System Design Strategies Preface 38th Edition

Spring 2016 System Design Strategies Preface 38th Edition

The System Design Strategies wiki documentation includes a table of contents and 12 separate chapters linked by a Table of Contents (TOC) at the top and bottom of each wiki chapter. System design concepts identified in the chapters include hyperlinks to system design demonstrations (analysis) included in the Capacity Planning Tool appendix. You can access the overall System Design Strategies table of contents page through the System Design Strategies link located at the top of each TOC insert. Each SDSwiki chapter includes a Contents providing an outline of the chapter information.

You are currently located on the System Design Strategies Preface chapter. This chapter provides an executive summary of the SDSwiki content.

What is the System Design Strategies documentation?
The System Design Strategies documentation was developed and maintained to share our system architecture design methodology and the fundamental principles that contribute to system performance and scalability. The System Design Strategies 26th Edition was released in August 2009 - the last PDF version of the complete document.

The first System Design Strategies content was published on the Esri wiki.gis.com site in March 2010 - the first "living" online System Design Strategies publication. The wiki technology provides a more adaptive publishing framework than what was available with static PDF documents - an opportunity to maintain and share much richer content in a timely manner. The System Design Strategies wiki site is maintained as a current resource - updated as required to keep pace with technology. Major updates are planned each year, providing a spring and fall release to reflect major changes in technology. Each update includes a link to previous release editions for historical reference.

Who can benefit from this documentation?
This document is shared to help Esri customers build and maintain successful GIS operations. The audience includes GIS managers, Project managers, GIS technical architects, IT administrators, business partners, systems integrators, system consultants, system administrators, and software developers - there is a broad audience that can benefit from an understanding of enterprise system performance and scalability. The content is focused on system design fundamentals - the technology concepts that contribute to successful GIS operations.

What is this document all about?
Technology has changed dramatically over the years, and updates to this document reflect those changes. Esri System Architecture Design services have evolved with the changing technology. Technology choices available today position GIS as a platform for effective Enterprise and Community business information systems integration.

System architecture design is a discipline that requires a clear understanding of business needs, user workflow requirements (business processes), GIS software technology patterns, software performance, data architecture patterns, network communications, GIS solution architecture, information security, and hardware platform performance. An Enterprise GIS design must consider business needs and the technical architecture required to meet user performance expectations.

GIS technology is rapidly evolving to leverage cloud computing platforms, including a full suite of applications and services to discover, create, manage, visualize, analyze, collaborate and share a better understanding of our world.

The chapters that follow provide an overview of the many pieces of technology that must work together within a distributed GIS production environment. Each chapter summary includes a list of primary content objectives. Online streaming video links are provided at the end of several chapters to demonstrate how the Capacity Planning Tool can be used to answer your performance and scalability questions and complete your system architecture design.

System Design Process
User needs must be identified before completing the system architecture design. A simple user requirements template can be used to review and collect peak user workflow requirements. GIS user workflows are best defined during a formal user needs assessment, where existing user workflows are reviewed to identify technology enhancements that will improve business operations. Roger Tomlinson provides excellent guidance for GIS planning in his Esri Press release Thinking about GIS Fifth Edition, GIS Planning for Managers. A sample Enterprise System Design case study will be presented in Chapter 12 (City of Rome).

Topics covered
 * 38th Edition#What_Is_System_Architecture_Design.3F What is System Architecture Design?
 * 38th Edition#Why_Is_System_Architecture_Design_Important.3F Why is system architecture design important?
 * 38th Edition#What_is_the_System_Design_Process.3F What is the System Design Process?
 * 38th Edition#Building_a_GIS:_Implementation_strategy Building a GIS: Implementation strategy
 * 38th Edition#System_design_strategies_overview System design strategies overview
 * 38th Edition#Capacity_planning_terminology Capacity planning terminology
 * 38th Edition#System_architecture_design_process System architecture design process
 * 38th Edition#Pre_design_efforts Pre design efforts
 * 38th Edition#Review_Business_Needs Review Business Needs
 * 38th Edition#System_Design_Process System Design Process
 * 38th Edition#Technical_architecture_strategy Technical architecture strategy
 * 38th Edition#User_requirements_analysis User requirements analysis
 * 38th Edition#Network_suitability_analysis Network suitability analysis
 * 38th Edition#Platform_architecture_selection Platform architecture selection
 * 38th Edition#Software_configuration Software configuration
 * 38th Edition#Enterprise_system_design Enterprise system design
 * 38th Edition#Monitor_performance_compliance Monitor performance compliance

The capacity planning tool provides a framework for collecting user requirements and completing the system design. This chapter ends with a streaming video that provides an introduction to the system design process and an overview of the structure of the Capacity Planning Tool.

GIS Software technology
Since the early 1970s, Esri has continued to develop GIS software technology supporting functional requirements identified by the GIS user community. Sensitivity to software development trends and enterprise architecture strategies provide guidelines for development investment. Esri software developers leverage the latest computer hardware and software technology to maintain leadership in the GIS marketplace. Resources are aligned to provide the best software and services based on GIS customer needs.

