Mastering ArcGIS Enterprise Administration

Enterprise geodatabase or file geodatabase?

A common question is whether to house the data behind map services in a file geodatabase or in the Enterprise geodatabase. Rarely is there a quick and easy answer to this question, as there are many factors that can come into play and scenarios can vary widely from organization to organization.

You are advised to give serious consideration to this topic and consult the ArcGIS Enterprise online documentation for in-depth details on this topic.

As stated previously, Esri recommends storing source data for services in an enterprise geodatabase. Unfortunately, this is not an option for many smaller organizations due to lack of funding for licensing and/or staffing of a geodatabase administrator. Typically, ...