Expanding from one GIS server to multiple GIS servers
This topic gives some special points to consider if you have been running one GIS server machine in your ArcGIS Server site and you want to add another GIS server. If you are setting up an entirely new site with multiple GIS servers, follow the instructions in Configuring a multiple-machine deployment.
Configuring the server directories and configuration store to use shared paths
Before you add a second machine to your site, you need to use your operating system tools to share the folders containing your server directories and configuration store. Ensure that the ArcGIS Server account has permissions to read and write to the shared folder.
Note:Shared network directories that are hidden or use special characters (for example, $) are not supported by ArcGIS Server.
Caution:Although it is possible to share your existing locations for the configuration store and server directories, it is strongly recommended that you move these locations to a fault-tolerant file server.
Once you've shared the server directories and configuration store, you need to configure the site to use the new, shared paths. You can do this in Manager or ArcGIS for Desktop by following the instructions below. Note that your server will experience a period of downtime while these steps are executing.
Editing the server directory and configuration store paths in Manager
- Open Manager and log in. If you need help with this step, see Logging in to Manager.
- To edit the configuration store path, click Site > GIS Server > Configuration Store. Enter the shared path of the configuration store location. The contents of the configuration store are moved to the new location and all services are restarted.
- To edit the server directory paths, click Site > GIS Server > Directories. For each directory, click its Edit icon
and enter the new shared path for the directory. When you edit a directory path, the contents of the directory are copied to the new location unless you are editing a cache directory. When you change a cache directory location, you must copy the cache to the new location yourself.
Editing the server directory and configuration store paths in ArcGIS for Desktop
- In ArcCatalog or the Catalog window, expand the GIS Servers node.
- Right-click your administrative connection to ArcGIS for Server and choose Server Properties. If you need help with this step, see About connecting to ArcGIS Server in ArcGIS for Desktop.
- To edit the configuration store path, click the Configuration Store tab in the ArcGIS Server Properties window. Enter the shared path of the configuration store location. The contents of the configuration store are moved to the new location and all services are restarted.
- To edit the server directory paths, click the Directories tab in the ArcGIS Server Properties window. Update each directory with its new shared path. When you edit a directory path, the contents of the directory are copied to the new location unless you are editing a cache directory. When you change a cache directory location, you must copy the cache to the new location yourself.
Preparing the GIS server machines
Before you add a GIS server to the site, there are a number of criteria that it must meet. You might need to adjust your existing GIS server machine to meet these conditions. See Criteria for adding a GIS server to a site to learn whether your GIS server is ready to add to the site.
Adding or joining the GIS servers to the site
You can add or join GIS servers to your site. There is a subtle difference between these two actions, even though they have the same result. The act of adding a GIS server can be performed from a central location (such as one Manager session) to pull one or more machines into a site. The act of joining a site is typically performed immediately after installation on one machine to push it into an existing site.
See the following topics for instructions:
Adding a GIS server to a site in Manager