A variety of ArcGIS software technology patterns are available to satisfy enterprise business operational needs. Technology patterns include a broad range of Desktop, Server, and Mobile deployment options. Selecting the right technology is a critical step in the enterprise system design process.

Topics covered
 * 38th Edition#GIS_Software_Evolution GIS Software Evolution
 * 38th Edition#GIS_architecture_is_evolving GIS architecture is evolving
 * 38th Edition#Emerging_technology_trends Emerging technology trends
 * 38th Edition#ArcGIS_GeoEvent_Extension_enables_real_time_event_tracking_and_data_collection ArcGIS GeoEvent Extension
 * 38th Edition#Real_time_.22Big_Data.22_.28satellite_imagery_and_social_media.29 Real time "Big Data"
 * 38th Edition#ArcGIS_for_Desktop_is_evolving ArcGIS for Desktop is evolving
 * 38th Edition#3D_Visualization 3D Visualization
 * 38th Edition#New_vector_tiles New vector tiles
 * 38th Edition#Selecting_the_right_computing_architecture Selecting the right computing architecture
 * 38th Edition#ArcGIS_platform:_An_architecture_overview ArcGIS Platform: an architecture overview
 * 38th Edition#Desktop_operations Desktop operations
 * 38th Edition#Web_operations_.28connected_workflows.29 Web operations (connected workflows)
 * 38th Edition#Mobile_operations_.28sometimes_disconnected_workflows.29 Mobile operations (sometimes disconnected workflows)
 * 38th Edition#ArcGIS_Online_Services ArcGIS Online Services
 * 38th Edition#Portal_for_ArcGIS Portal for ArcGIS
 * 38th Edition#Developer_GIS Developer GIS
 * 38th Edition#GIS_Software_Selection GIS Software Selection

This chapter ends with a Capacity Planning Tool online streaming video. The GIS Software Technology video describes how the capacity planning tool can be used to select the right software technology for each identified user workflow. This video focuses on understanding and configuring the CPT Workflow tab for an Enterprise GIS design.

Software Performance
This section shares lessons learned about selecting and building effective GIS design solutions that satisfy operational performance and scalability needs.

Software technology allows us to model our work processes. The complexity of these models, how we organize our data content, what we include in each map display scale (number of layers, features per layer, feature complexity), and the functions we use to analyze and present information has a significant impact on the computer processing workload, system performance, and scalability.

Capacity Planning Tools automate our system architecture design analysis (translate processing loads to hardware solutions) enabling refined and accurate performance management.

Building a system design that addresses capacity planning needs can improve user productivity and reduced implementation risk.

Topics covered
 * 38th Edition#Workflow_baselines Workflow baselines
 * 38th Edition#Custom_workflows Custom workflows
 * 38th Edition#Software_workflow_recipe Software workflow recipe
 * 38th Edition#Software_technology_selection Software technology selection
 * 38th Edition#ArcGIS_for_Desktop_.28ArcMap.2C_Pro.29 CPT Desktop selection
 * 38th Edition#Graphics_2D.2F3D_performance Graphics 2D/3D performance
 * 38th Edition#Data_density_makes_a_difference Data density makes a difference
 * 38th Edition#Map_cache_can_reduce_the_number_of_dynamic_display_layers Map cache performance advantage
 * 38th Edition#Display_complexity Display complexity
 * 38th Edition#Selecting_the_best_map_resolution Selecting the best map resolution
 * 38th Edition#Selecting_the_best_output_format Selecting the best output format
 * 38th Edition#Data_source_selection Data source selection

This chapter ends with a Capacity Planning Tool online streaming video. The Software Performance Video describes the CPT Calculator software technology selection and performance parameters that define user workflow performance targets. The result generated on the Calculator tab is transferred to the Workflow tab for use in the Enterprise system architecture design. The Calculator tab can also be used for system performance and scalability demonstrations and preliminary system architecture design analysis to evaluation a single workflow technology selection.

The video also describes the software component service times and network traffic performance factors included in the CPT Workflow tab. The Workflow tab identifies the processing loads used for complete the Enterprise system design analysis. Selecting the proper user workflow processing loads (performance targets) is a critical step in completing a valid system architecture design.

Server Software Performance
There are many key factors that impact ArcGIS for Server software performance and scalability. Proper configuration and services deployment can empower your GIS operations.

