ArcGIS Enterprise 11.3 marks the second long-term release in Esri’s 11 series of ArcGIS Enterprise. In this post, we will explore some of the notable changes in this release, including system and upgrade requirements, new capabilities and features, and why you may still want to consider ArcGIS Enterprise 11.3 despite ArcGIS Enterprise 11.4 now being available.
System Requirements
ArcGIS Enterprise 11.3 supports Windows Server 2016 or later, with 10.9.1 being the last version to support Windows Server 2012. The Web Adaptor component of ArcGIS Enterprise 11.3 requires Microsoft Web Deploy 3.6 and the ASP.NET Core Runtime Windows Hosting Bundle 8.x. Be sure to enable IIS prior to installing, or you will need to repair the bundle installation.
Upgrade Highlights
ArcGIS Enterprise 11.2 introduced new beta Field Data Types, which have been carried into ArcGIS Enterprise 11.3. Keep in mind that these new field types are only compatible with ArcGIS Pro 3.2 or later. The underlying Enterprise Geodatabase Version has been updated to accommodate these new field data types and may also present issues attempting to publish Feature Services to ArcGIS Enterprise 11.1 and older.
The install process for ArcGIS Enterprise 11.3 now requires the download of two installation files each for both ArcGIS Server and Portal for ArcGIS. Due to the additional security risk that comes with downloading files, it is recommended that you run checksums whenever possible! You can learn more about this practice here.
As a general reminder, the ArcMap runtime is no longer supported in the ArcGIS Enterprise 11 series, so all services will need to be published from ArcGIS Pro moving forward.
ArcGIS Web Editor
Available as a separate download in MyEsri, the ArcGIS Web Editor has been released alongside ArcGIS Enterprise 11.3. This application allows for more advanced editing options in the ArcGIS Enterprise interface. Users can create, update, and delete features, just as they would in Map Viewer. With ArcGIS Web Editor, they are additionally able to perform more advanced geometry edits, including editing vertices, splitting and merging features, and copying and pasting features. The ArcGIS Enterprise version of Web Editor also allows users to manage versioned data and edit utility networks.
ArcGIS Experience Builder Updates
ArcGIS Web AppBuilder is planned to be discontinued in an ArcGIS Enterprise release at the beginning of 2025. The ArcGIS Enterprise version of Web AppBuilder has been deprecated since March 2023.This means that all future releases of ArcGIS Enterprise after this final version will no longer include Web AppBuilder.
Esri has been shifting its focus toward ArcGIS Experience Builder as a replacement application for designing web applications. ArcGIS Enterprise 11.3 adds the following widgets to Experience Builder, bringing some of the functionality available in Web AppBuilder to the newer platform:
3D Toolbox Widget
Add Line Event Widget
Add Point Event Widget
Analysis Widget
LRS Identify Widget
Merge Events Widget
Near Me Widget
Search By Route Widget
Select Widget
Split Event Widget
Technical Support and Extended Release
ArcGIS Enterprise 11.3 will remain in General Availability through May 2026, with Extended Support through May 2028 and Mature support through May 2030. ArcGIS Enterprise 11.3 will be retired on June 1, 2030.
A word about ArcGIS Enterprise 11.4
Why ArcGIS Enterprise 11.3 when ArcGIS Enterprise 11.4 is also available now? ArcGIS Enterprise 11.4 brings a couple of new features, including the ability to migrate and back up group content by exporting to an export package, a new classification schema that will allow members of your portal to classify their items, and the creation of audit logs, so administrators can monitor member activity and changes to Portal for ArcGIS. ArcGIS Enterprise 11.4 also eliminates the need for ArcGIS License Manager to be installed when licensing ArcGIS Pro for named users.
However, it is important to note that ArcGIS Enterprise 11.4 is still a short-term release, with General Availability ending in May 2026. While in Mature Support, ArcGIS Enterprise 11.4 will not receive software updates and patches, which can greatly impact the functionality and security of ArcGIS Enterprise well into the future. ArcGIS Enterprise 11.3, as a long-term release, will enter an Extended Availability window that lasts through May 31, 2028. ArcGIS Enterprise versions in Extended Availability will still receive software updates and patches.
Conclusion
Whether you choose to upgrade to ArcGIS Enterprise 11.3 or 11.4, it is important to have a plan for your future upgrades. Both releases bring compelling features to the table, especially in terms of improving administrative workflows and providing more options for editing and maintaining data. If you are still on the fence about the 11 series of Enterprise, now would be a great time to finally make that jump. Contact us at cloudpointgeo.com/contact if you have any questions or need help with your upgrade.