SIMS + Terminal Server

[adamf]

We are due to have SIMS installed in a couple of weeks and we have already decided to go down the terminal server route for accessing it. The question is, has anybody already done this and what kind of impact has it had on the server running SIMS on it and it being a terminal server.

We will have approx 200 clients connecting to it - not all at once, but I would estimate maybe 150 at any one time.

[bjeffery]

We also use SIMS over Terminal Server and I have had no issues at all - although I would have a server with alot of RAM - we have 2 servers with 4gb in each but plan to upgrade this to 8gb in both

[cookie_monster]

SIMS does run on terminal server but it's quite a heavy app you'll need some steam to run 150 instances of it on one box.

[bjeffery]

I would also advise NOT to use the SIMS DB server as the termnal server.

[GrumbleDook]

Oh yes .. plenty of RAM ... and look at load balancing your TS as well ... pretty key to be honest. This is the voice of bitter experience.

[GrumbleDook]

I would base the number of servers you need as 30 concurrent connections per server. SIMS is a hog, especially as staff create SIMS reports or complete marksheets in Assessment Manager .. then disconnect leaving an open connection (usually without saving the marksheets they are working on!)

[adamf]

I would also advise NOT to use the SIMS DB server as the termnal server.

So have SQL Server on another server hosting the DB and the main app + ts on a server together?

[adamf]

I would base the number of servers you need as 30 concurrent connections per server. SIMS is a hog, especially as staff create SIMS reports or complete marksheets in Assessment Manager .. then disconnect leaving an open connection (usually without saving the marksheets they are working on!)

Based on that figure, I need 5 servers

[cookie_monster]

Yes probably. You will need x64 if you want to use less servers as 150 concurrent sessions on a single server and you will hit the 2GB Kernel Memory Limit. Not that i can see any server running 150 SIMS instances.

[localzuk]

Yes probably. You will need x64 if you want to use less servers as 150 concurrent sessions on a single server and you will hit the 2GB Kernel Memory Limit. Not that i can see any server running 150 SIMS instances.

Not to mention SIMS.net not being supported on x64... Although there is no reason you can't have multiple 32bit virtual installs of windows on a 64bit host OS.

[PhilNeal]

Oxfordshire run SIMS on Terminal Services for most of their schools. I will try to find out how many servers they use but I think its around 6 for 150 schools including secondaries.

[adamf]

Not to mention SIMS.net not being supported on x64... Although there is no reason you can't have multiple 32bit virtual installs of windows on a 64bit host OS.

Exactly. I might have to re-think this one slightly. Has anybody run SIMS in a virtual environment?

[cookie_monster]

Is SIMS still not supported on x64? Poor very poor

[adamf]

Oxfordshire run SIMS on Terminal Services for most of their schools. I will try to find out how many servers they use but I think its around 6 for 150 schools including secondaries.

It would also be nice to know how many concurrent connections they have, if poss.

[linescanner]

We have a load of schools running SIMS (including FMS)on TS via both Sun Ray and Secure Global desktop.

You need to look very carefully at the concurrency.

I would listen to bjeffery and Grumbledook as they have been running it in anger for sometime.

Is it going to be straight RDP connections ? If so you will need to loadbalance. Do not use the MS loadbalancer as it sucks. 2x is a good option if hardware loadbalancing is too expensive (which for most it is)

Based on our experience 5 servers is about right, you may get away with 4 if the loadbalancer does a good job.