SIMS server installation

[mtillbrook]

Hi Everyone.

Firstly, apologies if this has already been covered!

I have been trying to move SIMS from an old server to a new one. The main problem I have is that the new server is running Windows Server 2008 64 bit edition. My problem lies with the fact that I don't have the SQL Express 2005 64bit installer.

I know I can donload it from Microsoft but that will only install a database instance with the default name and not the correct one for SIMS.

Does anyone have the SIMS 64 bit SQL Express 2005 installer file?? If not, can anyone tell me how to either create a new instace or to change the name of the existing instance of a SQL Expresss 2005 installation?

This is really urgent so if anyone can help me I really would appriciate it!!!

Thanks!

[nephilim]

My advice would be to get Capita on the phone! They'll be able to advise you better as they deal with this day in day out.

[creese]

I would take the time, a couple of hours, to migrate the existing to 2008 and deattch/attach the database to the new server. You are going to have to do it in the next few months anyway.

[FN-GM]

You dont want to be using SQL 2005. after a certian date this year sims requires SQL 2008. You should use 2008 not 2005.

[mtillbrook]

I don't have the sql migration wizard program to do the migration to 2008 though so I was just going to get it setup to start with for 2005 and then look at migrating it.

[Sarconia]

Have Capita ever provided a 64bit SQL Express 2005 installer? I'm actually not too sure... I've never seen this file. What is stopping you from installing the 32bit version, does it not work with Server 2008 64bit? Even if you did have the 64bit SQL Express installer, you'd need to install a 32bit instance as SIMS will not work on a 64bit instance. (The last time I tried it anyway).

As for renaming an instance, once it's been installed with the given name there isn't any way to change it.

[localzuk]

What value would a 64bit install of SQL Express have anyway? You're still limited to 1GB memory usage, and 4GB database size anyway...

[mtillbrook]

Hmm, why do Capita have to be awkward!
The 32 bit installer doesn't work unfortunatly! Thanks for the suggestion though.

[localzuk]

Information here about installing SQL Express 2005 on Server 2008 R2 - Tim's trash of thoughts: SQL Server 2005 Express Edition on Windows 2008 x64

But as creese and FN-GM say - you should really be migrating to SQL 2008 anyway, as this is a requirement from October IIRC.

[creese]

Information here about installing SQL Express 2005 on Server 2008 R2 - Tim's trash of thoughts: SQL Server 2005 Express Edition on Windows 2008 x64

But as creese and FN-GM say - you should really be migrating to SQL 2008 anyway, as this is a requirement from October IIRC.

There are problems with SIMS on 2008 R2

[localzuk]

There are problems with SIMS on 2008 R2

Ah, I wrote R2 but meant 64bit (not R2).

[creese]

Those damn keys, never do what you think. ;-)

[mtillbrook]

thanks for all your suggestions - I think I've sorted it. I found a slightly different version of the SQP express installer which does actually allow the user to specify a name for the instance that it creates. I've created a SIMS instance and it seems to have worked and therefore solved my problem!!