Introduction to data storage

Data storage in ArcGIS Enterprise comes in two main varieties: system storage and user storage.

System storage

System storage is used by ArcGIS to support its functional capabilities, such as enabling hosted web layers and storing user content. Data in system storage is managed by ArcGIS, which means you interact with that data only using the web service or layer. Required system storage supports the minimum capabilities of a base deployment of ArcGIS Enterprise. Capability-based system storage is needed by some additional capabilities.

Certain apps and functionality that you use depend on the use of system storage. Each storage type provides different functionality. Use the following links for a description of each type:

• Relational store

• Object store

• Spatiotemporal big data store

• Graph store

• Raster store

The following table lists functionality you get with each type of system storage that you configure with the hosting server.

Functionality	System storage type used
Allow organization members to publish hosted feature layers or add files to Map Viewer.	Relational store
Publish feature layers or map image layers by reference from a cloud data warehouse with the option to create a snapshot.	Relational store
Use raster analysis tools in Map Viewer or ArcGIS Pro. The organization must be configured for raster analysis to use raster analysis tools.	Raster store A subset of raster analysis tools create hosted feature layers, and the data for those layers is stored in the relational store.
Publish hosted 3D layers to your organization from a scene layer package or from data in ArcGIS Pro.	Object store If you publish from ArcGIS Pro, an associated feature layer can be created with the layer. If the associated feature layer does not reference a registered data source, the data for the associated feature layer is stored in the relational store.
Enable response caching for feature layers that are not edited frequently to increase performance and scalability.	Object store
Store video layer content when using ArcGIS Video Server.	Object store
Use location sharing or any apps that rely on location sharing, such as ArcGIS Indoors or ArcGIS Field Maps.	Spatiotemporal big data store
Archive observation data streamed when using ArcGIS GeoEvent Server or ArcGIS Velocity .	Spatiotemporal big data store
Create a knowledge graph in ArcGIS Pro.	Graph store

User storage

User storage is used by ArcGIS to enable publishing of web services that reference user-managed data, such as a database, folder, or cloud store. User storage allows you to bring your existing data to ArcGIS Enterprise and publish it as web services. User storage also enables web services that require specialized geodatabase behavior, such as topology or versioning. You can connect to user storage with third-party tools, which enables integration of different systems at the database tier.

Example functionality that depend on user storage are provided.

Functionality	User storage type used
Publish feature layers or map image layers by reference from an enterprise geodatabase.	Relational database
Publish feature layers or map image layers by reference from a cloud data warehouse using ArcGIS Pro.	Cloud data warehouse
Publish a map image layer that references datasets stored in a file folder or network share (e.g., shapefiles, file geodatabases, or mobile geodatabases).	Folder
Publish an imagery layer by reference from a mosaic dataset stored in a file geodatabase, where the dataset references raster data stored in a supported cloud storage location.	Folder (for the file geodatabase) and cloud store (for the source imagery)