The self-service mapping, analysis, and sharing system pattern is typically deployed to Windows and Linux using the ArcGIS Enterprise for Windows and Linux software.

ArcGIS Enterprise for Windows and Linux includes several components that span the data, services/logic, and presentation tiers, and work together to provide a complete system. ArcGIS Enterprise for Windows and Linux is fully supported on virtual environments (running a support operating system), as well as cloud providers running virtual machines that meet the system requirements. Esri also provides deployment tooling for cloud platforms including Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Microsoft Azure.

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Base architecture

The following is a typical base architecture for a self-service mapping, analysis, and sharing system deployed on Windows or Linux.

This diagram should not be taken as is and used as the design for your system. There are many important factors and design choices that should be considered when designing your system. Review the using system patterns topic for more information. Additionally, the diagram depicted below delivers only the base capabilities of the system; additional system components may be required when delivering extended capabilities.

Self-service mapping, analysis, and sharing system base architecture (Windows/Linux)

The capabilities represented above reflect those available as of November, 2024.

Key components of this architecture include:

A base deployment of ArcGIS Enterprise, including the ArcGIS Data Store, ArcGIS Server, and Portal for ArcGIS. The ArcGIS Web Adaptor component of ArcGIS Enterprise is also recommended and may be required in some situations. The base deployment enables data publishing and hosting through hosted feature, vector tile, map tile, and scene services. Many of these services in turn use the ArcGIS Data Store which provides ArcGIS-managed storage capabilities for hosted services.
ArcGIS Server, specifically the GIS Server role, which delivers feature and map services for data stored in registered, user-managed data stores. The ArcGIS Server providing enterprise data services is depicted as a logically distinct component of this system from the ArcGIS Server that provides hosted and utility services (and that completes the base deployment described above). This is because they play two different roles in the system and are often designed and deployed separately at a physical level. The ArcGIS Web Adaptor component of ArcGIS Enterprise is also recommended and may be required in some situations.
The data powering enterprise services typically comes from registered, user-managed data stores that include file and object stores, databases (DBMS), and cloud data warehouses. Learn more about the ArcGIS data architecture.
ArcGIS Online, Esri’s SaaS infrastructure, typically provides basemaps (e.g., satellite map), reference data (e.g., places), as well as other location services (e.g., geocoding and search) for this system. Alternatively, it is possible for the organization to host and manage their own location services instead of using Esri’s SaaS system. Please see the location services system pattern for more information.
There are a wide range of applications available through the self-service mapping, analysis, and sharing system. Those applications and types of applications commonly included in a base architecture deployment are shown in the diagram. For more information, see the full list of self-service, analysis, and sharing applications.

Key interactions in this architecture include:

Client applications communicate with enterprise data services as well as location services over HTTPS, typically via stateless REST APIs.
ArcGIS Server maintains persistent TCP connections to both the ArcGIS Data Store as well as databases. The latter typically requires that appropriate database client software be installed on the ArcGIS Server machines communicating with the DBMS. Data supporting location services may also be stored in cloud data warehouses or file stores. Learn more about data and ArcGIS Server.
ArcGIS Monitor, recommended for monitoring and optimizing the GIS system components, communicates with a variety of ArcGIS and IT (e.g., DBMS) components using a variety of mechanisms. Please see ArcGIS Monitor documentation for more information.
References to location services hosted and managed by ArcGIS Online (e.g., basemaps) are typically registered and made available for use within ArcGIS Enterprise. Some services are referenced automatically when installing ArcGIS Enterprise, though additional sharing of content and services between these two systems can be performed manually or automatically. Please see configuring ArcGIS Online utility services, configuring ArcGIS Living Atlas content, and distributed collaboration.

Note:

For ArcGIS Enterprise deployments prior to the 11.4 release, an ArcGIS License Manager may be required for configuring and managing ArcGIS Pro licenses. See ArcGIS License Manager documentation for more information.

Additional information on interactions between ArcGIS Enterprise components can be found in the ArcGIS Enterprise for Windows and Linux product documentation, including a diagram of ports used in an ArcGIS Enterprise on Windows and Linux deployment.

Capabilities

The capabilities of the self-service mapping, analysis, and sharing system on Windows and Linux are described below. See the capability overview and comparison of capability support across deployment patterns for more information.

