New SIMS Server - Windows 2008 R2 & SQL 2008 R2

[MYK-IT]

We’ve taken delivery of our brand new server in preparation to replace our old Admin SIMS Server.

I know there are issues with SIMS not (officially) supporting Windows 2008 R2 etc, but it does seems such a shame not to install Windows 2008 R2 with SQL 2008 R2 as we have the licenses to install them!

Anyone else running SIMS on a similar setup? Any issues etc?

I suppose the alternative is to build the server with Windows 2008 R2 and use Hyper-V for a virtual instance of SIMS server running Server 2008 64Bit? But I’ve not done Hyper-V virtual servers before, and then there are the issues of backups etc. Although we have Backup Exec 12 that does not support 2008 R2, the SIMS data is backed up remotely using Attix and that is compatible, so we can continue to use that until we can upgrade the backup solution etc.

Any feedback would be appreciated.

[creese]

It's not that there is no support, there are actually problems with R2.

[localzuk]

I have just a few minutes ago been informed at there are currently issues with SIMS on R2. I don't know more than that, but I'm sure a perusal of SupportNet would come up with some details.

(Drat! Creese beat me to it!!)

[MYK-IT]

So, looks like a Windows 2008 64Bit install then (or a Hyper-V instance of).. is SQL 2008 R2 ok to use?

[localzuk]

So, looks like a Windows 2008 64Bit install then (or a Hyper-V instance of).. is SQL 2008 R2 ok to use?

With SIMS you really need to stick to the version Capita say, just in case. Otherwise you could end up in a mess... So I'd stick with SQL 2008, not R2.

[Sivadam]

Check out my Post on Page 2 of the following on SupportNet:- SQL 2008 R2 is out May 2010 (26323)

[Hecate]

It's not that there is no support, there are actually problems with R2.

Can you elaborate - I can't find anything on support net

[creese]

Can you elaborate - I can't find anything on support net

http://support.capitaes.co.uk/newfor...E1%DE%A4%DC%D5

[creese]

And

http://support.capitaes.co.uk/newfor...E1%DE%A4%DC%D5

[Sivadam]

Can you elaborate - I can't find anything on support net

This is a copy of the info but it ought to be read in the context of the SupportNet Thread!

I posted the following to another thread re. this topic, but here it is again:-

This is a direct quote by Phil Neal on Edugeek:-
http://www.edugeek.net/forums/mis-systems/53518-sims-server-side-64-bit-2.html

Not sure what's been said by whom and have made sure that the desks know the position which is:

1. We support both 64 and 32 bit variants of Windows Server 2003 and 2008 and will continue to do so for the foreseeable future as many schools have 32 bit Servers.
   
2. We do not currently support Windows Server 2008 R2 for SIMS and have no plans to do so in 2010 but we will be supporting this for SLG (for the Application tier and ADPS server) from the Summer 2010 release.

We (Handsworth Grange) are using it with no problems. If we get problems then I am told that we will just install a version of R1 and transfer the database! That is my highly knowledgable Technical colleague speaking!

[Hecate]

Right, I had seen that I thought there must be some new breaking news I had missed.

[creese]

Right, I had seen that I thought there must be some new breaking news I had missed.

No, breaking news would only be 'You can now use R2'

[vikpaw]

This subject keeps cropping up and people just need to decide whether they want to be in a supported setup or not.

Personally, i was going to try a Windows Server 2008 R2 box with SQL 2008, however am more and more inclined not to even try. Everything we do here relies on SIMS from personnel, finance, timetables, reports, lesson plans, behaviour, admissions, cover - i just can't afford for things to break or go down. I'm not willing to risk being told "It's your problem as you are on an unsupported system", i'd probably get the sack if something major went wrong. I'd rather be the one that says to Capita "It's your problem, because i've installed as per your instructions!"

I'm sticking with Windows Server 2008 with SQL 2008, and all other servers are going to upgrade to Windows Server 2008 R2, we'll have a separate SQL server with all other databases on running SQL 2008 R2, so i might run tests on it if need be.

[matt40k]

If you use Windows Server 2008 R2, you can restore back to Windows Server 2008 without any data loss, assuming you do it right. So if you really want to use Windows Server 2008 R2 it's just a question of can you restore back to Windows Server 2008 (R1) and can you afford the loss of time to do it.

If you use SQL 2008 R2, you can't.

[Sivadam]

As I keep saying:-
It is working fine here!
There again - we do have myself and my excellent ICT Services colleague to sort SIMS between us!!!