Understanding the ArcGIS Image Server data transfer

Legacy:

ArcGIS 10 is the last release of the stand-alone ArcGIS Image Server product. The image service definition (.ISDef) has been replaced by an improved geodatabase data model—the mosaic dataset—which can be published as an image service using the ArcGIS Server Image extension.

In the ArcGIS Image Server architecture, the Image Server Manager enables administrators to configure and manage the server, image service providers, and image services. It also provides access to the log files and statistics about the servers and service providers that are running.

The ArcGIS Image Server can host one or more image service providers running on one or more computers. In an ArcGIS Image Server stand-alone configuration, each service provider can host multiple image services, and each image service can be hosted by more than one service provider. An image server publishes a list of all the running image services at that point in time. In an ArcGIS Server configuration, the server and service providers are set up and managed by the Image Server Manager; however, the image services are published using the ArcGIS Server Object Manager.

The Image Server Manager also enables the configuration and control of each service provider. In an ArcGIS Image Server stand-alone configuration, you can use the Image Server Manager to turn image services on and off, add image services, or remove image service from a service provider. Each service provider is separately licensed, with the ArcGIS Image Server acting as a license manager. The Image Server Manager enables the administrator to manage multiple servers and service providers. The administrator can obtain status information and logs of all access. For more information about how the ArcGIS Image Server components work together, see the ArcGIS Image Server stand-alone architecture.

The information transfer between the client and server applications

1. The Service Editor is used in ArcMap to create a new image service definition; set properties for the image service definition; add rasters; view raster properties; and build, preview, and compile the image service definition. The compiled image service definition is then loaded onto one or more service providers.
2. The service provider publishes information about itself and a list of available image services to the Image Server.
3. The ArcGIS Image Server or ArcGIS Server publishes all the available image services. This information is available for client applications to view.
4. The client application sends a request to the image server to view any available image services.
5. The image server transmits the requested information relating to the available image services to the client application.
6. The client application selects and opens the required image service or services.
7. The image server performs load balancing to determine which service provider should handle the requests if there is more than one image service provider.
8. The image server transmits the details of the service providers to the client application.
9. The client application requests a connection with the service provider.
10. The service provider either accepts and transmits the requested image service data and parameters or rejects the connection.