Get excited – ArcGIS Enterprise 11.0, part of the ArcGIS 2022 Q2 releases, will be available soon!  In anticipation of this release, take time to prepare by making sure your organization is ready to upgrade to ArcGIS Enterprise 11.0.

Upgrading to ArcGIS Enterprise 11.0 will require a bit more preparation than previous upgrades.  This release will be the first time we have increased the major version number of ArcGIS Server, now part of ArcGIS Enterprise, since ArcGIS 10.0 was released in 2010.  We are moving to ArcGIS Enterprise 11.0 because of the significant under-the-hood changes in technology for our Windows and Linux deployment options.

In this blog we will cover what exact changes you can anticipate, as well as what you can do to make sure your upgrade to 11.0 is successful – including considering upgrading to 10.9.1 before upgrading to 11.0.

ArcGIS Enterprise 11.0 has plenty of exciting new features, in addition to the changes covered in this blog.   Stay tuned for a blog on new features in ArcGIS Enterprise 11.0 coming later this summer!

Changes coming in ArcGIS Enterprise 11.0

You can anticipate the following changes in ArcGIS Enterprise 11.0:

• Removal of the ArcMap-based runtime
• Move of ArcGIS Enterprise SDK to .NET 6
• Removal of classic Esri Story Map templates
• Removal of ArcGIS Dashboards Classic
• Removal of Presentation for Map Viewer Classic
• Removal of many Configurable App templates

Removal of the ArcMap-based runtime

The removal of the ArcMap-based runtime is one of the biggest changes coming in ArcGIS Enterprise 11.0.  In version 10.9.1 and earlier, the ArcGIS Server component includes two internal runtimes: an ArcMap-based runtime for services published from ArcMap and an ArcGIS Pro-based runtime for services published from ArcGIS Pro. ArcGIS Enterprise 11.0 will be the first release to only include the ArcGIS Pro-based runtime, meaning it will no longer be possible to publish new services using ArcMap or run services that are using the ArcMap-based runtime.  It will also no longer be possible to administer ArcGIS Server using ArcMap or ArcCatalog.  More background on this topic can be found in our Removal of the ArcMap-based runtime from ArcGIS Enterprise blog.

If you upgrade to ArcGIS Enterprise 11.0 with ArcMap-based services present, compatible ArcMap-based services will be migrated to the ArcGIS Pro-based runtime during the upgrade.  ArcMap-based services that can’t be automatically migrated will be stopped after an upgrade to 11.x and will require additional work.  Compatible services include map services, feature services image services, and geodata services.  Non-compatible services include services using deprecated data sources or with ArcObjects-based Server Object Extensions (SOEs) and Server Object Interceptors (SOIs), geocode services, geoprocessing services, network analysis services, and schematics services.  These services will need to be manually migrated to the ArcGIS Pro-based runtime.  For more information on this, see the Manually migrating services from the ArcMap-based to the ArcGIS Pro-based runtime tech paper.

Move of ArcGIS Enterprise SDK to .NET 6

ArcGIS Enterprise 10.9.1 is the last release to support .NET Framework 4.x-based SOEs and SOIs.  ArcGIS Enterprise 11.0 will support .NET 6.

If you are using .NET Framework-based SOEs and SOIs, begin planning for a move to .NET 6 at this time by identifying any .NET core library changes that will affect existing solutions as well as finding .NET 6 versions of any third-party libraries that are used.

The APIs exposed in the ArcGIS Enterprise SDK will include some minor breaking changes in addition to the move to .NET 6. Your use of ArcGIS Enterprise SDK APIs will also need to be reviewed when moving to ArcGIS Enterprise 11.0. These API changes will impact both .NET and Java-based extensions. Any development impact related to these API changes is expected to be minimal, but all extensions will at minimum need to be recompiled for 11.0. If you have extensions from partners or other external suppliers, you will need to get updated extensions from them.

Removal of classic Esri Story Map templates

ArcGIS Enterprise 10.9.1 is the last version to include classic Esri Story Maps templates for both authoring new story maps and for viewing existing story maps created using these templates.  ArcGIS Enterprise 11.0 will no longer include the ability to create new classic Esri Story Maps nor view existing Story Maps created with the classic templates.

If your organization is using one of the classic templates, be sure to upgrade your stories to current-generation products prior to upgrading.  For classic stories that are still in active use, we recommend recreating them with ArcGIS StoryMaps.

Several resources exist to help you make the switch to ArcGIS StoryMaps:

• Moving to the new ArcGIS StoryMaps : a helpful guide for transitioning
• Getting started with ArcGIS StoryMaps : a step-by-step tutorial for beginners
• Discover the possibilities with ArcGIS StoryMaps! : a collection of over a dozen articles and tutorials
• Recreating a classic story with ArcGIS StoryMaps : a look at how to give a classic story new life

If you upgrade to ArcGIS Enterprise 11.0 with a classic Story Map template present, the item will show up in your Content with a “Retired” badge. Though you can view the item, you will no longer be able to access the application.