Topics covered
 * 38th Edition#ArcGIS_for_Server_software_architecture ArcGIS for Server software architecture
 * 38th Edition#ArcGIS_Server_Terminology ArcGIS for Server terminology
 * 38th Edition#ArcGIS_for_Server_Site ArcGIS for Server Site
 * 38th Edition#Server_process Server process
 * 38th Edition#Process_threads Process threads
 * 38th Edition#Service_instance Service instance
 * 38th Edition#ArcGIS_for_Server_pooling_settings_.28service_instance_min.2Fmax_settings.29 ArcGIS for Server pooling settings (service instance min/max settings)
 * 38th Edition#ArcGIS_Service_Editor_processes_settings ArcGIS Service Editor processes settings
 * 38th Edition#Map_service_caching_configuration Map Service caching configuration
 * 38th Edition#Map_Service_instance_configuration_strategies Map Service Instance Configuration Strategies
 * 38th Edition#Batch_process_service_configuration_.28geoprocessing_services.29 Batch process loads (geoprocessing services)
 * 38th Edition#Web_service_instance_configuration_.28concurrent_users.29 Web mapping service loads
 * 38th Edition#Generating_the_map_cache Generating the map cache
 * 38th Edition#Manage_Services_caching_tools Managed services caching tools
 * 38th Edition#GIS_Server_machine_memory_configuration GIS Server machine memory configuration

This chapter ends with a Greek citizen declaration case study that highlights the value of proper software selection. 

GIS Data Administration
Data provides the resources you need to make proper business decisions. The information products required to make business decisions determine the critical data resources that must be available for business operations. How you organize and maintain your data resources can determine the success of your business operations.

A variety of data management and distribution strategies are available today to improve data access and dissemination throughout the rapidly expanding GIS user community. The volume of data you must sort through each day is growing exponentially. How you manage, organize, and control these data resources is critical to your success.

Topics covered
 * 38th Edition#GIS_feature_data_architecture GIS feature data architecture
 * 38th Edition#ArcSDE_Geodatabase ArcSDE Geodatabase
 * 38th Edition#Geodatabase_replication_use-cases Geodatabase replication use-cases
 * 38th Edition#ArcGIS_for_Desktop_direct_connection_to_supported_DBMS_content ArcGIS for Desktop direct connection to supported DBMS content
 * 38th Edition#GIS_imagery_data_architecture GIS imagery data architecture
 * 38th Edition#Imagery_deployment_workflow Imagery deployment workflow
 * 38th Edition#GIS_enterprise_data_architecture GIS enterprise data architecture
 * 38th Edition#Storage_architecture_options Storage architecture options
 * 38th Edition#Advent_of_the_storage_area_network Storage area network
 * 38th Edition#Advent_of_network-attached_storage Network-attached storage
 * 38th Edition#RAID_.28Redundant_array_of_independent_disks.29 RAID (redundant array of independent disks)
 * 38th Edition#Moving_to_solid_state_storage_technology Moving to solid state storage technology
 * 38th Edition#Ways_to_move_GIS_data Ways to move GIS data
 * 38th Edition#Protect_your_GIS_data_resources Protect your GIS data resources

Selection and configuration of your GIS data resources contributes to map service complexity and system performance.

Network Communications
Network communications provide the required connectivity for distributed GIS operations. Network capacity, in many cases, can limit the software technology solutions that perform well within your organization. System architecture design can identify and address network communication constraints and provide the right technical solution for a successful GIS implementation.

Properly configured communication technology enables broad range of software technology solutions, connecting over the Internet and bringing information from millions of sources directly to the GIS user desktop in real-time.

Mobile cell phones and tablet devices provide real time access to wireless communications connecting to global Internet information resources for mobile GIS clients.

Topics covered
 * 38th Edition#Why_is_GIS_traffic-intensive.3F Why is GIS traffic-intensive?
 * 38th Edition#What_is_network_capacity.3F What is network capacity?
 * 38th Edition#GIS_Client.2FServer_Communication_Protocols GIS Client/Server Communication Protocols
 * 38th Edition#Network_Performance Network Performance
 * 38th Edition#What_is_network_transport_time.3F What is network transport time?
 * 38th Edition#What_is_network_latency.3F What is network latency?
 * 38th Edition#Shared_network_performance Shared network performance
 * 38th Edition#Network_design_planning_factors Network design planning factors
 * 38th Edition#Network_traffic_adjustments Network traffic adjustments
 * 38th Edition#Enterprise_network_architecture Enterprise network architecture
 * 38th Edition#Network_Suitability_Analysis Network Suitability Analysis
 * 38th Edition#Network_contribution_to_Web_performance Network contribution to Web performance

This chapter ends with a Capacity Planning Tool online streaming video. The CPT Calculator demonstrates display traffic contribution to user display performance and the CPT Design completes the network bandwidth suitability assessment. This video shows how the CPT Calculator shows user workflow performance over limited bandwidth connections and how the CPT Design can be used to complete an enterprise design network suitability analysis.

GIS Product Architecture
GIS Product Architecture provides a foundation for understanding the software components and platform configuration options available for distributed GIS operations. Understanding application architecture alternatives and associated configuration strategies provides a foundation for selecting an appropriate distributed GIS design.

Enterprise-level GIS applications support a variety of users throughout an organization, all requiring access to shared spatial and attribute data sources. System hardware and software environments for distributed GIS applications are supported by a multi-tier client/server or Web services architecture.

