ArcSDE no longer needed?

[ErikEngstrom]

Through my frustration of not finding the post-installation wizard with ArcSDE 10.1 and being unsuccessful with the command line tool to start an SDE service on our SDE databases, I found I was able to access the databases and copy/past/add features/delete features/etc. all through direct connections to our SQL Server 2012 machine. This was WITHOUT ArcSDE running.

So... The question is, why do I need to go through the trouble of trying to get the SDE services to run if I can manage our databases through the Desktop tools? I was even able to create an enterprise geodatabase and verified that all of the necessary business tables were created.

Perhaps I'm missing something...

[BubbaHey]

Not really my area, but I believe the only thing you will need ArcSDE for at 10.1 would be for the sde commandline tools or the application server serivce

[ErikEngstrom]

Technically, but what do you need either for specifically?
If your connections to the database use direct connect, you wouldn't need application server, correct?
The command line tools administer the application server installation from what I gather.

I'm just trying to figure out whether SDE is something I need running. Previously, we had connected through SDE services, but now ALL of our connections should be through direct connect. I have a new server where I restored all of our enterprise geodatabases and am having troubles starting the services, even after syncing the users/roles. If I don't need it however, I'm going to move on to other more pressing issues 😉

[NateArnold]

If you're not running the application server, then command line tools are still useful for working with dbtune.  However, all that stuff can be edited in the config tables directly, so if you're using all direct connect then the service really isn't required.  Do your RAM a favor and don't install it 🙂

Nate

[LucaSimone]

I was posting the same question here...I have searched all over the resource site and I looked all the documentation.

All my maps are using direct connect and without the sde service on our database machine all works like a charm! Even web editing is working...so, I'm ready to migrate our apps to 10.1 but this question is killing me 🙂 please someone at ESRI answer this.

[StephanieSnider]

I've been searching for the answer to this question too.  I found this article which seems to imply that ArcSDE is only needed for "versioned geodatabases".

http://forums.arcgis.com/threads/57375-Why-would-I-install-ArcSDE-with-10.1

[KimPeter]

As indicated in the What's new for geodatabases topic:

"The recommended method to access enterprise geodatabases is to connect directly from ArcGIS clients. If you only use direct connections to your geodatabase, you do not have to install the ArcSDE application server."
http://resources.arcgis.com/en/help/main/10.1/index.html#/What_s_new_for_geodatabases/016w0000003100...

If you need to edit settings in the ArcSDE system tables, though, you should still install the command line tools included with the application server.  I don't think editing system tables directly through SQL is supported technically.

[Anonymous User]

One might say that ArcSDE services exist for "backwards compatibility".  If you have applications on older platforms or using older API's, like MapObjects, then you still might need services.  But it will be up to ESRI as to how long these services are kept up-to-date with the latest ArcSDE releases.

[JamalNUMAN]

As indicated in the What's new for geodatabases topic:

"The recommended method to access enterprise geodatabases is to connect directly from ArcGIS clients. If you only use direct connections to your geodatabase, you do not have to install the ArcSDE application server."
http://resources.arcgis.com/en/help/main/10.1/index.html#/What_s_new_for_geodatabases/016w0000003100...

If you need to edit settings in the ArcSDE system tables, though, you should still install the command line tools included with the application server.  I don't think editing system tables directly through SQL is supported technically.

Hi Kimberly,

In our institution, we got the ArcGIS server (standard/enterprise). I�??m till now a little bit confused regarding the ArcSDE and ArcGIS server.

Is the (workgroup/enterprise) refers to the ArcSDE?
Is the (basic/standard/advance) refers to ArcGIS server?

How the ArcSDE itself is included in the ArcGIS server?

I couldn�??t figure out how the ArcSDE is overlapped with the ArcGIS Server

Thanks

Jamal

[DerekLaw]

Hi Jamal,

... Is the (workgroup/enterprise) refers to the ArcSDE? Is the (basic/standard/advance) refers to ArcGIS server?

A1. Please review the documentation below for more info:

* ArcGIS for Server is available in two levels, Enterprise and Workgroup
* ArcGIS for Server Functionality

How the ArcSDE itself is included in the ArcGIS server?

A2. ArcSDE technology is included "in the box" with ArcGIS for Server. It is available in all functional editions. See the previous links above for details.

Hope this helps,