gis-l: ArcGIS 9.0 - ArcSDE 9.0 - ArcIMS 9.0

[Clay, Linc]

GIS Users,

As you may have seen in the ESRI publications, ArcGIS 9.0 is now =
shipping.
We received ArcGIS, ArcSDE and ArcIMS 9.0 a couple of weeks ago.  We =
have
opened the boxes and started contemplating the new software.  Here is =
our
current game plan.

ArcGIS 9.0 (Desktop and Workstation) - ArcGIS 9.0 will require a new and
different license manager.  Running ArcGIS 8.x parallel with 9.x is
technically possible, but has some legal (licensing) ramifications.  We =
are
currently working on how best to run parallel license managers and on =
how
long we can legally do so.  We are also working on burning software CDs =
for
the Districts and on the network install for those with good =
connectivity.  I
expect that we will be releasing Desktop and Workstation ArcGIS 9.0 by =
mid
August.  Based on what I know now, upgrading from 8.3 to 9.0 will be =
optional
based on your needs.  We plan to be supporting ArcGIS 8.3 at least =
through
the end of the calendar year.  Once we have worked out the legal issues =
and
license manager technical issues, we'll have a more definite date.  (If =
you
don't need ArcGIS 9.0, I wouldn't upgrade for a while.)

ArcSDE 9.0 - Since we just migrated to ArcSDE 8.3, we're in no big hurry =
to
migrate again.  (The migration process is rather costly due to the =
extensive
pre-migration testing required.  It took about 450 effort hours for the =
8.3
migration.)  For 9.0, we plan to use a different architecture: running =
ArcSDE
as a Real Application Cluster (RAC) on several cheap (but powerful)
rack-mounted Dells talking to Oracle on EPIC31 (the current ArcSDE 8.3 =
and
Oracle platform).  This architecture change should reduce the costs of
serving data from ArcSDE, provide failover protection, and possibly =
increase
performance.  We will have to do a good bit of configuration testing for =
the
RAC setup, so I would not expect a change to ArcSDE until late winter of =
2005
at the earliest.

ArcIMS 9.0 - Again, since we just migrated to ArcIMS 4.0.1, we're in no =
big
hurry.  We have begun testing ArcIMS 9.0 to determine the differences =
from
4.0.1.  Once we have determined those differences, we'll work with the =
FDEP
ArcIMS developer community to create a migration plan.  One migration
difference we expect, however, is to sharply reduce the period of time =
that
we run both versions parallel.  For the last migration it was almost 5
months, which was much more than the developer community used.  =
Accordingly,
we will reduce the parallel period to the minimum comfortable duration
needed: a couple of weeks probably.

That's where we are currently headed on the 9.0 front.  We'll keep you =
posted
as plans and dates get more definite.

Thanks,

-Linc

Linc Clay
FDEP/DRAM/BIS/GIS
2600 Blair Stone Rd, MS 6520
Tallahassee, FL 32399-2400
Voice: 850-245-8295, SC 205-8295
Fax: 850-245-8263, SC 205-8263
Email: linc.clay@dep.state.fl.us