[sims] SOLUS 2 to be shut down 1st April 2015

[Ephelyon]

We stick Application, Manual and AMPARK setups on a fileshare that can be accessed by computer accounts (startup scripts running as LocalSystem), with a script that checks the file version of the centrally stored Application Setup against SIMSLoad.ini (thanks to someone on here for that idea, did it differently before) and runs the setups if they don't match. Works like a charm.

[DMcCoy]

Even perfect dns and scavenging doesn't help with the biggest issue I see with Solus3, during agent deployment:

 

Laptop that uses Wireless and Wired (one or the other, sometimes both!). Both are helpfully still active registrations in dhcp and therefore dns. Solus *always* seems to get the wrong one and gets stuck installing.

 

 

Also, can anyone tell me how to push discover to a client that didn't install it? I can redeploy sims and fms but don't get this option for discover.

[Ephelyon]

You can use a similar method to the one above to detect whether it's installed and up-to-date. Startup scripts are wonderful things for that unless you need more granular control over what happens if the workstation falls out of the scope of management. Generally-speaking, though, you don't, as the software itself is useless without an active server instance to connect to.

[Bananas]

Even perfect dns and scavenging doesn't help with the biggest issue I see with Solus3, during agent deployment:

 

Laptop that uses Wireless and Wired (one or the other, sometimes both!). Both are helpfully still active registrations in dhcp and therefore dns. Solus *always* seems to get the wrong one and gets stuck installing.

 

 

Also, can anyone tell me how to push discover to a client that didn't install it? I can redeploy sims and fms but don't get this option for discover.

 

There should be a drop down box in solus 3 top left corner change to sims discover and deploy that way

[zag]

"most" schools? How often do you rename things? I think you GROSSLY exaggerate or misunderstand what happens in schools sometimes! My point before stands, if schools have DNS problems, they have IT staff problems.

 

Its not me who has the DNS problems, ours is fine thanks

 

But of the 4 smaller schools I have been into that use Solus 3, all had some DNS issue or the other. Solus 3 seems to have a real problem in design by only relying on DNS. I don't even think its agents announce both ways at all which is what just about every other distribution software on the planet does! This results in changing a computer name simply breaks that agent. Thats really bad design.

[matt40k]

SOLUS3 needs the workstation to be able to resolve the server and the server to resolve the workstation. I don't see relying on DNS as a problem. It's a critical component after all. I've found the common problem I've had is the workstation gets a set as the LA DNS server and they have a HOST file entry for the admin server, so the workstation can contact the admin server, but the admin server has no idea how to contact them.

 

Renaming the computer should result in a reboot, the reboot will cause the workstation to re-register with the DNS. Which S3 will use.

@DMcCoy raises an interesting one - ie it selects the wifi and that drops out. I think allowing the server to push the GUID would allow you to deploy the agent more flexibly - ie simple msi via gpo, via image (remove any guid first). It shouldn't be an issue one it's deployed anyway.

 

PS: You need to re-deploy the release I believe once you've added it as a target.

[Homer]

Solus3's current UI really isn't great, we all know that, but the underlying functionality works a lot better at the moment than it ever did. We've not had problems with it since we moved it to it's own box and started from scratch. Early releases really were terrible. And as for the UI we know it's been redesigned in 3.7, and we'll see what that is going to entail soon enough!

[fiza]

Sorry old thread I know but Is Solus2 still scheduled for shutdown 1st April 2015?

[vikpaw]

Sorry old thread I know but Is Solus2 still scheduled for shutdown 1st April 2015?

Not according to this very reliable source : https://thescarfedone.wordpress.com/2014/07/28/sims-review-of-201314-and-summerautumn-2014/

 

He should know, he has back channel access to the SIMS elite.

However, if that was based on something Jon Wood said, and he's now left (for Tescos - i think), then the story might have changed.

 

If we sit back and wait, one of the lurkers will find out and hopefully report back soon

[localzuk]

The technical roadmap on Supportnet still has SOLUS2 support ending April2015 for state schools, and September 2015 for Independents.