Topics covered
 * 38th Edition#ArcGIS_Software_Architecture ArcGIS Software Architecture
 * 38th Edition#Virtualization_deployment_options Virtualization deployment options
 * 38th Edition#ArcGIS_for_Desktop_architecture_patterns ArcGIS for Desktop architecture patterns
 * 38th Edition#ArcGIS_for_Desktop_workstation_architecture ArcGIS for Desktop workstation
 * 38th Edition#Centralized_Windows_Terminal_Server.2FRemote_Desktop_Services_.28Citrix.29_Architecture Remote Desktop Services (Citrix)
 * 38th Edition#ArcGIS_for_Server_services_architecture ArcGIS for Server services architecture
 * 38th Edition#Web_platform_configuration_strategies Web platform configuration strategies
 * >38th Edition#ArcGIS_for_Server_site_single-tier_platform_configuration ArcGIS for Server site single-tier platform configuration
 * >38th Edition#ArcGIS_for_Server_site_two-tier_platform_configuration ArcGIS for Server site two-tier platform configuration
 * >38th Edition#ArcGIS_for_Server_site_three-tier_platform_configuration ArcGIS for Server site three-tier platform configuration
 * 38th Edition#ArcGIS_for_Server_multiple_single-machine_site_deployment_patterns ArcGIS for Server multiple single machine site deployment patterns
 * >38th Edition#Enterprise_development.2C_staging.2C_and_production_operations Enterprise development, staging, and production operations
 * >38th Edition#Active-Passive_ArcGIS_for_Server_Failover_configurations Active-Passive ArcGIS for Server Failover configurations
 * >38th Edition#Data_Center_COOP.2FDR_Failover_configurations Data Center COOP/DR Failover configurations
 * >38th Edition#Optional_high_capacity_single-machine_GIS_Server_Site_active-active_configuration_tier Optional high capacity single-machine GIS Server Site active-active configuration tier
 * 38th Edition#ArcGIS_Platform_deployment_strategies ArcGIS Platform deployment strategies
 * 38th Edition#Portal_for_ArcGIS_platform_configuration Portal for ArcGIS platform configuration

This chapter ends with a Capacity Planning Tool online streaming video. The Product Architecture video shows how to select workflow platform architecture on the CPT Calculator tab and how to complete an enterprise level software installation and platform selection on the CPT Design tab.

Platform Performance
Selecting the right hardware will improve user performance, reduce overall system cost, and establish a foundation for building effective GIS operations. Selecting the wrong hardware can contribute to implementation failure - spending money on a system that will not support your business needs.

Hardware vendors do not know what hardware is required to satisfy your GIS needs. This chapter shares the system architecture design methodology developed to help you select the right hardware for your planned GIS operations. This chapter also shares information for justifying hardware purchases based on expected return on investment.

Topics covered
 * 38th Edition#Platform_Performance_Baseline Platform Performance Baseline
 * 38th Edition#Platform_performance_resources Platform performance resources
 * 38th Edition#Platform_Performance Platform Performance
 * 38th Edition#2015_Technology_Changes 2015 Technology Changes
 * 38th Edition#2015_Intel_processor_performance 2015 Intel processor performance
 * 38th Edition#ArcGIS_Desktop_Platform_Sizing ArcGIS Desktop Platform Sizing
 * 38th Edition#Windows_Terminal_Server.2FRemote_Desktop_Services_Platform_Sizing Windows Terminal Server Platform Sizing
 * 38th Edition#ArcSDE_Geodatabase_Server_Sizing ArcSDE Geodatabase Server Sizing
 * 38th Edition#Web_Mapping_Servers Web Mapping Servers Sizing
 * 38th Edition#Platform_Selection_Criteria Platform Selection Criteria

This chapter ends with a Capacity Planning Tool online streaming video. The Platform Performance video provides an overview of the CPT Hardware tab and identifies the methodology for physical and virtual platform selection on the CPT Calculator and CPT Design tabs.

Information Security
This chapter provides an introduction to the purpose and scope of information security. Basic concepts are introduced for developing security solutions that meet your business needs. Esri's approach to enterprise security is adjusted based on customer needs, and information patterns share how to establish security measures appropriate for your organization.

Recent industry advancements, especially in the areas of web service standards and service-oriented architectures, are enabling architects to more effectively satisfy enterprise security objectives. Esri's careful attention to these standards, coupled with an overall philosophy of providing highly interoperable software, provides security architects with a high level of flexibility, thus establishing trust for all Esri components contained in an enterprise solution.

