Is it possible to create a new service definition file from an existing ArcGIS service?

Is it possible to create a new service definition file from an existing ArcGIS service?

I have a python script that updates data on a daily basis. I have figured out how to restart/overwrite my existing service so that it will represent the change in the data. However doing so uses the default settings for the new service.

If possible, I would like to create a new service definition file from an existing service so that I do not have to go back manually and change the following parameters and capabilities:

Max # of Records Returned by Server, Lock Database, Max # of instances per machine,

Any advice would be great. Thanks

Here is the solution:

    # Deserialize response into Python object
    dataObj = json.loads(data)

    httpConn.close()

    # Edit desired properties of the service
    dataObj["minInstancesPerNode"] = 1
    dataObj["maxInstancesPerNode"] = 10

    newdict = dataObj["properties"]
    newdict["maxRecordCount"] = 5000

    # Serialize back into JSON

    updatedSvcJson = json.dumps(dataObj)

Answer

You have several options:

1. 
   

   Go to the \%server%\arcgisserver\directories\arcgissystem\arcgisinput\%ServiceName%.MapServer\extracted\v101 and open the .mxd document which will allow you to save a new .sd file for re-use.

   
   


2. 
   

   Use Python or any scripting language of your choice to modify properties of an existing service. This is done by using ArcGIS REST Administrator API. Here is the sample for modifying properties of an existing service. I use it almost daily and it is very easy to write a script altering properties as needed. This is much more efficient imo than creating a service again from .sd.

   
   



3. 
   

   Publish a service with the required properties directly set by using ArcGIS REST Administrator API and ArcPy. In this case, you will be able to specify the advanced settings in advance. Again, refer to the samples from 2. above to get started.