***Update – For information on the latest network management release plan see this article.
***Update – Corrected graphic to show full two-year support for designated ArcGIS Pro releases
***Update 2 – Added links to show database compatibilities by release
As 2023 fast approaches, utilities and telecoms are gearing up with plans for moving to the ArcGIS Utility Network and/or considering what’s next for them in their network management initiatives. We at Esri believe it is our responsibility to convey our plans for the utility network so that our customers and partners can strategize their plans and stay in alignment with us, as we work to build and maintain a stable platform. Accordingly, in October 2021, we introduced the Network Management Release plan, in which we designated ArcGIS Enterprise 10.9.1 and ArcGIS Pro 2.9 as the first Network Management Releases.
Designating a version of ArcGIS Enterprise and ArcGIS Pro with the “Network Management Release” tag promised utility-focused optimizations and targeted delivery of patches and updates for long-term support releases, so utilities can effectively reduce the cadence of ArcGIS Enterprise and ArcGIS Pro upgrades, reducing the time spent testing and implementing patches. As part of this plan, we also communicated that we would continue to designate future releases as Network Management Releases, to provide utilities with continuous support going forward.
The time has come for us to announce our latest Network Management Release- ArcGIS Enterprise 11.1 and ArcGIS Pro 3.1 (expected in Q1 of 2023).
As with the other Network Management Releases, the designated ArcGIS Enterprise release (ArcGIS Enterprise 11.1) will be supported for 4 years following the release, with patches and hotfixes. ArcGIS Pro 3.1 will be supported for 2 years following the release, with updates.
It is important to note that ArcGIS Enterprise 11.1 and ArcGIS Pro 3.1 will include all the utility & telecom-related updates previously included in patches to ArcGIS Enterprise 10.9.1 and ArcGIS Pro 2.9.x (our first Network Management Release).
Additionally, ArcGIS Enterprise 11.1 and ArcGIS Pro 3.1 will include new functionality and bug fixes to ArcGIS Pipeline Referencing. For customers using ArcGIS Utility Network and ArcGIS Pipeline Referencing together, the necessary patches and hotfixes to Pipeline Referencing that impact them will be provided in accordance with the ArcGIS Pro 3.1 timeline of 2 years.
Given the timelines for this release, there will be an overlap of support between both Network Management Releases. This ensures that every user is provided with sufficient runway for their utility network journey to take flight, regardless of where they currently are in the migration/production lifecycle for the utility network.
Let me explain…
If you are a user who is planning to migrate to the ArcGIS Utility Network in 2023 or have already deployed the utility network using an earlier Network Management Release, skipping the first and jumping directly to this upcoming Network Management Release will help you maximize the benefit of migration with the latest tools and user experiences available in ArcGIS Enterprise and ArcGIS Pro. While this is a logical approach, you are more than welcome to continue to utilize any Network Management Release as dictated by your goals and plans.
On the other hand, if you are currently using either of the existing Network Management Releases, you have the option to wait for a future Network Management Release to update your ArcGIS Enterprise environment, while continuing to take advantage of the patch and hotfix support for your deployed environment. Since ArcGIS Pro has a shorter support cycle (2 years of patches), we recommend you update sooner. Keep in mind we fully support newer versions of ArcGIS Pro with older versions of ArcGIS Enterprise; meaning you can safely run ArcGIS Pro 3.1 with ArcGIS Enterprise 10.9.1.
We encourage all utilities to take advantage of the new Network Management Release to make the most of their investment in a sustainable way. Stay tuned, we will keep you updated with specific release capabilities and dates as we move into 2023.
Note (Update 2) ——————————–
While all network management versions of ArcGIS Pro are mostly compatible with ArcGIS Enterprise; it’s important to note that some database versions may no longer be supported with newer releases. To assist with your implementation, the following links should be consulted and reviewed:
Article Discussion: