Conquering the Issue with CORS Policy for Google Cloud Storage Video Files in ArcGIS Enterprise

Are you tired of dealing with the pesky CORS policy issue when trying to access Google Cloud Storage video files in ArcGIS Enterprise? Well, you’re in luck because we’re about to dive into the world of Cross-Origin Resource Sharing (CORS) and explore the steps to overcome this frustrating hurdle.

What is CORS Policy and Why Does it Matter?

CORS is a security feature implemented in web browsers to prevent web pages from making requests to a different origin (domain, protocol, or port) than the one the web page was loaded from. This security feature is meant to protect users from malicious scripts that might be injected into a web page, but it can also create issues when working with external resources, like Google Cloud Storage video files, in ArcGIS Enterprise.

In the context of ArcGIS Enterprise, CORS policy matters because it restricts the ability to access video files stored in Google Cloud Storage due to the different origins. By default, Google Cloud Storage does not allow cross-origin requests, which means that ArcGIS Enterprise cannot access the video files directly.

Understanding the Problem: Error Messages and Symptoms

When trying to access a Google Cloud Storage video file in ArcGIS Enterprise, you might encounter one of the following error messages:

Access to XMLHttpRequest at '' from origin '' has been blocked by CORS policy: No 'Access-Control-Allow-Origin' header is present on the requested resource.

Or:

Failed to load resource: the server responded with a status of 403 (Forbidden)

The symptoms of the CORS policy issue are:

• Video files not loading or playing in ArcGIS Enterprise
• Error messages in the browser console indicating CORS policy issues
• Inability to access Google Cloud Storage video files in ArcGIS Enterprise

Solving the CORS Policy Issue: Step-by-Step Guide

Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered! Follow these steps to overcome the CORS policy issue and access your Google Cloud Storage video files in ArcGIS Enterprise:

Step 1: Create a CORS Configuration File

Create a new file with a `.json` extension, for example, `cors-config.json`. In this file, add the following configuration:

{
  "corsConfig": {
    "origin": ["*"],
    "method": ["GET", "HEAD"],
    "responseHeader": ["Content-Type", "Accept-Ranges", "Content-Range", "Content-Encoding", "Content-Length", "Range"]
  }
}

This configuration allows GET and HEAD requests from any origin (`*`) and specifies the response headers that can be shared.

Step 2: Upload the CORS Configuration File to Google Cloud Storage

Upload the `cors-config.json` file to your Google Cloud Storage bucket using the Google Cloud Console or the `gsutil` command-line tool:

gsutil cors set cors-config.json gs://[bucket-name]/

This command sets the CORS configuration for your entire bucket.

Step 3: Configure ArcGIS Enterprise to Use the CORS Configuration

In ArcGIS Enterprise, go to the `Portal` > `Settings` > `Security` > `CORS` section. Add a new CORS configuration with the following settings:

Property	Value
Allowed Origins	*
Allowed Methods	GET, HEAD
Allowed Headers	Content-Type, Accept-Ranges, Content-Range, Content-Encoding, Content-Length, Range
Expose Headers	Content-Type, Accept-Ranges, Content-Range, Content-Encoding, Content-Length, Range
Max Age	3600

Save the CORS configuration.

Step 4: Update Your Video File URLs in ArcGIS Enterprise

Update the video file URLs in ArcGIS Enterprise to include the `gsutil` URL format:

https://storage.cloud.google.com/[bucket-name]/[video-file-name].mp4

Replace `[bucket-name]` with your actual bucket name and `[video-file-name]` with the name of your video file.

Verifying the Solution

After completing the above steps, verify that the CORS policy issue has been resolved by:

1. Checking the browser console for any CORS-related error messages
2. Verifying that the video files are loading and playing correctly in ArcGIS Enterprise
3. Confirming that the CORS configuration is applied to your Google Cloud Storage bucket

Conclusion

Voilà! You’ve successfully overcome the CORS policy issue and can now access your Google Cloud Storage video files in ArcGIS Enterprise. By following these steps, you’ve ensured that your video files are safely shared across domains while maintaining the security features of CORS.

Remember to periodically review and update your CORS configuration to ensure it meets your organization’s security requirements.

Happy mapping and video-ing!

Frequently Asked Question

Get the inside scoop on resolving CORS policy issues for Google Cloud Storage video files in ArcGIS Enterprise!