Once you've deployed ArcGIS Enterprise on Kubernetes, you can update or upgrade the software to provide your organization with the latest available ArcGIS Enterprise enhancements and features, ensuring its security, reliability, and performance.
The following describes the differences between updates and upgrades:
- An update addresses performance, security, or functionality issues and bugs. Updates do not introduce new functionality or change the look and feel of the software. For example, an update moves the software from version 11.4.0.6300 to version 11.4.0.6305.
- An upgrade is a new version of the software, with new features, improved functionality, and sometimes a different look and feel. For example, an upgrade moves the software from version 11.4.0 to version 11.5.0.
Required update
A required update is one that includes functional requirements and must be applied before upgrading to a new software release. If you proceed with an upgrade to a new software release and a required update is available, you will be prompted to apply it first.
Apply or revert an update
An administrator can apply updates and upgrades from the Software updates page in ArcGIS Enterprise Manager or by using the ArcGIS Enterprise Administrator API. An administrator can also revert applied updates. See Apply updates for more information.
Read-only mode
When an update or upgrade is in progress, ArcGIS Enterprise is automatically set to read-only mode. In this mode, your organization members can view content, users and groups, and settings but cannot modify them. During this time, a notification appears in the top banner of ArcGIS Enterprise Manager to inform the organization.
When an upgrade or update is complete, read-only mode is turned off and normal operations can resume in the organization.
Update and upgrade processes
The update and upgrade processes are integrated into the software. You can access enhancements and new features without installing additional software. Administrators can use ArcGIS Enterprise Manager or ArcGIS Enterprise Administrator API to determine when an update or upgrade is available.
When an update is available, it is represented as a new container image or set of images and is pushed to the container registry host (for example, docker.io). ArcGIS Enterprise Administrator API uses a well-known URL to identify an Esri published version manifest document to determine whether an update is available. By identifying the manifest, an upgrade strategy is developed and the option to update or upgrade becomes available.
Updates and upgrades generally follow the two patterns described below.
Blue-green
When applicable, new Kubernetes deployments are started using the new container images to upgrade and migrate the underlying data. Secondary data store instances or other replicas are then added to the data store. Once the new data store is deemed healthy, the old data store is shut down, leaving only a healthy instance of the new data store. An example of when this strategy might be used is updating hosted data stores.
Rolling
As new pods that are enabled by new container images are deployed, the old pods are shut down in a rolling manner. This process minimizes downtime. An example of when this strategy might be used is updating GIS services.
Update scenarios
Multiple updates may be released throughout the life cycle of a version of ArcGIS Enterprise on Kubernetes. You can consult the Release notes for information on each available update. The following scenarios illustrate some of the ways an organization may choose to apply and revert those updates.
- An organization may use ArcGIS Enterprise Manager to apply each update as it is released. Because the organization has explicitly applied each update, they can choose any update or the base version to revert back to if necessary. Applying updates as soon as they are released also ensures the fastest access to the latest fixes for performance, security, and functionality issues.
- An organization may use ArcGIS Enterprise Manager to apply only the most recent update, which includes all previous updates. If it is necessary to revert the update, the organization can choose any previous update they explicitly applied or the base version. ArcGIS Enterprise Manager will revert all the updates that were cumulatively applied.