tileCache Store deprecation at 11.4 - can the machine be repurposed as an objectStore?

[DavidColey]

Hi - I prepping for upgrade from 11.3 - 11.4, I just now saw the deprecation of the tileCache store at 11.4 and the reccomendation to convert/standup an objectStore. 

Can I re-purpose my current tileCache store server as an Object Store server?  Any recommendations on this?

Thanks-

[DavidColey]

It also occurred to me that I could just reconfigure the current tileCache store as an Object Store now at 11.3 before I upgrade, since I don't have any scene caches or 3D mesh layers now, and so the tileCache store is empty.   I could then run the 

disabledatastore --store tileCache

https://enterprise.arcgis.com/en/server/latest/publish-services/windows/migrate-scene-services-utili...

and then maybe go back into the machine and re-register it as an object store?

[DavidColey]

Actually, this looks like it will be easier than I thought.  This is from the esri AI Chatbot:

..........

Yes, it is possible to configure an object store on an existing tileCache data store server and then remove the tileCache data store. Here are the steps to achieve this:

1. Backup Data Stores:

   • Take a backup of both the relational and tile cache data stores using the backupdatastore utility.

2. Remove Standby Tile Cache Data Store (if applicable):

   • If the data stores are configured to be highly available, use the removemachine utility to remove the standby tile cache data store.

3. Unregister Tile Cache Data Store:

   • Use the unregisterdatastore utility to unregister the tile cache data store from the hosting server.

4. Restore Tile Cache Data Store (if needed):

   • Use the restoredatastore utility to restore the tile cache data store from the backup on a new machine if required.

5. Configure Object Store:

   • Run the configuredatastore utility on all machines to be added to the object store cluster. Use the following command:

     ./configuredatastore <serverURL> <serverAdmin> <serverAdminPassword> <directory> --stores object --mode cluster

     • Ensure the directory path does not contain spaces.
     • If you intend to use multiple machines in the object store, specify --mode cluster.

6. Remove Tile Cache Data Store:

   • If the ArcGIS Data Store cannot access the machine, specify --force true to remove the machine from the tile cache data store using the following command:

     ./removemachine tilecache3 --store tilecache --force true

By following these steps, you can successfully configure an object store and remove the existing tileCache data store. If you need further assistance, please contact Esri technical support.

..........

[DavidColey]

I don't really understand what this is supposed to be, other than a how-to guide for a very high level deployment that most of us don't have:

As of the 11.4 release, the tile cache data store is deprecated. In a future release, it will no longer be supported.

https://community.esri.com/t5/arcgis-enterprise-blog/as-of-the-11-4-release-the-tile-cache-data-stor...

I can understand the reason for the blog. The help is clear on the deprecation. But the rest of us could certainly use some guidance.  So, what's up @MarceloMarques and @George_Thompson  ?

Its just I haven't seen anyone else in this space complaining about this particular use case.  Maybe one of you could provide a comment to what I am asking....?

[MarceloMarques]

Hello @DavidColey 

My blog post "As of the 11.4 release, the tile cache data store ... - Esri Community" is intended to inform about the issue with ArcGIS Enterprise Multi Machine Deployments were ArcGIS Enterprise (Portal + Server) are in one machine and the ArcGIS Data Store Tile Cache is in another machine and there are issues to execute the "MigrateSceneServices.bat -m analysis" utility due to missing security settings in the Internet Options of both machines. This issue can happen on premises and in the cloud and my blog post explains the workaround steps. My goal is to bring awareness to this issue in case other folks encounter the same problem.

I hope this clarifies the question.

Thanks.

[MarceloMarques]

@DavidColey 

Tile Cache data store cannot be repurposed as an Object Store.

After the upgrade from 11.3 to 11.4 the Tile Cache data store existing hosted scene layers will continue to work, but publishing new hosted scene layers will require the object store.

Then is necessary to create an Object Store and migrate all the Tile Cache hosted scene layer caches to the object store.

This can be done using the specialized tooling that is available in ArcGIS Enterprise 11.4.

Once the migration to the Object Store is complete then the Tile Cache Data Store can be retired.

 Migrate hosted scene layer caches using the MigrateSceneServices utility—ArcGIS Server | Documentati...

I hope this clarifies the question.

[DavidColey]

My apologies @MarceloMarques - I misread the blog and misunderstood the intent.  I now see what you are communicating.

I don't think I was clear with my use case workflow. 

I am still at 11.3. 

I am going to use the same Windows 2022 VM that is currently used as the tile Cache store, because we currently have no content in the tileCache. It is an empty shell.

I will then configure an object store on the same server as the tileCache store using the configuredatastore utility and specifying an object store, still at 11.3.  The object store then is registered with the hosting site.

I'll go back into the machine and run the disabledatastore command to unregister and remove the tileCache store.

Then I will proceed with the enterprise upgrade to 11.4, and when I reach the step to upgrade the object store, it should be recognized and be up-gradable...

[MarceloMarques · Accepted solution]

@DavidColey - you can perform the upgrade from 11.3 to 11.4 first and only after that you can create the new object store, then after that is done you can disable/remove the Tile Cache data store. These are the steps I am using. But if your Tile Cache is empty and not even been used then of course you can try to delete/remove the TileCache data store at 11.3 before the upgrade to 11.4.

[DavidColey]

Sadly I should have paid attention to this:

Data store type Default mode Other mode option Notes

Object store

Single instance

Cluster

Single instance mode supports a single machine. Cluster mode must be deployed with three or more machines. You cannot change modes after deploying an object store.

For any others out there, if using the configuredatastore utility:

Don't specify a mode.  There is no 'single instance' mode option when configuring an object as on of the command parameters:

Supported configuration options:
[--stores [relational][,][tileCache][,][spatiotemporal][,][graph][,][object]
[--mode primaryStandby|cluster]
[--roles [coord][,][data]]

So you have to not put in that arg.  Wish that were better detailed, since you cannot change modes for an object store...

[DavidColey]

Another issue newly discovered is that - if you try and use the 

C:\Program Files\ArcGIS\DataStore\tools>disabledatastore

command, the command is no longer recognized.

Probably because the last store registered in the Data Store happened to be the Object Store.

I am guessing  're-tasking' a single machine a tile Cache store in primaryStandby mode as a single instance Object store wasn't considered?  maybe? not sure... but this is what you get:

C:\Program Files\ArcGIS\DataStore\tools>disabledatastore
'disabledatastore' is not recognized as an internal or external command,
operable program or batch file.

Its really a Catch-22.

If I upgrade to 11.4 first, and then try and run the disabledatastore command, it won't work, or at least it certainly isn't working at 11.3

So what I will do is go back into the utility and unregister the object store data store from the hosting site.  Then, after re-starting my 2-machine host site cluster, go in and re-run the disabledatastore --tileCache command to remove it from the site.

Finally, go back and re-add the object store as a single instance....