[SIMS] SIMS compatibility with...

[synaesthesia]

Guys, one of my primaries is looking to upgrade as far as we can go.

So this would include:
Server 2012
Windows 8 clients
Office 2013
and probably SQL 2012.

Is SIMS supported on this configuration? If not officially, has anyone done it anyway and could report on any problems?

Many thanks

[matt40k]

SQL 2012 is supported from this release.

Not sure about Win8\Server 2012 - would have to check SupportNet.

Office 2013 ain't even out yet!! - no-one uses pre-release software in the live environment do they

Server 2012\win8\office2010\sql2012 worked ok when I tested it, just don't hold me to it as I didn't test everything.

[tmcd35]

I'm personally running Office 13 with SIMS and haven't experienced any problems yet. Not brave enough to try any of the other stuff, especially with SIMS.

[LeMarchand]

Office 2013 ain't even out yet!! - no-one uses pre-release software in the live environment do they

It's been on the VLSC site for a few weeks; doesn't say it's pre-release.

My current machine is running the W8 preview (not had time to put on the full version) + Office 2013... (but not SIMS)

[Theblacksheep]

Office 2013 ain't even out yet!! - no-one uses pre-release software in the live environment do they

Office 2013 is RTM and has been for quite some time.

[vikpaw]

Don't appease them, if it's not officially supported, do you really want to go there?

[synaesthesia]

There's a big "constitutional overhaul", shall we say of this particular school and the latest and "greatest" would look particularly good on their CV, so to speak (to add a little reasoning to this request!)
Cheers for the input all.

[LeMarchand]

You may well find you have no problems, but if you get them support will be non-existent (thus making the school look worse than not having the latest and greatest).

Couldn't you roll out the new stuff to anyone who doesn't need SIMS? Or, if you really want the extra work/have the hardware to cope, dual boot the office machines (might confuse/annoy some users). Can you run SIMS in a VM? May also confuse/annoy some users unless you make the "SIMS" shortcut a "launch VM with SIMS" shortcut. On second thoughts...

[vikpaw]

Install Win 7 which works right, then use the Windows 8 enterprise feature of boot from USB - i forget what it's called, it's aimed at BYOD, so if it works you can use that and look flash, and it links to domain etc, and if it fails, you just unplug and revert to Win7, at least on client side. Ditto with office on the install.
I'd still leave server on 2008 R2, maybe just upgrade the rest of the domain.
I'm intrigued by the reasons behind this, can't see how their CV will impress Ofsted!

[synaesthesia]

It's not Ofsted they want to impress.
There will be testing beforehand (I'm trying to get W8 to install on an RM Nbook 100 currently... amusing!).
ICT has been a weak point of this school for a while and we're already half way through dragging it up through the years by ditching CC3. Doesn't matter at all to pricing what versions are installed, but I'd rather not do the same job twice.

[matt40k]

@vikpaw - it's the same old disclaimer, do it, expect problems, don't moan when it does work, I will only laugh. Don't moan at my boss when I laugh, we will only start a harmony of laugher. Primary school should be too bad, I mean you can rebuild say 10 workstations over the weekend. It'll be the restoring SQL that might be a problem (ie if you go from 2012 back to 2008)

Office 2013 is RTM and has been for quite some time.

RTM - as in release to manufacturer - my spam must have filtered out that memo when schools became manufacturers

[Sylv3r]

They should work OK with SIMS - don't use SQL 2012 if your wanting to use things like SLG, FMS, Discover etc.

[synaesthesia]

Really? Capita that slow on the uptake again? FMS is a definite, discover likely... :|

[LeMarchand]

Here's a way that you could make it seem like you have Windows 8, but really be running W7 (so not problems with SIMS): install a skin.

That was one of the first results to pop up - I'm sure there are many other skins/themes/overlays available.

[Tefters]

I'm running Server 2012 + SQL 2012 with both SIMS and FMS absolutely fine on the summer release absolutely fine with no issues however I do now have a snag as of last week!
The Autumn update will not run on the SQL 2012 database so I have a support ticket raised for this.

Disappointed in the fact that they got the documentation on supportnet after I had upgraded!