Sims Updates and SLG

[Sylv3r]

I've heard it from various sources some say that the SIMS update should not be installed until the relevant SLG update is available but others say its fine then update SLG later.

Can anybody confirm which of the above is true - the SIMS updates are generally released a week or two earlier then the SLG update and I just want to be sure that the webparts will still work as expected if SIMS database is newer than the released webparts.

Thanks

Andrew

[meastaugh1]

Afaik you should install the SLG update first because SLG is compatible with the current and two previous versions of SIMS. Therefore if you upgrade SIMS to a newer version than SLG, some web parts may not work as expected.

Although SLG should support the three most recent versions, I've noticed issues that could only be resolved by upgrading SIMS to the same version as SLG. With that in mind, I wait for SLG to become available before contemplating upgrading SIMS.

[Sylv3r]

Cheers Michael

I wait also, but I had heard conflicting stories saying it was fine to upgrade SIMS before SLG.

I'll stick to waiting, as it saves all the hassle in the long run.

[meastaugh1]

Np. Out of interest were those conflicting stories from Capita, or other SLG sites, or both?

[Sylv3r]

Np. Out of interest were those conflicting stories from Capita, or other SLG sites, or both?

I think I read on the supportnet that you needed to upgrade both at the same time, whereas other SLG sites have mentioned you can update SIMS prior to SLG.

As we use SLG for attendance, assessment and profiles - its not worth the risk running one before the other for me if its going to cause issues.

[Sivadam]

As a Capita Hosted school for SLG we ALWAYS get an email from Capita advising us when the Hosted Service will be upgraded and hence when we can run the SIMS Upgrade - which should be done after the SLG one.
If you upgarde SIMS in advance of the SLG Upgrade then the SLG may not work. The reverse is not true. The SLG Upgrade should support the previous two (or three) SIMS Upgrades. This is all also made quite clear on SupportNet and in the SLG Release notes.

[teejay]

Don't upgrade SIMS to SQL 2008 yet, SLG doesn't work with it yet apparently.

[Sivadam]

Can you please explain the source of that information teejay?

I have heard nothing about this at all! There is nothing on SupportNet and I believe some of our fellow SLG users have migrated to 2008.
It should have SQL Server 2008 compatibility - as per the Release notes!

[teejay]

SIMS consultant from Capita we had in last week, think it's when you are using the SLG hosted by Capita.

[Sivadam]

Even more curious!
We are a Capita SLG Hosted School!
And I haven't heard any information on this - despite being a UAT and Partnership School!
Maybe I should contact the Project Manager for confirmation or otherwise. Looks like a job for tomorrow!

[Sivadam]

The Project Manager confirms what I thought.
If there had been problems then a good few people would have been shouting about it before now! He is unaware of any reported issues. As far as he is concerned this concern is unfounded.

[teejay]

He may want to pass that onto other Capita staff then, because they are sending out mixed messages. I have had two people from Capita say this to me now.

[Sivadam]

I did mention where the rumour originated!

[Greg]

The info that I was given (and we have verified this) is that some web parts may not display any details if SIMS is on a newer version than SLG. Capita confirmed to that there is no danger of data corruption in this scenario. The cause is if sql tables are changed in the SIMS then the older SLG is not 'aware' of these changes and cannot call these correctly to display the data.

[Sivadam]

It is standard procedure not to Upgrade SIMS until AFTER SLG is upgraded.
This information is always available on SupportNet, in the Release Notes and, certainly in our case, on the Email we receive that always precedes any Upgrade.

I would have assumed that all schools supported by LAs would also receive this information via their heldesks as well. SLG usually supports the previous 2 or 3 Versions of SIMS. The reciprocal of this is not true and this is made clear in the documentation.