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We run two domains, but that's because we were two schools and are now one. The two domains trust each other and obviously our SIMS server can only be in one of the domains. We have users on both campuses running SIMS with trusted logins and updating clients when there's an upgrade with no problems at all. Hopefully over the summer we'll be going to one domain......
It is easy if you plan it right. If re-IP ranging etc is a nightmare, then you can look at RemoteApps - might be cheaper if curriculum machines aren't up for the job of running SIMS. Loads of options open. Just hope they didn't say it's free... it costs (remember your time is money). Make sure they know if they do it you'll need time to set it up - even if a 3rd party does it, you need to update your documents and understanding - as well as testing the solution is actually secure.Quote:
Originally Posted by MattHarwood
I just tell the staff to open SIMS.NET from All Programs after an update, rather than using a shortcut. I get the odd one who doesn't understand but on the whole, it works.Quote:
Originally Posted by sted
Quote:
Originally Posted by BatchFile
Adjusted :O)Quote:
Originally Posted by glennda
SimsLoad checks for updates and runs them. Pulsar will actually run SIMS, after the update is done (if it was required).
As for classroom access, networks: flatten them, otherwise look into a web based solution which is much easier to manage. SLG - which might be dear and a bit overkill, but gives lots of other options, or one of the other third parties, such as TASC. TeachersWebFolder from Bromcom...
Then after you have binned SLG, take a look at TASC Software PARS & Pars Connect
Attendance, Attainment etc all in a web interface....
The blasé attitude towards merging networks aside, they kinda have a point. SIMS.net is no longer a tool purely used by the admin team - it has a role in the classroom for a whole host of things. Your network should be built around the needs of the users, and security in place around that, rather than looking from a position of 'this is what we do now, i don't want to change' (this is the impression I get from the OPs first post).
There is no real need for split networks any more - it is an artificial divide that shouldn't really exist!
However, have you thought about putting in a terminal server and running SIMS.net off that instead? That way you don't have to deploy SIMS.net to any machines.
We're taking the single flat network plunge next summer. At the same time we're introducing a different, and much larger IP range to address future demands. A fair amount of work, but a nice project to get my teeth into. The last link in a 3 summer development plan.
Also make sure that your sims.ini file on each client is pointing to your current SIMS Server if not it won't pick up any updates.
Wes
right finaly in a school with this problem looks like my sims.ini is a bit light its just
[Setup]
SIMSDotNetDirectory=C:\Program Files (x86)\SIMS\SIMS .net
can someone post up a more corret one please as it looks like the update line has gone walkies
infact scratch that, that appears to be just this pc checked a few others an updatedir is f:\.....
The cost of this can be quite high depending on clients, CALS etc. I do agree though that one network should be the way forward for everyone, however some people have management that wont let them...me in my last place for example...had to be 2 networks as the HT was sold by her friend that having 2 networks meant the children could not gain access to anything from the staff...from then we had to buy a new server and offload the kids onto it. No matter how much myself or the 3 academies near us tried to convince her she wouldn't have it.Quote:
Originally Posted by localzuk
Under EES, you'd pay about £3 or so for each RDS CAL - and you pay for the number of fulltime staff you have, but get unlimited licenses, or under SELECT they're about £5 or so each. A server would be what, £2k for this sort of thing? And a Windows Server license at about £30 IIRC. So, not very expensive in the scheme of things, especially when you do a cost-benefit analysis of it compared to deploying the client everywhere and then having to support all those installations.Quote:
Originally Posted by nephilim
Quote:
Originally Posted by sted
So you have something to compare:
Quote:
[Setup]
SIMSDirectory=S:\SIMS
SIMSSetupsDirectory=\\server\network\SIMS\Setups
SIMSDotNetDirectory=C:\Program Files\SIMS\SIMS .net
SIMSSQLAppsDirectory=d:\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL.1\MSSQL\Binn
Folder=Sims Applications
FinanceDirectory=C:\Program Files\SIMS\Finance
OfflineSQLAppsDirectory=d:\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL.1\MSSQL\Binn
SIMSDiscoverDirectory=C:\Program Files\SIMS\Discover Client\
[InstallationLogs]
SIMSApplicationSetup.exe=C:\DOCUME~1\user\LOCALS~1 \Temp\2\SIMSApplicationSetup.log
SIMSSQLApplicationSetup.exe=C:\DOCUME~1\user\LOCAL S~1\Temp\3\SIMSSQLApplicationSetup.log
SIMSInfrastructureSetup.exe=C:\DOCUME~1\user\LOCAL S~1\Temp\2\SIMSInfrastructureSetup.log
[Machine]
Infrastructure=1.00
[NOVA-MC]
CurrAcadYear=2008
PulsarLocation=C:\Program Files\SIMS\SIMS .net
CurrentTip=0
LoadAcadYear=2008
LastFile=S:\SIMS\SNOVA\NT6\2008\2008_2009D.SPL
RecentFile:0=S:\SIMS\SNOVA\NT6\2008\2008_2009D.SPL
RecentFile:1=
RecentFile:2=
RecentFile:3=
RecentFile:4=
RecentFile:5=
RecentFile:6=
RecentFile:7=
think i might try changing SIMSSetupsDirectory= to \\server rather than f: i suspect the problem in part is due to the sime server being on another network and just trusted
I won't recommend copy sims.ini between machines as they are machine specfic, the one @localzuk posted for example is from his server - I hope - as it details the SQL path which shouldn't be present on the server.
All you need for a SIMS workstation is:
[Setup]
SIMSDirectory=S:\SIMS
SIMSSetupsDirectory=\\server\network\SIMS\Setups
If you want the start menu folder to be something different then use:
Folder=Sims Applications
I wouldn't recommend setting the SIMS Application directory either unless you're mixing 32bit and 64bit for FMS
SIMSDotNetDirectory=C:\Program Files\SIMS\SIMS .net
Yeah, we find UNC paths work better than mapped drives - as our mapped drives randomly decide to 'disconnect' and have to be opened from My Computer randomly first. Only with the SIMS servers too none of the other shares do this.Quote:
Originally Posted by sted
you will also need an entry for discover, when that is missing you will not see the icon in sims .net