[sims] Server 2003 Support cut off

[Quackers]

Had a search and read, but i cannot find a definitive answer from the forum posts.

 

Is the Summer 2013 the last supported version on Server 2003 or will the Autumn version be the last one supported on 2003 Server?

[Rawns]

Summer is the last supported version.

 

For info too if you use it, SOLUS 3.6 is not supported and does not work on Server 2003 or XP, you have to stick with SOLUS3.5.

[divadiow]

does anyone know of aa upcoming release or function in the base SIMS/FMS products that will not work or refuse to install on 2003?

[synaesthesia]

I remember someone mentioning something about that in the Summer release. If you're still running a 2003 MIS server (the server you need to keep most secure by all standards) I'd be questioning why that is still the case before checking up on SIMS's capabilities. Data security trumps SIMS functions and it's the former you need to be more careful of.

[divadiow]

a valid angle. MS will be supporting 2003 through to July 2015 however...

[matt40k]

No. Microsoft will not be supporting Windows Server 2003. They will be providing security patches for people who have thrown large sums of money at them (like the UK government has done for schools etc). Anything MS release, like .net or Office, won't work on XP\2003.

[vikpaw]

Similarly, do you want to run an OS that isn't supported. Support teams will quite rightly point the finger and blame the OS if they encounter a weird issue, and then you'll be forced to much about with servers right in the middle of a crisis - probably around Census or Exams time

[divadiow]

yes. it's not me that needs convincing...

[vikpaw]

There should be a penalty clause in our contracts for when we are forced to work outside the recommended parameters.

We could call it the 'I told you so' clause.

[MattMitchell]

One issue you might run into, depending on what code is in SIMS, is that features in SQL server change with each release, and it may be that SIMS code can't run properly on SQL2003. There are all sorts of little differences between versions, so it's not a safe bet to stick with an unsupported version.

 

Although data security does trump MIS in some ways, not having a guaranteed functional MIS is pretty much a deal breaker these days! Maybe the way round it is to protect the server?

[matt40k]

One issue you might run into, depending on what code is in SIMS, is that features in SQL server change with each release, and it may be that SIMS code can't run properly on SQL2003. There are all sorts of little differences between versions, so it's not a safe bet to stick with an unsupported version.

 

Getting a bit mixed up their with Windows and SQL. Do have a point though - SQL2012 doesn't run on Windows XP or Windows Server 2003, so all those using Windows XP\Windows Server 2003 are holding the rest of us back! Like I said before, I’m sorry, but SIMS8 can’t come fast enough – Matt Smith

[Jamman960]

I managed to get solus3.6 installed on windows 2003 thankfully, it didn't go on without issue but it wasn't particularly difficult - I've since been able to get all clients redirected to the new server without the workarounds that would have been required on 3.5. We've only managed to get a new host because the PSU failed on the old admin server and it had gone EOL(thankfully another less important server had an identical psu...)

 

I'm planning to stick with SQL2008R2 until Autumn 14 when SQL2014 support comes into effect & 2k8R2 ends

[MattMitchell]

Getting a bit mixed up their with Windows and SQL. Do have a point though - SQL2012 doesn't run on Windows XP or Windows Server 2003, so all those using Windows XP\Windows Server 2003 are holding the rest of us back! Like I said before, I’m sorry, but SIMS8 can’t come fast enough – Matt Smith

 

Whoops, good point! Had SQL server on the brain at the time, as you can tell

[matt40k]

I managed to get solus3.6 installed on windows 2003 thankfully, it didn't go on without issue but it wasn't particularly difficult

 

Installing isn't the problem, it never is. It's the supporting it.