Migrating ArcGIS Server 10.0 to later versions

Major architectural changes were introduced into ArcGIS Server at version 10.1. Therefore, if you're migrating to 10.2.2 from 10.0 or earlier versions, keep the following guidelines in mind when migrating. If you're upgrading 10.1 or a later version to ArcGIS 10.2.2 for Server, the following migration guidelines do not apply to you. Instead, see Existing ArcGIS for Server users to review a list of common upgrade questions and links to topics that provide full upgrade instructions.

If you're ready to start migrating to 10.2.2 from 10.0 or earlier versions, begin working through the Migration checklist.

Migration approaches

The easiest way to migrate from version 10.0 of ArcGIS Server is to install 10.2.2 on a new machine or set of machines. This allows you to go back and reference your existing applications and service properties while you are creating your new ArcGIS Server site. It also minimizes downtime because you can test the migrated site and then immediately redirect traffic to it once you are ready.

The other approach, migrating a machine "in place", requires some downtime while you uninstall the 10.0 software, install 10.2.2, redeploy your services (which is not automatic), and update your applications. An in-place migration requires you to take careful notes about your service configurations before you uninstall. The Migration checklist contains a list of essential properties you should record and files you should back up.

If you must perform an in-place migration, it's recommended that you practice on a development server or on a virtual machine before you attempt the process on your production server.

An in-place migration is more feasible when moving from 10.1 to 10.2.2 because you are not required to uninstall 10.1. However, the migrated site should still be thoroughly tested before being exposed to end users.

The GIS server and services

Preserving your server URL

By default, the ArcGIS Server site exposes its web services through port 6080 and uses a site name of "arcgis". The services you create will include port 6080 and "arcgis" as part of the service URL. For example:

ArcGIS for Server version

URL example

10.0 and previous

http://gisserver.domain.com/planners/rest/services/MyMapService/MapServer

10.1 and later

http://gisserver.domain.com:6080/arcgis/rest/services/MyMapService/MapServer

If you want to preserve your 10.0 URL with a later version of ArcGIS Server, you should install the ArcGIS Web Adaptor. The Web Adaptor connects ArcGIS Server with your enterprise web server, allowing you to configure a URL for your site that matches your version 10.0 deployment. For more information, see About the ArcGIS Web Adaptor.

Migrating services

Services are not automatically migrated from version 10.0 to later versions. The migration path for these services is to re-create them using the newer version. In recent versions, items that you attempt to publish are put through a more rigorous analysis process to make sure that they are ready to be exposed on the server in an efficient way. Although completing this analysis process can take time, it will help you to adapt your services to the various changes that were introduced at 10.1. You will also likely discover ways that you can improve the performance of your services.

Migrating map and globe caches

Map and globe caches that you created in ArcGIS Server 10.0 and previous versions can be used in later versions. The only exception is multilayer caches, which are not supported after version 10.0. If you have a multilayer cache, you should rebuild it as a series of separate fused caches.

Use the following sequence of steps to migrate a map cache:

  1. On your new ArcGIS Server site, create a server cache directory that references the folder holding your 10.0 cache. For instructions on creating a server cache directory, see Creating a server directory in Manager. Alternatively, you can move your 10.0 cache into your existing server cache directory. All ArcGIS Server sites are created with at least one server cache directory.
  2. Use the File > Share As > Service wizard in ArcMap to start creating a service with the same name as the existing cache. When you reach the Service Editor dialog box, stop and go on to the next step. Do not click Publish yet. If your existing cache is named with an underscore, that means you need to create the service in the GIS server folder, following the pattern <folder name>_<service name>.
  3. In the Caching tab of the Service Editor dialog box, modify the Cache directory property to point at the migrated cache directory that you registered in Step 1.
  4. In the Caching tab of the Service Editor dialog box, modify the sliders for the minimum and maximum cached scales so that they include all the scales for which you have existing tiles.
  5. In the Service Editor, click Publish to publish the service.

Migrating caching scripts

If you performed map or globe cache creation and updates through geoprocessing scripts, be aware that the parameter order, names, and data types in many tools in the Caching toolset changed at 10.1. You should carefully examine the geoprocessing tool reference topics and examples to understand how to update your scripts.

Migrating code to server object extensions (SOEs)

Prior to version 10.1, many developers accessed ArcObjects by making a local (DCOM) connection through the Web ADF. These local connections to ArcGIS Server are not available beginning at 10.1. Instead, you are encouraged to develop server object extensions (SOEs) and expose them as REST web services. Your GIS services enhanced by the SOEs can be displayed in the ArcGIS Services Directory and used through the ArcGIS Web APIs.

