Scalable Geodatabases

At a minimum, the ArcEditor level of ArcGIS Desktop is needed to set up, configure, and manage a scalable geodatabase. The geodatabase can be implemented within any of the following RDBMSs.

• DB2
• Informix
• Oracle
• PostgreSQL
• SQL Server 2000, 2005
• SQL Server 2005 Express

Long transactions and versioning are fully supported. Scalable geodatabases offer additional capabilities to support the multiuser access and editing environment. The size and number of users vary with each of the three different levels of the scalable geodatabase.

• Enterprise Geodatabase—This is the traditional ArcSDE geodatabase that was available prior to ArcGIS 9.2 and was designed for large-scale enterprise systems. It is included as part of ArcGIS Server Enterprise. Users provide their own RDBMS license for this level of scalable geodatabase. The RDBMS is typically administered and managed by a database administrator (DBA). The geodatabase can be scaled to any size and number of users, running on computers of any size and configuration.
• Workgroup Geodatabase—ArcGIS Server Workgroup includes ArcSDE technology support for SQL Server 2005 Express. Workgroup geodatabases have a maximum size limit of 4 GB and support up to 10 simultaneous users and editors. Similar to desktop geodatabases, ArcCatalog is used to set up and manage a Workgroup geodatabase at the ArcEditor and ArcInfo levels of ArcGIS Desktop.
• Desktop Geodatabase—SQL Server 2005 Express is included with the ArcEditor and ArcInfo levels of ArcGIS Desktop. This enables users to set up and manage a scalable desktop geodatabase within ArcCatalog. No additional software or database administration is needed. Desktop geodatabases have a maximum size limit of 4 GB and support four simultaneous connections, one being an editor.

These levels of scalable geodatabases allow organizations to have one scalable data storage and management architecture that works for their single user systems to their large enterprise systems.