Removal of ArcGIS Dashboards Classic

Similar to classic Esri Story Map templates, ArcGIS Enterprise 10.9.1 is the last version to include ArcGIS Dashboards Classic in favor of the new version of ArcGIS Dashboards that provides the same functionality but is more performant, scales to handle high demand, leverages the latest and greatest mapping innovations, and includes new data visualizations, including tables, and features such as advanced formatting, data expressions, and more.

Though you won’t notice much of a change when ArcGIS Dashboards Classic is retired, because your existing dashboards will continue to just work and upgrade themselves, starting with ArcGIS Enterprise 11.0, you will no longer be able to create or edit dashboards with ArcGIS Dashboards Classic.  More on this can be found in our ArcGIS Dashboards Classic is Retiring blog.

Removal of Presentation for Map Viewer Classic

ArcGIS Enterprise 10.9.1 is the last version to include Presentation for Map Viewer Classic.  Presentation for Map Viewer Classic has been superseded by Exhibit, an ArcGIS Instant App that will be introduced with ArcGIS Enterprise 11.0.  It is recommended that all existing presentations be retired before upgrading to ArcGIS Enterprise 11.0.

Removal of many Configurable App templates

ArcGIS Enterprise 10.9.1 is the last release to include all Configurable App Templates.  Starting with ArcGIS Enterprise 11.0, all Configurable App Templates with the exception of those listed below will be retired and removed from ArcGIS Enterprise.

Available in ArcGIS Enterprise 11.0:

• Basic Viewer
• Compare
• Crowdsource Manager
• Crowdsource Polling
• Crowdsource Reporter
• GeoForm
• Image Mask
• Image Visit

Similar to the classic Story Map templates, if you upgrade to ArcGIS Enterprise 11.0 with one of the retired Configurable Apps present, the item will show up in your Content with a “Retired” badge. Though you can view the item, you will no longer be able to access the application.  The templates that are still supported will continue functioning the same as in previous versions.

Rest assured, ArcGIS Enterprise 11.0 will still contain Map Viewer and Map Viewer Classic.

Avoid problems by upgrading to ArcGIS Enterprise 10.9.1

With all the changes to anticipate in ArcGIS Enterprise 11.0, the prospect of upgrading may feel a bit more daunting than usual – and that’s okay!  While upgrades from ArcGIS Enterprise 10.7 to 11.0 will be supported, this whole process doesn’t have to be daunting; consider upgrading to Enterprise 10.9.1 before making the upgrade to 11.0.

There are a few reasons to consider upgrading to ArcGIS Enterprise 10.9.1 before 11.0.

Migration tooling to help transition from ArcMap-based to ArcGIS Pro-based runtime

ArcGIS Enterprise 10.9 and 10.9.1 has migration tooling to help ease your transition to the ArcGIS Pro-based runtime.  These migration tools include:

1. Edit Runtime operation – this operation is available through ArcGIS Server Manager and allows for compatible service runtimes to be migrated one at a time.
2. UpdateArcMapServices utility – this utility is a command line utility that comes installed with ArcGIS Server and allows for compatible service runtimes to be analyzed and to be migrated all at once.

These migration tools migrate all compatible map and image services.  In 10.9.1 we also introduced the ability to migrate geodata services as well through these migration tools.

To learn more about the migration tooling introduced in 10.9, be sure to check out the blog on migrating services to the ArcGIS Pro-based runtime in ArcGIS Enterprise. Also visit the technical paper for more information on manually migrating your services: Manually migrating services from the ArcMap-based to the ArcGIS Pro-based runtime.

Optional ArcMap Runtime Support feature

In ArcGIS Enterprise 10.9.1 we introduced the ability to disable the ArcMap Runtime Support feature.  This means you can remove the ArcMap-based runtime from ArcGIS Server.  This is ideal if your organization fits into one of two criteria:

1. You need to remove Python 2.x from your system
2. You are ready to migrate fully to the ArcGIS Pro-based runtime

More on this can be found in our blog: ArcMap Runtime Support: to disable or not to disable?

ArcGIS StoryMaps, ArcGIS Dashboards, and ArcGIS Instant Apps

ArcGIS Enterprise 10.9.1 is the only release to include Esri Story Map classic templates, ArcGIS Dashboards Classic, and all of the ArcGIS Configurable apps side by side ArcGIS StoryMaps, ArcGIS Dashboards, and ArcGIS Instant Apps.  Take advantage of all of these applications being in one release by being able to create new apps in the same organization as your old ones – meaning you’ll be ready to go when upgrading to ArcGIS Enterprise 11.0.

ArcGIS Enterprise 10.9.1 will be supported until 2027

Not only is ArcGIS Enterprise 10.9.1 a long-term support release, guaranteeing support into until December 2027 – but it also is the last long-term support release of ArcGIS Enterprise to include all of these features we’ve covered in this blog.  This means that you have plenty of time to plan and execute upgrading to ArcGIS Enterprise 11.0, once your organization is ready.

Ready to get started upgrading to ArcGIS Enterprise 10.9.1? Head over to the My Esri website to download the software and your keys. Enjoy!