Capabilities used in a self-service mapping, analysis, and sharing system, but typically provided by other systems, such as basemaps, geocoding, and other location services provided by a location services system are not listed below. Learn more about related system patterns.

Base capabilities

Base capabilities represent the most common capabilities delivered by self-service mapping, analysis, and sharing systems and that are enabled by the base architecture presented above.

Mapping and visualization allows users to create as well as interact with 2D maps and 3D scenes. ArcGIS Enterprise includes rich mapping and visualization capabilities, including data-driven visualization, 3D visualization, as well as basemap styling. Learn more about maps and visualization.
App building empowers content creators to create web applications using a no-code or low-code approach, as well as application developers to develop web apps, native mobile and desktop apps, as well as XR and immersive experiences using full code approach. Learn more about ArcGIS Builders and ArcGIS Mapping APIs and SDKs.
Site building enables content creators to create hosted websites using a no-code or low-code approach. Site building in ArcGIS Enterprise is supported by ArcGIS Enterprise Sites. ArcGIS Enterprise Sites enables to creation of tailored websites & webpages to showcase ArcGIS Enterprise content to users. In addition to ArcGIS Enterprise, ArcGIS Experience Builder, which is considered an application builder, is also capable of creating websites.
Sharing and collaboration enables users within an organization to share data, maps, and other content with other users in the organization. ArcGIS Enterprise provides a powerful, flexible sharing model that enables collaboration in groups, sharing broadly within an organization, as well as sharing with other organizations. Learn more about best practices for sharing in ArcGIS Enterprise.
Data publishing and hosting provides for secure storage, management, and access of data as a service for data published by content creators and other user personas in an organization. ArcGIS Enterprise supports publishing and hosting data for a number service or layer types, including feature layers and feature layer views, (map) tile layers, vector tile layers, and scene layers. ArcGIS Enterprise also supports OGC, imagery, and elevation layers. For more information on imagery and elevation layers please see the imagery data management system on Windows/Linux. Other service or layer types, including map and feature services can also be published against user-managed data stores. Learn more about data and publishing in ArcGIS Enteprise.
Data editing capabilities are included in self-service mapping, analysis, and sharing systems; however, most data editing workflows tend to be better served by data editing and management systems.
Data import and export in bulk is supported through the import and export tools that work directly against feature services or an enterprise geodatabase.
Data distribution and replication allows for copying or synchronizing data between two or more enterprise geodatabases or GIS systems. ArcGIS Enterprise provides multiple approaches to distributing data, including replication, feature synchronization, and distributed collaboration.
Spatial joins & relationships enable rows from two datasets to be combined based on a spatial relationship. ArcGIS Enterprise supports a number of tools for spatial joins and relationships, including join features and merge layers. These tools rely on spatial analysis services provided by a location services system. Learn more about performing analysis in Map Viewer, and spatial analysis services.
Network analysis helps solve complex network problems (typically on street networks) such as creating an optimized route to visit many destinations, finding the closest facility, identifying a service area around a location, or servicing a set of orders with a fleet of vehicles. ArcGIS Enterprise includes tool interfaces in Map Viewer, such as plan routes, create drive-time areas, and connect origins to destinations. These tools rely on spatial analysis services provided by a location services system. Learn more about performing analysis in Map Viewer, and spatial analysis services.
Pattern analysis identifies spatial and temporal patterns in data. ArcGIS Enterprise supports a number of tools and services for pattern analysis, including find hotspots and find outliers. These tools rely on spatial analysis services provided by a location services system. Learn more about performing analysis in Map Viewer, and spatial analysis services.
Proximity analysis looks at the proximity of spatial data to other spatial data. ArcGIS Enterprise supports a number of tools and services for proximity analysis, including find point clusters and creating buffers. These tools rely on spatial analysis services provided by a location services system. Learn more about performing analysis in Map Viewer, and spatial analysis services.
Summarization analysis aggregates or summarizes data into higher order data structures. ArcGIS Enterprise supports a number of tools and services for summarization analysis, including aggregate points, calculate density, and summarize within. These tools rely on spatial analysis services provided by a location services system. Learn more about performing analysis in Map Viewer, and spatial analysis services.
Geometry analysis is the process of using a client-side API to perform one or more operations on a point, polyline, or polygon to solve a geometric problem. ArcGIS Enterprise also supports server-side geometry analysis using the geometry service. Learn more about geometry analysis and how geometry analysis compares to feature analysis.
3D visual analysis is a type of spatial analysis that calculates and displays spatial information derived from the terrain, buildings, and other 3D objects contained within a scene. ArcGIS Enterprise supports a number of tools and services for 3D visual analysis, including create viewshed and create watersheds. These tools rely on spatial analysis services provided by a location services system. Learn more about performing analysis in Map Viewer, and spatial analysis services.

