Migration to Enterprise Geodatabase from File Geodatabase

[TylerT]

Greetings,

Our org is deploying ArcGIS Enterprise so I am brushing up on the basic patterns.  One question that I'm having a hard time nailing down is "where does the Enterprise Geodatabase live?".    I will be migrating our File Geodatabases to Enterprise Geodatabase(s).  

In other words where does the Enterprise Geodatabase belong in the four software components described in ESRIs documentation and schematics?

Or is there another piece of the Enterprise puzzle that is not represented in this schematic?

Let me know.

Thank you,

Tyler

[wizgis]

@TylerT 

Greetings, 

So, the databases like SQL Server, Oracle, PostgreSQL etc gets converted into geodatabases by using a tool of Enable Enterprise Geodatabase.

Here is a link for your reference :  https://pro.arcgis.com/en/pro-app/latest/tool-reference/data-management/enable-enterprise-geodatabas... 

To answer your question, enterprise geodatabase is NOT a part of ArcGIS Enterprise instead, it can be used as a data source that stores feature classes and can be registered with ArcGIS Server, and feature services can be published. 

For more information : https://enterprise.arcgis.com/en/server/latest/install/linux/making-your-data-accessible-to-arcgis-s... 

https://enterprise.arcgis.com/en/server/latest/manage-data/windows/connect-sqlserver.htm 

With that being said, ArcGIS Enterprise does have ArcGIS Data Store which can be installed and configured  however, one can't really access it meaning that if a service gets published and ArcGIS Data Store is being used then data gets copied into ArcGIS Data Store and resulting service is called a Hosted Feature Service. 

So, in the first case data is being referenced by ArcGIS Server whereas in second case data gets copied over to ArcGIS Data Store. 

Link for Reference : https://www.esri.com/content/dam/esrisites/en-us/events/conferences/2020/federal-gis/arcgis-enterpri... 

Hope this helps.

[Scott_Tansley]

A couple of things....

The diagram you've shown above is the 'Base Deployment' of ArcGIS Enterprise, that is, the minimum spec of an ArcGIS Enterprise you can deploy.  Optional server roles can be appended:

     https://enterprise.arcgis.com/en/get-started/latest/windows/additional-server-deployment.htm

One of those is a GIS Server.  Which is like a hosting server but as this text:

   https://enterprise.arcgis.com/en/get-started/latest/windows/additional-server-deployment.htm#ESRI_SE....

states, it should be considered to be different and 'should' be split out.  It is the GIS Server that connets to any geodatabases.

In saying all of that, I would ask "Why do you want an Enterprise Geodatabase?"  Don't get me wrong, they're great, but if you've got this far with file geodatabases then do you need to go 'bigger' and add more complexity?

You can use file geodatabases inside of ArcGIS Enterprise and they're 'fast'.  Much simpler to deal with than Enterprise Geodatabases, and as wizgis has said, you have the option of the ArcGIS Data Store as well which coveres many use cases.

If you have a genuine need for the Enterprise Geodatabase, then do it.  But don't go down that route because you 'assume' that you need an Enterprise Geodatabase to use ArcGIS Enterprise.  Ultimately the Enterprise Geodatabase was around long before ArcGIS Enterprise was and is an option, but not a dependency.

[berniejconnors]

I agree with Scott. If you don't need the features of a multi-user enterprise database such as Oracle or Postgres and you don't need to publish editable feature services I would avoid the complexity.  We used Oracle with our first deployment in 2009 but now we almost completely rely on file geodatabases and find them faster and easier to manage than Oracle.

However, if you do deploy an enterprise geodatabase it should be on its own server.

[TylerT]

All,

Thank you for your commentary.  This will give me something to chew on.  

Does Indoors require and EGDB (Enterprise Geodatabase)?

More questions later.

Much appreciated.

Tyler

[Scott_Tansley]

I'm going to put my hand on my heart and say I know little about Indoors.  But, it works with ArcGIS Online, which does not have an Enterprise Geodatabase, so the Equivalent in Enterprise would be the hosting server and ArcGIS Datastore.  Therefore, I do not believe so.

[TylerT]

@Scott_Tansley, you mentioned:

I'm on board with that, but I am not grasping the workflow yet.  

Presumably, you are referring to this pattern:

And, correct me if I'm wrong, but this pattern is acheived through ArcGIS Pro 'Share Geodata Service'.  I stepped through that process, but in the end, I am not seeing any feature classes within my local gdb from the Portal.  All I see are these two new items in the Portal:

But no clear next step on how to access the gdb feature classes from these items. 

Any further guidance would be appreciated.

Thank you,

Tyler

ArcGIS Pro 3.1.0

[Scott_Tansley]

Hey a GeoData service relates to distributed geodatabases and sharing.  Is that what you want?  Most people just publish Map Image Layers from their Enterprise Geodatabases so that they can view it in web maps.

[TylerT]

@Scott_Tansley ; 

I had a misperception of how Portal/ArcGIS Server would access gdb data. It goes against my data sensibilities to copy data vice read a single authoritative source.

Bottom line is that I am testing different workflows to see what works best for us, and would like to start with industry best practice, so seeking input.

Thank you,

Tyler

[Scott_Tansley]

There are advantages and disadvantages to both.  I can speak for hours on this subject but if you want to increase performance, increase security and you’re prepared to lose some  SQL functionality then use fGDBs.  But it’s not black and white.  Review each service and what’s needed and use the best option for that scenario.  Most of my clients will be at about 90% fGDB with some EGDB.  Most are now looking at Hosted Services as well.