Topics covered
 * 38th Edition#What_is_information_security.3F What is information security?
 * 38th Edition#CIA_security_triad CIA security triad
 * 38th Edition#Levels_of_Security Levels of Security
 * 38th Edition#Standards_approach_to_security_risk_management. Standards approach to security risk management.
 * 38th Edition#Security_framework_and_compliance Security framework and compliance
 * 38th Edition#ArcGIS_product_level_security ArcGIS product level security
 * 38th Edition#ArcGIS_for_Server_security_authentication_and_authorization ArcGIS for Server security authorization and authorization
 * > 38th Edition#ArcGIS_for_Server_tier_authentication ArcGIS for Server tier authentication
 * > 38th Edition#Enterprise_ArcGIS_for_Server_tier_authentication Enterprise ArcGIS for Server tier authentication
 * > 38th Edition#Enterprise_level_Web_tier_authentication Enterprise level Web tier authentication
 * 38th Edition#ArcGIS_portal_information_model Portal information model
 * 38th Edition#Web_GIS_access_and_privileges Web GIS access and privileges
 * 38th Edition#ArcGIS_Online_security_authentication_and_authorization ArcGIS Online security authentication and authorization
 * > 38th Edition#ArcGIS_Online_authentication ArcGIS Online authentication
 * > 38th Edition#ArcGIS_Online_SAML_authentication ArcGIS Online SAML Authentication
 * 38th Edition#Portal_for_ArcGIS_security_authentication_and_authorization Portal for ArcGIS security authentication and authorization
 * > 38th Edition#ArcGIS_Online_SAML_authentication Portal for ArcGIS server authentication
 * > 38th Edition#Enterprise_Portal_for_ArcGIS_tier_authentication Enterprise Portal for ArcGIS tier authentication
 * > 38th Edition#Portal_for_ArcGIS_Enterprise_level_Web_tier_authentication Portal for ArcGIS Enterprise level Web tier authentication
 * 38th Edition#Security_in_the_cloud Security in the cloud
 * 38th Edition#Cloud_implementation_options Cloud implementation options
 * 38th Edition#ArcGIS_cloud_hybrid_capabilities ArcGIS cloud hybrid capabilities
 * 38th Edition#Esri_informal_pattern_selection Esri informal pattern selection
 * 38th Edition#Basic_security_needs Basic security needs
 * 38th Edition#Standard_security_needs Standard security needs
 * 38th Edition#Advanced_security_needs Advanced security needs
 * 38th Edition#Enterprise_security_firewall_patterns Enterprise security firewall patterns

Security is everybody's job, there is no exception. The world is not a secure environment, and you need to keep your eyes and minds open to the threats around you.

Performance Management
Esri started developing simple system performance models in the early 1990s to document our understanding about distributed processing systems. These system performance models have been used by Esri system design consultants to support distributed computing hardware solutions since 1992.

The Capacity Planning Tool was introduced in 2008 incorporating the best of the traditional client/server and web services sizing models providing an adaptive sizing methodology to support future enterprise GIS operations. The new capacity planning methodology is much easier to use and provides metrics to manage performance compliance during development, initial implementation, and system delivery. This chapter introduces how these design models can be used for performance management.

Topics covered
 * 38th Edition#System_performance_factors System performance factors
 * 38th Edition#How_is_performance_managed.3F How is performance managed?
 * 38th Edition#User_workflow_terminology User workflow terminology
 * 38th Edition#System_performance_terminology System performance terminology
 * 38th Edition#System_workflow_terminology System workflow terminology
 * 38th Edition#What_is_workflow_productivity.3F What is workflow productivity?
 * 38th Edition#What_is_a_valid_user_workflow.3F What is a valid user workflow?
 * 38th Edition#What_is_a_batch_process.3F What is a batch process?
 * 38th Edition#Platform_throughput_and_service_time Platform throughput and service time
 * 38th Edition#Platform_performance_and_response_time Platform performance and response time
 * 38th Edition#Server_deployment_transaction_throughput_capacity_constraints Server deployment transaction throughput capacity constraints
 * 38th Edition#ArcGIS_for_Server_Site_processing_overhead ArcGIS for Server Site processing overhead
 * 38th Edition#Virtualization_hypervisor_processing_overhead Virtualization hypervisor processing overhead
 * 38th Edition#Platform_queue_time Platform queue time
 * 38th Edition#How_to_size_the_network How to size the network
 * 38th Edition#What_is_system_performance.3F What is system performance?
 * 38th Edition#Performance_Validation Performance Validation

This chapter ends with a Capacity Planning Tool online streaming video. The Performance Fundamentals video provides an overview of the CPT Design tab user requirements framework, demonstrates how the adjust functions are used to identify user productivity, and shows how the CPT test tab can be used to validate workflow performance compliance.

System Implementation
Successful system implementation requires good leadership and careful planning. A good understanding of every component of the system is critical in putting together an implementation strategy.

Enterprise IT environments involve integration of a variety of vendor technologies. Interoperability standards within commercial software environments are voluntary, and even the most simple system upgrade must be validated at each step of the integration process.

Enterprise GIS environments include a broad spectrum of technology integration. Most environments today include database servers, storage area networks, Windows Terminal Servers, Web servers, map servers, mobile and desktop clients—all connected by a broad range of local area networks, wide area networks, and Internet communications. All these technologies must function together properly to support a balanced computing environment.