Extended capabilities

Extended capabilities are typically added to meet specific needs or support industry specific data models and solutions, and may require additional software components or architectural considerations.

Hosted Python notebooks enable Python-based analysis, administration, and automation using ArcGIS Notebooks hosted in ArcGIS Enterprise.
Workflow management and automation extends self-service mapping, analysis, and sharing workflows with the ability to orchestrate and automate work across teams using ArcGIS Workflow Manager.
Graph and link analysis models entities and relationships to find hidden patterns, important people, shortest paths, places, events, and other insights. Graph and link analysis is delivered in combination with spatial analytics through ArcGIS Knowledge.
Advanced exploratory analytics, provided by ArcGIS Insights, empowers analysts of all skill levels to directly connect data, perform advanced analytics, and take results into third-party systems. Learn more about ArcGIS Insights on-premises or in the cloud using ArcGIS Enterprise.
Data interoperability and transformation capabilities support data movement among hundreds of systems and apps using the visual programming interface provided by ArcGIS Data Interoperability, which includes reading and writing to many data stores supported by ArcGIS Enterprise.
Indoor GIS extends ArcGIS Enterprise with ability to create and manage floor plan data, map building interiors, and share floor-aware maps and services. This capability requires ArcGIS Pro, and is made possible by ArcGIS Indoors.
Production mapping optimizes data and map production using ArcGIS Production Mapping. ArcGIS Production Mapping is a specification-driven topographic mapping software for national civilian mapping agencies and authoritative content producers. This extension provides specialized tools to automate the production process from beginning to end through standardization, repeatability, and configuration. Production mapping is a broad capability that involves data editing and management as well as imagery data management. The subset of this capability provided by self-service mapping, analysis, and sharing systems includes high-quality, advanced cartographic production as well as general use of the maps and data produced.
Market intelligence, powered by ArcGIS Business Analyst, enables people to make smarter decisions for market planning, site selection, and customer segmentation by combining demographic, business, lifestyle, spending, and census data with map-based analytics. Learn more about ArcGIS Business Analyst Enterprise.
Urban planning and design, powered by ArcGIS Urban, enables planners and design professionals to collaborate across teams with a web-based 3D application that supports scenario planning and impact assessment. ArcGIS Urban enables the digital transformation of city and regional planning to encourage collaboration with community stakeholders and help all groups work toward a more sustainable future. ArcGIS Urban is delivered as a separate installation for ArcGIS Enterprise.
Project delivery and coordination enables architecture, engineering, construction (AEC) and operations teams to easily work with linked data and documentation in configurable web apps to simplify communication and collaboration. Learn more about this capability powered by ArcGIS GeoBIM and ArcGIS Enterprise.
Other industry solutions allow for rapid deployment of industry-specific apps and configurations of ArcGIS Enterprise using ArcGIS Solutions. Note, not all industry solutions are available for ArcGIS Enterprise.

Considerations

The considerations below apply the pillars of the ArcGIS Well-Architected Framework to the self-service mapping, analysis, and sharing system pattern on Windows and Linux. The information presented here is not meant to be exhaustive, but rather highlights key considerations for designing and/or implementing this specific combination of system and deployment pattern. Learn more about the architecture pillars of the ArcGIS Well-Architected Framework.

Reliability

Reliability ensures your system provides the level of service required by the business, as well as your customers and stakeholders. For more information, see the reliability pillar overview.

SLAs requiring high levels of availability are reasonably common, though it’s less common for self-service mapping, analysis, and sharing systems to be considered mission critical. For mission critical delivery of applications with strict SLAs and high levels of availability consider the enterprise application hosting and management system pattern.
- High availability and fault tolerance is achieved through redundant infrastructure at all system tiers.
- Geographic redundancy is less common, but possible.
- Learn more about minimizing data loss and downtime in ArcGIS Enterprise.
Backup processes and procedures are common.

