Creating a server directory

A server directory represents a physical directory on your network that is accessible to all the container machines of your GIS server. There are four types of server directories: cache, input, jobs, and output.

• Cache directories store caches of prerendered tiles that map or globe services can use for faster display. You can create a cache on the Caching tab of the Service Properties dialog box in ArcCatalog.
• Input directories are used when you publish map services using the Map Service Publishing Toolbar in ArcMap. For each service that you publish, a folder containing a map service definition (.msd) file is placed in the input directory. This file is necessary in order for the service to run.
• Jobs directories store files needed by geoprocessing services. Often, geoprocessing services require a space to write temporary files and store information about ongoing jobs. These items are stored in the jobs directory.
• Output directories are for temporary files needed by the server. Output directories are required for geoprocessing services, recommended for geodata services, and optional for map and image services. For other service types, an output directory is not needed.

Server jobs and output directories store temporary files and can be cleaned at specified intervals. There is no cleaning mechanism for server cache directories because the files in the cache are expected to always be available.

The server object container (SOC) account that you established during the post install must have Write access to your server directories. You will need to use the operating system tools to set the appropriate access. You can give the SOC account permissions using the folder Properties page. You may need to grant both Share and File (NTFS) permissions to the SOC account. See Configuring a multiple-machine deployment for more information about setting Share and File permissions

When you install all the components of ArcGIS Server on one machine, one default server directory of each type is created at a location that you specify during the GIS Server Post Install. The default location is c:\arcgisserver. The post install grants the SOC account access to the directories and establishes a corresponding virtual directory for each one.

How to create a server directory in Manager

To create a server directory in ArcGIS Server Manager, follow these steps:

1. Click the GIS Server tab and click Server Directories.

   Note: Here you will only see directories of one type. Use the drop-down menu at the top of the page to specify whether you want to see cache, jobs, or output directories.

2. Click Add Directory.
3. Type the path to the directory in the Directory text box. If you've distributed the components of ArcGIS Server over more than one machine, use a UNC path (Example: \\myServer\directory1).
4. Use the Type drop-down list to specify the type of directory you are creating.
5. Optionally, set the Virtual Directory, for example, http://server_name/directory. This virtual directory should point to the same disk location as the server directory. You must create the virtual directory in your Web server and link it to the physical directory on disk. The virtual directory allows Web applications to access files created by the GIS server using a URL.
6. Set the cleaning mode and maximum file age. You can have the server delete files at regular intervals based either on the age of the file or when the file was last accessed by a client.
7. Click OK to close the dialog box and apply the changes.

How to create a server directory in ArcCatalog

1. Create an administrative connection to the server or double-click the server in the Catalog tree.
2. Right-click the server in the Catalog tree and click Server Properties.
3. Click the Directories tab.
4. From the Directory Type drop-down list, choose the type of server directory you would like to create and click Add.
5. Type the path to the directory. If you've distributed the components of ArcGIS Server over more than one machine, use a UNC path (Example: \\myServer\directory1).
6. Optionally, set the Virtual Directory, for example, http://server_name/output. This virtual directory should point to the same disk location as the server directory. You must create the virtual directory in your Web server and link it to the physical directory on disk. The virtual directory allows Web applications to access files created by the GIS server using a URL address.
7. Set the cleaning mode and maximum file age. You can have the server delete files at regular intervals based either on the age of the file or when the file was last accessed by a client.
8. Click OK to apply the changes and click OK again to close the Server Properties page.