Topics covered
 * 38th Edition#Integrated_system_design_process Integrated system design process
 * 38th Edition#Existing_Business_Architecture Existing business architecture
 * 38th Edition#GIS_Staffing GIS Staffing
 * 38th Edition#GIS_Organizational_Structure GIS organizational structure
 * 38th Edition#Technical_architecture_review Technical architecture review
 * 38th Edition#Platform_and_network_environments Platform and network environments
 * 38th Edition#Operational_constraints_and_priorities Operational constraints and priorities
 * 38th Edition#Funding_constraints Funding constraints
 * 38th Edition#User_requirements_analysis User requirements analysis
 * 38th Edition#System_architecture_design System architecture design
 * 38th Edition#System_Architecture_Deployment_Strategy System architecture deployment strategy
 * 38th Edition#System_Testing System testing
 * 38th Edition#Systems_Integration_Management Systems integration management
 * 38th Edition#Performance_Monitoring Performance monitoring
 * 38th Edition#Performance_Validation Performance validation
 * 38th Edition#System_Tuning System tuning
 * 38th Edition#Managing_Technology_Change Managing technology change

Successful implementation depends on a good solid design, appropriate hardware and software product selection, successful systems integration, and careful incremental evaluation during installation. A phased approach to implementation reduces project risk and promotes success, providing the opportunity for early success and flexibility to incorporate new technology at low risk through incremental system delivery.

City of Rome
Esri has developed a system architecture design methodology for establishing hardware and network requirements needed to satisfy the performance and communication needs of GIS application users.

A fundamental understanding of user workflow requirements and the supporting GIS technology is required before one can identify the appropriate hardware and network requirements for supporting their enterprise GIS operations.

City of Rome is the name of a case study that demonstrates a process that can be used as a foundation for most enterprise system design analysis. This case study makes use of the Esri Capacity Planning Tools for modeling user requirements and completing the system architecture design

Topics covered
 * 38th Edition#City_of_Rome_case_study City of Rome case study
 * 38th Edition#Pre-design_efforts Pre-design efforts
 * 38th Edition#Enterprise_vision Enterprise vision
 * 38th Edition#Existing_Business_Architecture Existing Business Architecture
 * 38th Edition#Workflow_loads_analysis Workflow loads analysis
 * 38th Edition#System_design_process System design process


 * 38th Edition#City_of_Rome_System_Architecture_Design:_Year_1 City of Rome System Architecture Design: Year 1
 * 38th Edition#Technical_architecture_strategy:_Year_1 Technical architecture strategy: Year 1
 * 38th Edition#User_requirements_analysis:_Year_1 User requirements analysis: Year 1
 * 38th Edition#Network_suitability_analysis:_Year_1 Network suitability analysis: Year 1
 * 38th Edition#Platform_architecture_selection:_Year_1 Platform architecture selection: Year 1
 * 38th Edition#Enterprise_design_solution:_Year_1 Enterprise design solution: Year 1


 * 38th Edition#City_of_Rome_System_Architecture_Design:_Year_2 City of Rome System Architecture Design: Year 2
 * 38th Edition#Technical_architecture_strategy:_Year_2 Technical architecture strategy: Year 2
 * 38th Edition#User_requirements_analysis:_Year_2 User requirements analysis: Year 2
 * 38th Edition#Network_suitability_analysis:_Year_2 Network suitability analysis: Year 2
 * 38th Edition#Platform_architecture_selection:_Year_2 Platform architecture selection: Year 2
 * 38th Edition#Enterprise_design_solution:_Year_2 Enterprise design solution: Year 2


 * 38th Edition#Rome_City_Hall_business_case_summary Rome City Hall business case summary.


 * 38th Edition#City_of_Rome_Police_Department_System_Architecture_Design City of Rome Police Department System Architecture Design
 * 38th Edition#Choosing_a_system_configuration Choosing a system configuration

Capacity Planning Tool
The Esri Capacity Planning Tool (CPT) is used throughout the System Design Strategies (SDS) wiki to demonstrate design concepts and automate the system design analysis. The CPT demonstrations reinforce design concepts presented throughout the SDS wiki chapters.

System Design Process introduction (CPT Design process)

 * 38th Edition#Workflow_loads_analysis Workflow loads analysis
 * 38th Edition#CPT_User_Needs_summary:_Business_workflow_requirements CPT User Needs summary: Business workflow requirements
 * 38th Edition#CPT_Calculator_tab:_Custom_workflow_loads_analysis Calculator tab: Custom workflow loads analysis
 * 38th Edition#CPT_Workflow_tab:_Workflow_loads_definition Workflow tab: Workflow loads definition
 * 38th Edition#System_architecture_design System architecture design
 * 38th Edition#CPT_Design_tab:_User_requirements_analysis Design tab: User requirements analysis
 * 38th Edition#CPT_Design_tab:_Network_suitability_analysis Design tab: Network suitability analysis
 * 38th Edition#CPT_Design_tab:_Platform_architecture_selection Design tab: Platform architecture selection
 * 38th Edition#CPT_Design_tab:_Software_configuration Design tab: Software configuration
 * 38th Edition#CPT_Design_tab:_Enterprise_system_design Design tab: Enterprise system design
 * 38th Edition#CPT_Design_tab:_Hardware.2FSoftware_cost_analysis CPT Design tab: Hardware/Software cost analysis
 * 38th Edition#CPT_Hardware_tab:_Platform_performance Hardware tab: Platform performance
 * 38th Edition#CPT_Test_tab:_Performance_validation Test tab: Performance validation
 * 38th Edition#Platform_Capacity_Calculator_.28Hardware_tab.29 Platform Capacity Calculator