[sparkeh]

The technical roadmap on Supportnet still has SOLUS2 support ending April2015 for state schools, and September 2015 for Independents.

Just read v2.2 of the SIMS Technical Roadmap and it says that Solus2 support has been extended to 31st March 2016 for maintained schools (and 31st August 2015 for Independents).

Edited March 10, 2015 by sparkeh

[localzuk]

Just read v2.2 of the SIMS Technical Roadmap and it says that Solus2 support has been extended to 31st March 2016 for maintained schools (and 31st August for Independents).

 

Where's that? I just downloaded resource 17910 on SupportNet and it still says the dates I gave.

[sparkeh]

Where's that? I just downloaded resource 17910 on SupportNet and it still says the dates I gave.

Same resource number (17910), posted 30/06/14, title "SIMS Technical Roadmap (UPDATED 30/06/14)", size 587376 bytes

 

The version I open has the extended dates.

[vikpaw]

Just read v2.2 of the SIMS Technical Roadmap and it says that Solus2 support has been extended to 31st March 2016 for maintained schools (and 31st August 2015 for Independents).

Have you got a link or resource number pls?

[sparkeh]

Have you got a link or resource number pls?

Resource = 17910

[vikpaw]

Where's that? I just downloaded resource 17910 on SupportNet and it still says the dates I gave.

 

Same resource number (17910), posted 30/06/14, title "SIMS Technical Roadmap (UPDATED 30/06/14)", size 587376 bytes

 

The version I open has the extended dates.

 

Doesn't matter, i found it. Same old doc, it's just squeezed into the top, not in the table later.

But, it looked like the independent sector had longer before, and the amendment states this:

 

SOLUS2 support has been extended up until 31st August 2015 for the Independent sector.

SOLUS2 support has been extended up until 31st March 2016 for the Maintained sector.

[localzuk]

Same resource number (17910), posted 30/06/14, title "SIMS Technical Roadmap (UPDATED 30/06/14)", size 587376 bytes

 

The version I open has the extended dates.

 

Odd. Page 7 - still has the chart with the old dates. I see now in the text bit they've put new dates. They just haven't updated the coloured boxes!

[vikpaw]

Odd. Page 7 - still has the chart with the old dates. I see now in the text bit they've put new dates. They just haven't updated the coloured boxes!

That's probably because they used the SOLUS2 Documentation Updater! It's just a bunch of patches!

[matt40k]

More likely the SOLUS2 and SupportNet staff have all left

[vikpaw]

More likely the SOLUS2 and SupportNet staff have all left

. . . in shame?

[PhilNeal]

Hardly - they've both run for years pretty well without fault.

[SHimmer45]

SOlUS3 has been ok for us, yes the UI at 1st glance is a little confusing, but so far it has worked as described.

be interesting to see if this changes as we add more workstations to it on the run up to the next upgrade.

[vikpaw]

Hardly - they've both run for years pretty well without fault.

I was just asking. IMHO i'm happy with SOLUS 2 - and would be happy for extended support. I'm also happy to just be able to download the ISO easily, but you have to request it, and it's a pain.

[sparkeh]

I was just asking. IMHO i'm happy with SOLUS 2 - and would be happy for extended support. I'm also happy to just be able to download the ISO easily, but you have to request it, and it's a pain.

I'd be happy with an msi but lets not open that debate again

[matt40k]

SOLUS2 is dated, it needs a fresh, which is SOLUS3. The ISO was in effect SOLUS 1. So really your happy with SOLUS 1, not SOLUS2. Also, not sure why DoubleFirst needs SIMS updates, I guess it's not a complete MIS

 

Far as the staff, the "SOLUS2" folks were epic, if you look at their career since leaving Capita, it pretty much reflects that. It makes sense they left as SOLUS3 was being introduced. They had achieve everything that Capita could offer them and they've found new challenges at other companies and they've laid a good foundation for the next generation - ie they've helped them work through a lot of the teething problems (except the stupid GUID idea, pretty sure that stupid idea is still floating around).