The geodatabase administrator in Informix

The geodatabase administrator in IBM Informix is an operating system account named sde.

This account is responsible for administration of the following:

• ArcSDE geodatabase system tables, triggers, procedures, and functions
• The ArcSDE service (if one is used)
• Geodatabase versions

The geodatabase administrator owns all the ArcSDE geodatabase system files, directories, and tables. For this reason, the geodatabase administrator account must be created before the geodatabase can be enabled in an existing Informix database. The database administrator (DBA) creates the sde account and grants it the necessary permissions to access the database and the privileges required to create a geodatabase in it.

Keep in mind that the geodatabase administrator user is not the same as the DBA. Although conditions at your site may necessitate that the geodatabase administrator have DBA-level permissions, this is not required for day-to-day operation of an ArcSDE geodatabase.

The geodatabase administrator and schema

It is recommended that the geodatabase administrator and its schema only be used to manage and store the ArcSDE geodatabase repository. You should create separate user schemas in which to store your data objects, such as feature classes and raster datasets. Following the practice of storing only system tables in the geodatabase administrator's storage space simplifies the management of the geodatabase and makes it easier for you to delete the geodatabase from your database if you ever decide to do so.