GIS Software Technology (CPT Workflow selection)

 * 38th Edition#CPT_desktop_workflows CPT desktop workflows
 * 38th Edition#CPT_server_workflows CPT server workflows
 * 38th Edition#CPT_Mobile_Workflows CPT Mobile Workflows

Software Performance (CPT Workflow Recipe)

 * 38th Edition#Software_technology_category Software technology category
 * 38th Edition#Software_technology_pattern Software technology pattern
 * 38th Edition#ArcGIS_for_Desktop_selection ArcGIS for Desktop selection
 * 38th Edition#ArcGIS_imagery_selection ArcGIS imagery selection
 * 38th Edition#Display_Graphics_selection Display 2D/3D Graphics selection
 * 38th Edition#ArcGIS_density.2Fportal_selection ArcGIS density/portal selection
 * 38th Edition#Display_complexity_selection Display complexity selection
 * 38th Edition#ArcGIS_percent_data_cache_.28.25DataCache.29_selection ArcGIS percent data cache (%DataCache) selection
 * 38th Edition#Resolution_selection Resolution selection
 * 38th Edition#Output_selection Output selection

Server Software Performance (Map service configuration)

 * 38th Edition#ArcGIS_for_Server_batch_process_instance_configuration CPT Batch process instance configuration.
 * 38th Edition#CPT_Calculator_batch_process_instance_configuration CPT Calculator batch process instance configuration.
 * 38th Edition#CPT_Design_tab_batch_process_instance_configuration CPT Design batch process instance configuration.
 * 38th Edition#CPT_batch_process_pooling_configuration_throughput_summary CPT batch process pooling configuration throughput summary.
 * 38th Edition#CPT_Design_map_service_instance_configuration CPT Design map service instance configuration.
 * 38th Edition#Selecting_the_right_technology:_A_case_study Selecting the right technology: A case study.



GIS Data Administration (Data source selection)

 * 38th Edition#Modifying_the_CPT_Platform_Capacity_Calculator_workflow_configuration Customizing Platform Capacity Calculator Web Mapping Services
 * 38th Edition#Selecting_an_imagery_workflow_on_the_CPT_Calculator_tab Customizing Platform Capacity Calculator Imagery services

Network Communications (Infrastructure configuration)

 * 38th Edition#CPT_network_latency_performance_delays Network latency performance delays
 * 38th Edition#CPT_Calculator_network_suitability_analysis CPT Calculator network suitability analysis
 * 38th Edition#CPT_Design_user_requirements_workflow_loads_analysis CPT Design workflow loads analysis
 * 38th Edition#CPT_Design_network_suitability_analysis CPT Design network suitability analysis

Product Architecture (Platform configuration)

 * 38th Edition#ArcGIS_for_Desktop:_CPT_Calculator_configurations ArcGIS for Desktop: CPT Calculator configurations
 * 38th Edition#ArcGIS_for_Desktop:_CPT_Design_workstation_configurations ArcGIS for Desktop: CPT Design workstation configurations
 * 38th Edition#ArcGIS_for_Desktop:_CPT_Design_Remote_Desktop_configurations ArcGIS for Desktop: CPT Design Remote Desktop configurations
 * 38th Edition#CPT_Calculator_ArcGIS_for_Server_platform_configurations CPT Calculator ArcGIS for Server platform configurations
 * 38th Edition#CPT_Design_ArcGIS_for_Server_platform_configurations CPT Design ArcGIS for Server platform configurations



Platform Performance (Selecting the right vendor platform)

 * 38th Edition#CPT_Hardware_tab Hardware tab
 * 38th Edition#HardwareSPEC_Excel_Workbook HardwareSPEC Excel Workbook
 * 38th Edition#CPT_used_to_evaluate_best_buy Platform best buy analysis
 * 38th Edition#Platform_Capacity_Calculator_platform_sizing Platform Capacity Calculator sizing analysis
 * 38th Edition#CPT_Calculator_for_Windows_Terminal_Server_platform_sizing CPT Calculator Windows Terminal Server platform sizing
 * 38th Edition#CPT_for_ArcSDE_Geodatabase_platform_sizing CPT Calculator ArcSDE Geodatabase platform sizing
 * 38th Edition#CPT_for_ArcGIS_for_Server_platform_sizing CPT Calculator ArcGIS for Server platform sizing

Performance Management

 * 38th Edition#Workflow_productivity Workflow productivity.
 * 38th Edition#Batch_process_loads Batch process loads.
 * 38th Edition#CPT_Design_multi-core_performance CPT Design multi-core performance.
 * 38th Edition#Performance_Validation Performance Validation.

