Determining which type of geodatabase to create
Release 9.2 Last modified September 2, 2008	Print all topics in : "Creating a geodatabase"

Before you create a new geodatabase, you first need to decide which kind of geodatabase you want to create. There are three kinds of geodatabases from which to choose:

• A file geodatabase stores datasets in a folder of files on your computer. Each dataset is held as a file and can be up to 1 TB in size (and you can optionally configure a file geodatabase to store much larger datasets). File geodatabases can be used across platforms and can be compressed and encrypted for read-only, secure use.

  NOTE: If you do not know what kind of geodatabase you want to create, this is a good default choice.

  
  


• A personal geodatabase stores its datasets in a Microsoft Access .mdb file on disk. The storage sizes of personal geodatabases are effectively limited to between 250 and 500 MB for the entire geodatabase and are only supported on Windows. Users often need larger storage for their datasets, so they choose file or ArcSDE geodatabases.
  


• An ArcSDE geodatabase stores datasets in a number of optional DBMSs including
  
• Oracle
  
• Oracle with Locator or Spatial
  
• SQL Server
  
• DB2
  
• Informix
  

If you want to manage versions or historical archives in your geodatabase, you need to use ArcSDE geodatabases.

ArcSDE geodatabase options

There are three types of ArcSDE geodatabases:

• ArcSDE Personal geodatabases—ArcEditor and ArcInfo ship with ArcSDE Personal included. ArcSDE Personal allows you to set up geodatabases in SQL Server Express, which is a lightweight, personal copy of SQL Server. You do not have to be a database administrator (DBA) to use ArcSDE Personal geodatabases. With ArcCatalog, you can set up and administer a SQL Server Express database instance as well as ArcSDE geodatabases.
  


• ArcSDE Workgroup geodatabases—ArcSDE is also available for in a Workgroup version for working with SQL Server Express geodatabases. ArcSDE Workgroup is purchased as part of ArcGIS Server at the Workgroup level. These geodatabases are intended for use by medium-sized groups. You can also set up and administer ArcSDE Workgroup using ArcCatalog.
  


• ArcSDE Enterprise geodatabases—In addition, ArcSDE can work in enterprise settings across a range of DBMSs using ArcSDE Enterprise geodatabases. ArcSDE Enterprise is purchased as part of ArcGIS Server Enterprise level and typically requires DBA privileges and skills to set up and administer the underlying DBMS.
  

Learn more about these various ArcSDE technology options.

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