For more information on developing SOEs, see What is a server object extension?

Migrating existing SOEs

As mentioned in the previous section, SOEs that rely on ArcGIS Server Local connections do not work beginning at version 10.1 and must be refactored to act as REST or SOAP web services.

If you developed a REST or SOAP web service SOE with version 10.0 or earlier, you must build or rebuild it with references to 64-bit libraries before the SOE can be used with a later version. You must also package your SOE as an .soe file so that it can be deployed. The IDE templates for SOEs that are included with ArcGIS Server can do this packaging. You can find instructions in Migrating a Java server object extension to 10.2.2 and Migrating a .NET server object extension to 10.2.2.

As mentioned in the previous section, SOEs that rely on ArcGIS Server Local connections are incompatible with version 10.1 or later and must be refactored to act as REST or SOAP web services.

Migrating secured deployments

ArcGIS Server does not attempt to automatically migrate security settings from previous versions. This is because ArcGIS Server cannot discern enough information about a previous installation's security configuration to guarantee a complete migration of security settings. If your ArcGIS Server 10.0 security store was managed in SQL Server, you can manually migrate it by following the instructions in the topic Using a 10.0 .NET SQL Server security store in 10.2.2.

Security is already enabled when you install ArcGIS Server, with anonymous users being allowed to use your services by default. You can log in to Manager at any time and specify the user and role stores that you want to use for security. You can then apply more restrictive permissions on your services. For more information, see Configuring ArcGIS Server security.

Migrating web applications

Beginning at version 10.1, ArcGIS Server Manager is solely focused on hosting and administering services. It does not build web applications. If you want to build a GIS web application without having to write code, you can use the ArcGIS Viewer for Flex or the ArcGIS Viewer for Silverlight. These now include interactive application builders that allow you to design a web app by pointing and clicking on the features you want, very similar to the way you built web apps with Manager in previous releases.

If you want to share your maps on the web without building and hosting a full application, you can use the ArcGIS.com map viewer. This is an online canvas for creating and sharing a web service-based map online. To get started, visit ArcGIS.com and click Map.

The Web Application Developer Framework (ADF) that shipped with previous versions of ArcGIS Server has been deprecated, and developers should use the ArcGIS web APIs (for JavaScript, Flex, and Silverlight) when writing new web applications. Printing, editing, and other tasks previously accomplished through the ADF are now readily available using the ArcGIS web APIs.

Common migration questions

This section lists questions that you might have when migrating, and suggests possible solutions. If you don't find your question here, you can also search for articles on the Esri Support Center.

In what order should I upgrade different ArcGIS components? If ArcGIS for Desktop is on the same machine as ArcGIS for Server, does that affect the order?

If ArcGIS for Desktop and ArcGIS for Server are all installed on the same machine, everything must be migrated in one event. If ArcGIS for Desktop and ArcGIS for Server are spread out among multiple machines, you can upgrade different ArcGIS components in stages. For example, you could follow the steps below:

  1. Upgrade a few ArcGIS for Desktop clients. After confirming the upgrade process is sound, upgrade all ArcGIS for Desktop clients.
  2. Upgrade ArcGIS for Server.

Should I upgrade my operating system at the same time I upgrade ArcGIS for Server?

ArcGIS for Server is a 64-bit application and will require a 64-bit operating system. If you are currently using a 32-bit operating system, you'll need to upgrade to a 64-bit operating system before you can install ArcGIS for Server.

If you are unsure whether or not your operating system is supported with ArcGIS for Server, see the ArcGIS for Server system requirements.

When I create the ArcGIS Server site, can I re-use the server directories I used at previous releases, or should I type a new path for my server directories?

When you create a site, you'll be asked for the root location of your server directories. You can specify a new location to have empty directories created for you, or you can point at a location that contains server directories from previous releases.

If you re-use your previous server directories, use your web server management software to remove the virtual directories that were associated with your server directories in previous releases. ArcGIS Server handles directory virtualization for you beginning at version 10.1, so you do not need your old virtual directories.

If your server directories contain map caches in the exploded storage format, be aware that it could take a while to create your site. The site creation process applies permissions for the ArcGIS Server account on the cache folders, and this can take a long time with large exploded caches.

My SOC account from previous releases already has permissions to my data folders. When I install 10.2.2, can I re-use that account as the ArcGIS Server account?

The 10.0 and prior versions of ArcGIS Server required you to create an account called the SOC account and grant it permissions to all data folders. If you already have a SOC account and its permissions in place, you can specify it as the ArcGIS Server account if you choose. This can reduce or eliminate the reassigning of permissions you need to perform during migration.

12/18/2014