The CPT provides a framework for integrating business, data, applications, and technical architecture needs required to design, deploy, and manage successful enterprise GIS operations. 

City of Rome CPT Demos

 * City of Rome Year 1 Demos
 * City of Rome Year 2 Demos

Acronyms and Glossary
A complete list of Acronyms and Glossary is provided with this document. The glossary provides a definition of how key words are used within the context of this document.


 * 38th Edition#Acronyms Acronyms
 * 38th Edition#Glossary Glossary

Record of Key 2015 Capacity Planning Reference Sites
System Architecture Design Strategies training class 2015 Esri Federal GIS Conference Plenary videos Roger Tomlinson, Father of GIS Key references: Esri.com, ArcGIS Help Resources, ArcGIS Online, ArcGIS Marketplace

What is Dave Peters' role at Esri?
Dave Peters is the author and content manager of the System Design Strategies wiki site.

In 1990 Dave Peters was hired by Jack Dangermond to establish a Systems Integration department responsible for GIS turnkey system delivery (system architecture design, project management, and software installation for hardware/software turnkey projects). The Systems Integration department's initial focus was on project management (system delivery) and software installation services.

The first System Design Strategies white paper was published by Dave Peters in 1993 - a much simpler document than what we have today. Dave updated the System Design Strategies white paper once or twice a year to support Esri's system architecture design and consulting services. Dave moved the System Design Strategies documentation from a white paper to wiki.GIS.com with its 27th edition.

In 1998, Dave's Systems Integration department responsibilities shifted from turnkey system delivery to System Architecture Design consulting and System Test. Over the next eight years, Esri's System Architecture Design Consulting services grew in popularity and helped hundreds of customers deploy successful GIS operations. The Systems Integration department System Test team established a test lab and started using a targeted set of Esri software performance validation tests to evaluate and improve the capacity planning models used for System Architecture Design consulting.

In 1998, Esri Educational Services asked Dave to develop a class based on his System Design Strategies documentation. The first System Architecture Design Strategies training course was taught by Dave Peters in February 1999; class content was updated on a monthly basis to keep pace with technology. Additional instructors were provided from Dave's System Architecture Design consulting staff to support the expanding training class load.

In 2004 the Systems Integration department moved to Esri Professional Services. During that year, Esri Press published the first edition of Thinking about GIS; Roger asked Dave to share Esri's System Architecture Design methodology in a City of Rome system architecture design use case included in a chapter of his book. The City of Rome use case has been updated with each Thinking about GIS release, which is now in its 5th edition.

In 2006 the Systems Integration department joined with the Implementation Services department (within Esri Professional Services). Dave joined the Implementation Services senior staff and began work to develop a new open-source (Excel based) Capacity Planning Tool (CPT). The goal was to establish a simple application framework that would capture the Esri system architecture design methodology (a tool that would couple GIS user workflow requirements with the appropriate system architecture design solution). A simple tool that could be used by a much broader GIS community as a framework for designing and managing Enterprise GIS operations (documenting user requirements coupled with system architecture design). Dave would use Microsoft Excel as an application framework for user requirements collection and automated system architecture design analysis.

By January 2008, Dave's CPT was integrated into the Esri System Architecture Design Strategies training exercises, and students received a free Capacity Planning Tool for use as a framework for managing their own GIS operations. The Systems Architecture Design Strategies training was added to the International Teaching Program (ITP) later that year, and Dave conducted training workshops around the world sharing the Esri system architecture design methodology (including the Capacity Planning Tool) with our International Distributor technical staff.

In 2007, Esri Press asked Dave to author a book to share the Esri System Architecture Design methodology. In January 2011, Esri Press released the second edition of Building a GIS, System Architecture Design Strategies for Managers which includes a digital copy of the Capacity Planning Tool. Capacity Planning Tool updates are shared on the System Design Strategies wiki site.

In January 2010, Dave included a new CPT Calculator tool directly coupling GIS Standard Workflow service times to performance baselines derived from Implementation Services Enterprise Test Lab (ETL) benchmarks. The CPT Calculator generates custom workflow service times based on the selected software technology pattern, map document, display density, percent data cache, workflow complexity, display resolution, and output (baseline workflow service times were adjusted based on the selected performance parameters). The CPT Calculator includes options for generating composite dynamic and cached map services as a single workflow. The CPT Calculator workflow selection generates a workflow name showing the recipe (based on selected software technology performance factors) used to generate the CPT Calculator workflow service times. The workflow recipe allows resulting service times to be tracked back to established workflow performance baselines.

In summary, Dave Peters' efforts over the past 24 years have focused on understanding performance and scalability of Esri software technology, sharing his understanding with the Esri community, and developing system architecture design consulting services and systems management tools that help Esri customers build and maintain successful GIS operations.

Previous Editions
System Design Strategies Preface 37th Edition System Design Strategies Preface 36th Edition System Design Strategies Preface 35th Edition System Design Strategies Preface 34th Edition System Design Strategies Preface 33rd Edition

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