Security

Security protects your systems and information. For more information, see the security pillar overview.

Authentication and authorization is required for almost all uses of a self-service mapping, analysis, and sharing system. One notable exception is the use of maps and apps shared without a login requirement for anonymous users.
- Due to the wide range of users logging in from across the organization, this system pattern almost always leverage a single sign-on (SSO) approach to authentication. SSO is typically implemented using SAML and/or OpenID Connect.
- User access and data collaboration are governed by role-based access controls and modern authorization and authentication models, including OAuth, SAML, OpenID Connect, and multi-factor authentication.

Explore the ArcGIS Enterprise Hardening Guide to learn about strategies and associated settings that can be implemented to improve the security posture of ArcGIS Enterprise deployments.

Performance & Scalability

Performance and scalability aim to optimize the overall experience users have with the system, as well as ensure the system scales to meet evolving workload demands. For more information, see the performance and scalability pillar overview.

SLAs requiring high performance are less common with this system pattern than with others, such as enterprise application hosting and management systems.
- Data read performance is typically a major factor in overall system performance.
Scalability is an important design consideration, as self-service mapping, analysis, and sharing systems are typically used heavily within an organization. Additionally usage may increase quickly and unexpectedly as the overall adoption of GIS grows across an organization.
Scaling may be performed automatically in response to demand certain cloud environments.
For applications and services requiring high-levels of performance and scalability, consider delivering them through an enterprise application hosting and management system.

Automation

Automation aims to reduce effort spent on manual deployment and operational tasks, leading to increased operational efficiency as well as reduction in human introduced system anomalies. For more information, see the automation pillar overview.

Automation related to publishing, content management, analytics, as well as administration is common with ArcGIS Enterprise. This is typically done using the ArcGIS API for Python as well as ArcGIS Notebooks.
System administration automation, including software deployment automation, infrastructure as code, and DevOps, is also commonly employed.

Integration

Integration connects this system with other systems for delivering enterprise services and amplifying organizational productivity. For more information, see the integration pillar overview.

Incorporation of external data and services into this system for self-service mapping and analysis workflows is common. Integration approaches tend to focus on data or services-level integration, sometimes involving automation. Learn more about integration approaches and methods.
Sharing of maps and other content from this system with other systems across the enterprise is common. Learn more about integration approaches and methods.
Self-service mapping, analysis, and sharing systems are commonly integrated with other ArcGIS systems. Learn more about related system patterns.
Organizations may deploy and connect more than one of these systems together, often to establish boundaries when engaging different groups of stakeholders, for example, across multiple departments or for internal and external use.

Observability

Observability provides visibility into the system, enabling operations staff and other technical roles to keep the system running in a healthy, steady state. For more information see the observability pillar overview

Observability is especially important with this system pattern. The flexible, self-service use of this system benefits greatly from governance, which is best implemented through awareness of evolving usage patterns and practices learned through observation. Organizations getting started with this system pattern are strongly encouraged to introduce governance and change management policies early. Additionally, ongoing review and housekeeping of content, groups, and users is strongly recommended, and can be enabled in large part through automation.
ArcGIS Enterprise on Windows/Linux can be observed in a variety of ways including server logs and server statistics. Monitoring of system availability, performance, and usage is important to this system pattern, as patterns of use may grow and evolve organically. In addition to monitoring the ArcGIS Enterprise software, it is important to monitor all supporting components and infrastructure such as the Windows or Linux operating system, databases and other data stores, as well as compute, network, security, and other infrastructure. Learn more about monitoring system health and reliability.
Some extended capabilities of this system pattern, such as workflow management and automation with ArcGIS Workflow Manager, have additional observability support. Please review the corresponding product documentation for more information.
Web analytics can be used with ArcGIS Instant Apps, ArcGIS StoryMaps, and custom applications.
Additional observation of user logins and account changes may be possible through the configured identity provider when using SAML and/or OpenID Connect logins.

Other

Additional considerations for designing and implementing a self-service mapping, analysis, and sharing system on Windows and Linux include:

Organizations getting started with this pattern are strongly encouraged to introduce governance and change management policies early.
Organizations should review and consider organization-level business and IT guidance around security and data sharing and implement data and application-level security protocols within the system as appropriate.