You can access geodatabases using ArcGIS client software, including the following:
- ArcGIS AllSource (supports connecting to file, mobile, and enterprise geodatabases)
- ArcGIS Server services (support connecting to file and enterprise geodatabases)
Geodatabase and ArcGIS releases
You do not have to keep your geodatabase and ArcGIS clients at the same release, but it is recommended that you do so. Geodatabases and client software are designed to work together, and if you let one get too many releases away from the other, you risk encountering problems or unexpected behavior.
This is especially true when you use a mix of client versions at your site. A newer client can create newer dataset types in the geodatabase that older clients cannot access. For enterprise geodatabases, waiting too long between geodatabase upgrades may mean you have to upgrade the underlying database more than once before you can upgrade the geodatabase.
The geodatabase version for an enterprise geodatabase is stored in a system table and is available to the geodatabase administrator from the Database Properties dialog box. The version indicates what client version you used to create or upgrade the geodatabase. This geodatabase version is primarily used by Esri Support to troubleshoot issues; it does not entirely reflect the functionality available to you, because a lot of geodatabase functionality is implemented in the clients that access the geodatabase and not in the geodatabase itself.
The version for file geodatabases has not changed since 10.1. The version for mobile geodatabases has not changed since ArcGIS AllSource 2.7.
The following rules apply for compatibility:
When to upgrade a geodatabase
You must upgrade your geodatabase if any of the following is true:
- The client release you are using cannot connect to the geodatabase release you want to use. For enterprise geodatabases, the client release you use may not be able to connect to the database management system version you use, and you need to upgrade the database, database client, and the geodatabase to connect from a newer client.
- You need functionality that is available only if you use a newer release of the geodatabase. Check each version of What's new in ArcGIS AllSource for information about new functionality and dataset types in the geodatabase. Also check the compatibility rules in the section above. Be aware that when you create or upgrade certain types of datasets, such as a parcel fabric or a network dataset, older clients may not be able to access the dataset.
- Your enterprise geodatabase contains branch versioned data, and you have not already upgraded the geodatabase to version 11.3.0 or applied any of the Branch Versioning General patches and upgraded.
- You apply an ArcGIS patch that requires a geodatabase upgrade. ArcGIS AllSource and ArcGIS Server patches sometimes require you to upgrade your enterprise geodatabase after applying the patch. Carefully read patch instructions to determine whether you are required to upgrade your geodatabases. Always run the upgrade procedure from the ArcGIS client to which you applied the patch.
For more information about geodatabase upgrades, see the upgrade topics for the type of geodatabase you are using:
File geodatabases | Upgrade a file geodatabase |
Geodatabases in Db2 | Upgrade a geodatabase in Db2 |
Geodatabases in Oracle | Upgrade a geodatabase in Oracle |
Geodatabases in PostgreSQL | Upgrade a geodatabase in PostgreSQL |
Geodatabases in SAP HANA | Upgrade a geodatabase in SAP HANA |
Geodatabases in SQL Server | Upgrade a geodatabase in SQL Server |