS admin side and I think it will be a better experience for the end user.

2. "...you need to install the ArcGIS License Manager on the portal server or in another separate machine, I suggest to create a new VM for the LM."

Why is this the recommendation? If both were on the same box and we restarted that box for work on portal it would also kill the license manager -- which is not cool. I guess it feels like a lot of resources to have it on it's own VM alone.

Now we have a dev/test/prod environment for Portal/AGS does that mean I need a dev/test/prod license manager as well? I seems to me that we could get away with just one linked to the prod portal license file. But it might be nice to have a second one for testing. What do most folks choose to do?

4. "...you need to keep that ArcGIS License Manager for ArcMap users, you cannot use it for Portal Pro "Named User" licenses."

Right, I understand that. My question is can I use the new ArcGIS License Manger for the named users and the concurrent ArcMap 108.1 licenses? In other words at the end of the day do I need one type of license manager for 10.8 and second type for ArcPro or can the ArcPro license manager do it all?

5. Got it.

Thanks again for all the help.

[MarceloMarques · Accepted solution]

@forestknutsen1 

2. "...you need to install the ArcGIS License Manager on the portal server or in another separate machine, I suggest to create a new VM for the LM."

Why is this the recommendation? If both were on the same box and we restarted that box for work on portal it would also kill the license manager -- which is not cool. I guess it feels like a lot of resources to have it on it's own VM alone.

[Marcelo]: in case you want to keep your ArcMap environment and Portal/Pro environment separate, till you can complete the migration from ArcMap to Portal/Pro and then retire the ArcMap environment.

Now we have a dev/test/prod environment for Portal/AGS does that mean I need a dev/test/prod license manager as well? I seems to me that we could get away with just one linked to the prod portal license file. But it might be nice to have a second one for testing. What do most folks choose to do?

[Marcelo]: yes, you can use just one, but thing about high availability in case one of the LM machines go down, or when you need to install Windows Updates and reboot the LM machine, having a 2nd LM machine is a good idea, and you can configure multiple LMs for the ArcGIS client applications to reach.

Defining port@host to one or more license servers—License Manager Guide | Documentation (arcgis.com)

4. "...you need to keep that ArcGIS License Manager for ArcMap users, you cannot use it for Portal Pro "Named User" licenses."

Right, I understand that. My question is can I use the new ArcGIS License Manger for the named users and the concurrent ArcMap 108.1 licenses? In other words at the end of the day do I need one type of license manager for 10.8 and second type for ArcPro or can the ArcPro license manager do it all?

[Marcelo]: You can use the same ArcGIS License Manager installed in just one machine to authorize the licenses for ArcMap 10.8.x, and to authorize the ArcGIS Pro Named User Licenses, then ArcMap users and Portal can point to the same ArcGIS License Manager machine.

I hope this helps.

[forestknutsen1]

@MarceloMarques Thanks for all you help.

[MarceloMarques]

@forestknutsen1 - you are welcome! Glad to assist! 🙂