ArcGIS Server Image extension version 10 versus 9.3

Version 10 Image extension

At version 10, the Image extension is a license added to ArcGIS Server. This license extends the capability of serving raster data. Specifically, it allows you to serve a mosaic dataset or a raster layer containing a mosaic function. Therefore, if you are serving an image service, the following are true:

Additionally, map and globe documents can contain raster data, but if you are serving one that contains a mosaic dataset, you will require the Image extension.

Mosaic datasets allow you to create and manage large collections of raster and image data. Creating, editing, or working with mosaic datasets in ArcGIS Desktop is not affected by the ArcGIS Server Image extension (there is no extension for ArcGIS Desktop). You are required to have an ArcEditor or ArcInfo license to create or edit mosaic datasets, which are created within a geodatabase. There is a Mosaic Dataset toolset within the Data Management toolbox that is used to create and edit mosaic datasets. Often you will create and edit mosaic datasets within ArcMap where there are additional shortcut menu options to assist you. Users with ArcView licenses will also be able to view mosaic datasets but cannot make any modifications.

Version 9.3 Image extension

At version 9.3, the Image extension for ArcGIS Server was provided as a separate application (ArcGIS Image Server) that was configured and registered with ArcGIS Server to extend the capability of publishing image services from individual raster datasets (or raster layer files) to include image services from image service definitions. No additional license was required by ArcGIS Server; however, a license file was provided to license ArcGIS Image Server.

ArcGIS Image Server consisted of several components:

See The ArcGIS Server and Image Server architecture for more information on the configuration between ArcGIS Image Server and ArcGIS Server.

Version 10 ArcGIS Image Server

ArcGIS Image Server is still available at 10 for those requesting it. Its configuration has not changed from version 9.3.

Migrating from 9.3 to 10

To manage and create image and raster collections, it is recommended you create mosaic datasets. If you have existing image service definitions (.ISDef), it is recommended that you convert these to mosaic datasets. To convert your .ISDefs to a mosaic dataset, create a new mosaic dataset, then use the Add Rasters To Mosaic Dataset tool to import all the properties and links to the source data in the .ISDef. Using the ArcGIS Server Image extension, you can publish your mosaic dataset as an image service. It will have all the capabilities of the image service created from an .ISDef plus many more.

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8/21/2013