[sims] Spring release + Server 2003 = Slow

[rad]

Is anyone else having issues with the Spring release on server 2003 OS running slowly as CPU usage hits 100% for the majority of the time.

 

A reboot of the server hasn't made a difference and we know of other schools with this issue too.

 

We do know that the front screen is refreshing every 5 minutes so have asked staff to change this, unfortunately unless all staff have done this, do we know if it has worked.

 

Anyone else have any ideas, and yes it has been raised with the LEA and Capita.

[Rawns]

Is anyone else having issues with the Spring release on server 2003 OS running slowly as CPU usage hits 100% for the majority of the time.

 

A reboot of the server hasn't made a difference and we know of other schools with this issue too.

 

We do know that the front screen is refreshing every 5 minutes so have asked staff to change this, unfortunately unless all staff have done this, do we know if it has worked.

 

Anyone else have any ideas, and yes it has been raised with the LEA and Capita.

 

We've not rolled out yet, but there is a thread about this on SupportNet forum and seems lots of people are coming across this in larger schools with a lot of users. The homepage (specifically the teachers timeline) is killing the SQL server and maxing the CPU out to almost 100%. The front page refreshes at different intervals, not sure how long the new Teacher Timeline refreshes:

 

1. Attendance Summary - 30 minutes (due to be reduced to 10 minutes for June 09 release - to be confirmed)

2. My Classes Today - 1 minute

3. My Messages - 30 seconds

4. School Diary - 30 minutes

5. Missing Registers - 10 minutes

6. My Favourites - 2 minutes

7. Behaviour Incident Summary - 4 minutes 20 seconds

8. Today's Behaviour Details - 4 minutes 20 seconds

9. Achievement Summary - 3 minutes 45 seconds

10.Today's Achievements - 3 minutes 45 seconds

 

Also, a CR has been raised for this to be addressed: 1304-1183817

 

Description: Homepage refresh set to refresh too often - Kills SQL

Notes: Will Capita stop setting the homepage refresh rates to be too often. Not everyone needs a 1 or 2 minute refresh. Set the default to 30 minutes for everything! Then allow the user to set to a more frequent time if this is required. The only exception I can see is messages but set that to a default of 5 minutes. The current frequency of the refresh is hogging CPU usage on the SQL server on larger schools, which causes timeout errors and problems with using the software.

Edited April 18, 2013 by Rawns

[IrritableTech]

We're seeing much higher CPU utilisation after the spring upgrade. Thanks for the info @Rawns, I might well vote for the CR.

[FragglePete]

Cripes - Just looked at the VM for our SIMS Server - I've got 8 CPUs dancing away since the Spring Update; I'm pretty sure it wasn't like this before hand!

 

 

Actually, four of the eight are a bit jiggly, the rest seem quite chilled... !

 

Pete

Edited April 18, 2013 by FragglePete

[Edu-IT]

Can't wait to apply this upgrade... :X

[zag]

Wow just checked this myself as well.

 

CPU has gone through the roof on our Sims server!

 

 

Where do we vote for this change request. This is a big problem that needs to be fixed pronto!

Edited April 18, 2013 by zag

[FragglePete]

Can't wait to apply this upgrade... :X

 

Before you do, grab a shot of your CPU useage and post it along with a shot after you apply the update for a comparison.

 

Pete

[localzuk]

Good job we shifted over to the new server then! Due for our update soon. Our old SQL server would've melted.

[vikpaw]

We've been running all of the last week and not noticed a problem. Similar setup in Riyadh and they have got the issue.

Neither of us are InTouch users.

My timeline is on a 15 minute refresh, messages on 5min, and two conducts at 4 and 5 minutes. These are user configurable too. @zag - the change request is on SupportNet under the Support Menu. You're CPU doesn't look too bad to be honest, it should bounce up and down and will even hit 100 sometimes, it's the constant maxed out graph you want to worry about.

[zag]

http://support.capitaes.co.uk/ChangeRequest/DetailChangeRequest.aspx?id=%C3%97%C3%9F%C3%92%C3%9B%C3%A8%C3%A8%C3%94%C3%9C%C3%A5%C3%9C%C3%98%C3%9E

 

Signed!

[rad]

Intouch, SLG and SIMs here which doesnt help

[DSapseid]

Great our sims server is 2003 with Xeon 2.4ghz with 1gb ram!! Running SIMS, Intouch and SLG Sync to the county SLG. Might hold fire from the update for a while till i can move sims to a 2008 box!!

[PhilNeal]

There is an issue in large sites (or possibly hosted ones) that is thrashing the server. It's not InTouch. We are working on a fix.

[TheScarfedOne]

There is an issue in large sites (or possibly hosted ones) that is thrashing the server. It's not InTouch. We are working on a fix.

 

Thanks for the confirmation @PhilNeal...any timescale on a fix?

[PhilNeal]

Not yet I'm afraid but it is a high priority. Hopefully a patch.

[zag]

There is an issue in large sites (or possibly hosted ones) that is thrashing the server. It's not InTouch. We are working on a fix.

 

Thanks as always Phil

[Rawns]

News Item on SupportNet this morning:

 

Timeline refresh

Since the Spring release we have received a number of calls from large establishments reporting a significant increase in the time taken for the homepage timeline to load. We apologise for the inconvenience this is causing and we are developing a patch that will be published as soon as possible.

[PhilNeal]

An emergency patch has been created which has been given to two schools with the problem. A more extensive rework of that piece of SQL is being worked on and should be ready next week. Please contact your support unit if you need the emergency patch.

[mdench]

Same problem here NM gonna upgrade SQL SP1 > SP3 and gonna install a patch we were given and see how we get on

[Gibbo]

Surely SIMS should be on more powerful servers with newer OSes than those mentioned on here?

 

The SQL upgrade a couple of years back was an ideal time to get your finance departments to fund new servers and do a bit of futureproofing.

[TheScarfedOne]

An emergency patch has been created which has been given to two schools with the problem. A more extensive rework of that piece of SQL is being worked on and should be ready next week. Please contact your support unit if you need the emergency patch.

 

Thanks for the update, and for keeping tabs on the issue

[FN-GM]

Surely SIMS should be on more powerful servers with newer OSes than those mentioned on here?

 

The SQL upgrade a couple of years back was an ideal time to get your finance departments to fund new servers and do a bit of futureproofing.

 

You are correct, the servers having are pretty under powered. Throw more RAM at it and you will have less CPU usage.

[DMcCoy]

I'm sure everyone is running the full version of SQL....

 

Throwing RAM at express isn't going to get you far with it's 1GB limit.

[mrbios]

Surely SIMS should be on more powerful servers with newer OSes than those mentioned on here?

 

The SQL upgrade a couple of years back was an ideal time to get your finance departments to fund new servers and do a bit of futureproofing.

 

18GB ram, 4 CPU cores shown to VM, SQL databases on SSD storage, Server 2008R2 and SQL 2008 for sims/fms and another SQL2008R2 instance with about 8 databases. My Server is also going crazy with cpu usage but only on the SQL2008 instance, so spec doesn't seem to make much difference.

[vikpaw]

An emergency patch has been created which has been given to two schools with the problem. A more extensive rework of that piece of SQL is being worked on and should be ready next week. Please contact your support unit if you need the emergency patch.

Sorry different issue, but any news on the timeline issue for non-standard weeks? A patch for that would be amazing.