Portal compatibility with previous versions of ArcGIS

This topic answers some common questions about the compatibility of Portal for ArcGIS with previous versions of ArcGIS.

I want to federate my ArcGIS Server site with Portal for ArcGIS. Do both these products need to be running version 10.2?

Yes. To federate your ArcGIS Server site with Portal for ArcGIS, both products need to be running version 10.2.

Can I configure an earlier version of the ArcGIS Web Adaptor with Portal for ArcGIS 10.2?

No. To configure the Web Adaptor with Portal for ArcGIS, both products need to be running version 10.2.

Can I install a 10.2 Web Adaptor on the same machine as a 10.1 Web Adaptor?

No. If you configure multiple Web Adaptors on a single web server, you must use the same version number for all the Web Adaptors. If you install the Web Adaptor on a web server that has older Web Adaptors installed, all Web Adaptors are automatically upgraded to the newer version and must be reregistered.

Can I use an earlier version of ArcGIS for Desktop to publish or administer items running on Portal for ArcGIS 10.2?

No. The version of ArcGIS for Desktop that you use for publishing or administering items needs to match the version number of your portal.

Using an earlier version of ArcGIS for Desktop, can I view and use services running on Portal for ArcGIS 10.2?

Yes. You can add 10.2 services to earlier versions of 10.x ArcGIS for Desktop. The fundamental structure and format of web service requests understood by services have not changed at version 10.2.

When a 10.2 ArcGIS Server site is federated with Portal for ArcGIS and you are connecting from a pre-10.2 version of ArcGIS for Desktop, you must access your services through ArcMap using Add Data > Add Data from Portal for ArcGIS. You cannot connect to the server by clicking Add ArcGIS Server.

What is the migration path from earlier versions of Portal for ArcGIS to version 10.2?

Migration to Portal for ArcGIS 10.2 from a previous version is only supported through an Esri Professional Services engagement. Moving forward, upgrades of Portal for ArcGIS 10.2 to newer versions will be fully documented and supported without Esri Professional Services involvement.