ArcGIS Installation Instructions

*For NPS Employees*

Standard info on installing ArcGIS:

The NPS has an Enterprise License Agreement (ELA) with ESRI that allows for unlimited installations of ArcGIS on NPS computers. The software may be downloaded (or you can request that the CDs be mailed to you) from the NPS Enterprise GIS (EGIS) site at http://egis.nps.gov/services/software.aspx. The software is "license managed" meaning that each time it starts up, it must get permission to run from a license manager (a computer with an authorized license for the software). The NPS has license managers in Denver, Washington DC and Anchorage so your computer would need to be on the NPS network and be able to get permission from an NPS license server to run the software. You can also make your own computer a license manager by obtaining a "hardware key" that attaches to the usb port of your computer. Then you wouldn't need to be networked in but you'd have to keep the hardware key attached to your computer.

Also, the park service now has single-use licenses (keyless) available. The keyless is great in that you no longer require a network connection OR a hardware key. The caveat is a couple use restrictions regarding non-NPS personnel using the software (ESRI is worried about the software being stolen). The way it works is we mail you an installation CD of the software (the keyless version is not available for download from the EGIS site) and send an email with a single-use regfile attached (this is a license file that ArcGIS will use). You put the regfile somewhere on your harddrive and during installation it asks you for that file. Once installation is complete, we're required to remove the regfile from the computer. It can be saved elsewhere. For several parks in the Midwest, we've handled all this by doing a remote installation. Reese Hirth in our office uses remote desktop software to access your computer during off-hours and perform a full installation of ArcGIS keyless version. We've found this to work well for folks who don't want to deal with the hassle of installing the software.

So! You have choices! You can...

1. Go to the EGIS site and download the keyed version of the software and point it to one of the NPS license servers (you do that during the installation process).

OR...

2. Go to the EGIS site, download the keyed version (or request the CDs of it) and also request (via a form on that site) your very own hardware key. Then you have to wait for the hardware key (and a license file that goes with that key) to arrive.

OR...

3. Request from the Midwest GIS Support Center the CDs of the keyless version and perform your own installation.

OR...

4. Request from the Midwest GIS Support Center that they perform a full installation remotely for you (that would include some system sprucing up to be sure the software will run properly and also include installation of commonly used ArcGIS "extensions").

We recommend the keyless version and full remote installation if you're not in a hurry. We'll still have to mail the keyless CDs to you which you'll put in your drive and then we'll perform the installation. Our second recommendation is that we mail you the keyless version CDs and you can perform the installation yourself.

I'd be happy to discuss any details with you or answer any questions if you'd like to call or email. Please let me know how you'd like to proceed and we'll get on it.

Basic Preparation for Remote Installation of ArcGIS:

1) Go to the "Remote" tab on the "System Properties" dialog box and check the bottom Remote Desktop box "Allow users to connect remotely to this computer".

2) Add the GIS Administrators group to the list of local system administrators. Do this by Right-clicking "My Computer" from your desktop or the Start button and select "Manage". Expand "Users and Groups" & select Groups. In the right-hand pane double-click "Administrators" and add the following group: InpAdmMwroGisG

3) Please provide your computer name (it should be something like INPMWRO?????). You can find this name by right-clicking "My Computer" from your desktop or the Start button and selecting "Properties" at the bottom of the menu. From the "System Properties" dialog box, go to the "Computer Name" tab and note the "Full computer name" up to the first dot. Please send your machine name (or list of machines) to: Reese_Hirth@partner.nps.gov

4) Once we receive your list of computer names and acknowledgment that #1 & #2 are complete, we'll try to log onto each system during normal work hours to verify the connection and perform a few system checks to insure the best likelihood of success when the actual install is initiated. This should just take a few minutes at most. The software we use to make the connection will install a service called "Dameware Mini Remote Control" The system user will receive a pop-up near the system tray (lower right corner of your screen) informing them of the connection.

• • There have been some privacy concerns expressed by some users. It is not possible for us to secretly logon to a user's PC and monitor their activities as the "Dameware" notice will always notify them to the fact that another user has initiated a remote connection and who that remote user is. If you include the users name/phone for each machine on your list, we'll try to contact them before making the initial connection.

5) Typically each ArcGIS installation will take 4-5 hours since we take extra care to ensure the system is fully updated (our experience is that it's worth the time at this stage since ArcGIS can get hung up by any number of system issues). Unless you have machines that can be spared during the day, we'll try to run the installations during non-business hours. Please indicate on your systems list each machines typical hours of usage (i.e. 7:30-4 Central) and whether the system is needed during the weekend. This will help us minimize conflicts.

6) During the time that your installations are planned, you will need to leave your systems on overnight (including weekends) until the process is complete.

7) We will not be distributing installation disks to users requesting remote installation. Our experience from the 9.2 remote installs is that uploading the media to the target systems overnight generally presented no problems.

"Sprucing up" the system for installation of ArcGIS