Publishing a File Geodatabase based Utility Network to Portal

[BenK2]

Hello all,

We're currently transitioning from a geometric network to using a utility network, with the goal of having a UN web map stood up and functioning at the end of the year. However, due the transition and changing data structures, we don't have a steady UN web service to consume. With this in mind, we were considering exporting/deploying a snapshot copy of the current utility network structure to a file geodatabase, and then publishing that to portal for use in the web map. Is this workflow even possible? Attempts so far have errored out in various ways, so I'm just wondering if this is even the right direction to pursue. 

[JonDeRose]

Good afternoon Ben,  

Single-user deployments in either a file or mobile geodatabase provide access to the same analytic capabilities of the utility network; however, these cannot be published to create a utility network service. 

The publishing and consuming services topic touches upon this.  While it does not explicitly state that utility networks in file and mobile geodatabases cannot be published, it does communicate that "map layers must be from a database connection established as the database utility network owner, and that all network layers must be registered as branch versioned", both of which are only possible when the data source is an enterprise geodatabase. 

While you cannot publish the UN in the file geodatabase, you can still configure and test your network in the file geodatabase and copy the UN into an enterprise geodatabase for publishing once you feel comfortable with it.

Hope that helps,

Jon