Recover deleted default tools and utility services in ArcGIS Enterprise

Summary

If default tools or utility services (such as Geometry, PrintingTools, RasterUtilities, GeocodingTools, or OfflinePackaging) were accidentally deleted from an ArcGIS Enterprise deployment, there is no built-in workflow to automatically restore all of them at once. Administrators must either restore the environment from a backup taken prior to the deletion or manually republish and reconfigure each service.

This article outlines the available recovery options and the recommended process for rebuilding default services.

Issue

Default tools and utility services were deleted from ArcGIS Enterprise Portal content and/or the federated ArcGIS Server site(s). These services are required for core functionality such as printing, geocoding, geometry operations, raster analysis, offline map areas, and other system workflows.

Cause

ArcGIS Enterprise does not provide a 'reset to defaults' mechanism for Portal items or server services. Default tools are stored as standard Portal items and ArcGIS Server service definitions. When they are deleted, the underlying records are removed and must be re-created manually or restored from backup.

Procedure

There are two supported approaches:

Restore from Backup

The only way to fully return the system to its exact previous state is to restore the entire ArcGIS Enterprise deployment from a backup created before the deletion occurred.

ArcGIS Enterprise supports full-system restoration using:

• The Web GIS Disaster Recovery (WebGISDR) tool
• ArcGIS Server backup and restore utilities

This option requires that a valid backup existed before the tools were removed.

Manually Re-create Default Utility Services

If no suitable backup is available, the deleted tools must be republished individually and then reconfigured in Portal.

This process involves:

• Republishing the service on the appropriate ArcGIS Server site
• Verifying the service is running
• Re-registering the service URL in Portal’s Utility Services settings

Recreate Default Utility Services Manually

Follow the appropriate knowledgebase article for each missing service:

• Delete and republish the ArcGIS Server GeocodingTools service
• Delete and republish the ArcGIS Server PrintingTools service
• Delete and republish the RasterUtilities service in the ArcGIS Server Administrator Directory
• Delete and republish the ArcGIS Server geometry service
• Delete and republish the ArcGIS Server OfflinePackaging service

Environments with Multiple ArcGIS Server Sites

In deployments that include multiple federated ArcGIS Server sites (for example, separate hosting and mapping sites), default utility services only must be be republished on the site designated to host utilities.

Portal references only one service URL per utility type.
In most architectures:

• The hosting server site hosts default tools and utility services.
• Mapping-only sites host reference map services and typically do not host system utilities.

Recommended Workflow

1. Identify the server site Portal uses for utility services:
   • In Portal, navigate to: Organization > Settings > Utility Services.
2. On the identified ArcGIS Server site:
   • Republish Geometry, PrintingTools, RasterUtilities, GeocodingTools, and other missing services using the articles referenced above.
3. Verify in ArcGIS Server Manager
   1. Confirm that the services exist.
   2. Ensure they are located in the Utilities folder.
   3. Verify that the services are started.
4. Update Portal settings:
   1. Return to Organization > Settings > Utility Services.
   2. Update each utility service URL.
   3. Save the changes.
   4. Test the functionality in Map Viewer or ArcGIS Pro.