[sims] How to use SIMs without Shared Drive Setup

[andyheth]

Dear All,

 

Is it possible to use SIMs on a Client machine with using the Shared Drive setup? If so does anyone know how this is done please?

 

Thanks

 

Kind regards

 

Andy

[zag]

Yes but you need Solus 3 I believe.

 

Some things won't work like exam organizer and timetabling bits due to needing the license files, but the basic Sims should work.

[andyheth]

Thanks Zag for reply - I have SOLUS3 but cant see how this is done? I will log it with Capita.

 

Thanks

[zag]

Just use the relative path in the sims.ini file I think.

 

Thats all that is needed.

[andyheth]

Ah I see - then what is the purpose of a shared drive setup for SIMs then? Am I missing something obvious here?

[zag]

Ah I see - then what is the purpose of a shared drive setup for SIMs then? Am I missing something obvious here?

 

Its how sims used to check for upgrades in the past using Solus2 and the setups directory. It no longer needs that since solus 3.

 

Sims also stores loads of legacy things in there like license files which may still be needed by certain applications.

[matt40k]

Attendance letters seems to spring to mind, as do exams, fms (if you use it), nova-t, options etc (the v6 modules that aren't .net)

[andyheth]

seems like I cant do away with the S Drive then - we use FMS, and Exams use it too

 

Am back to trouble shooting why its still slow - IMO its badly written software for starters...

[dhicks]

Is it possible to use SIMs on a Client machine with using the Shared Drive setup?

 

We don't use SIMS here at the moment, but previously I've run it as a remote application via Remote Desktop, where it ran very well. Depending on the resources you have to assign to a central server, it might improve performance.

[andyheth]

@dhicks - thanks we use rdp for staff remote access - but its set the same - ie shared drive mapped on user login via their profile.

 

Further testing required to see if having a mapped drive causes performance issues. And indeed if we can get away with not using it.

[matt40k]

Teachers won't need a mapped drive - it'll just be the bursar and office staff. Should make the whole system more secure if you limit who has the s drive - which should be only 5-10 odd users, even in a large secondary school.

[dhicks]

@dhicks - thanks we use rdp for staff remote access - but its set the same - ie shared drive mapped on user login via their profile.

 

If you set SIMS up as a proper Remote App, end users won't know the difference between SIMS running locally and it running on a server - as far as they will be able to tell they'll click on a "SIMS" icon and SIMS will appear.

[zag]

Once you remove the shared drive you can also set the Sims launch shortcut to "Pulsar.exe" rather than simsload.exe and it will load quicker.

 

Simsload is just an upgrade wrapper I believe and is not needed any more when you have solus 3.

[Banjo]

We have a school that runs everything from a 'shared drive' with no local install !

[andyheth]

@Banjo - Interesting - how big is the school?

[Banjo]

We have a school that runs everything from a 'shared drive' with no local install !

 

Primary ~300 pupils, it runs pretty quick with teachers doing attendance AM/PM from their laptops as well as a the front office having access.

 

This was not OUR setup, but they buy ICT support from a non-educational provider and that's how they have installed it on their network.

[Heebeejeebee]

If you set SIMS up as a proper Remote App, end users won't know the difference between SIMS running locally and it running on a server - as far as they will be able to tell they'll click on a "SIMS" icon and SIMS will appear.

 

That's true to a point - our staff don't really notice they're using a remote app. There are a few anomalies that we've found though. One is that it takes the (Windows) theme from the RDS server so make sure you have them matched if you don't want them to look different and another, somewhat irritating thing, and one we've not managed to resolve is that some new windows - say from a report or a dialog box will pop up in the background i.e. behind the application and you have to alt+tab to get at it.

 

Other than that it's all good and we only have about 4 people on the 'full' version now. As mentioned, shared drives are only needed for the legacy apps (the ones that are not yet integrated into .net).

 

HBJB

[vikpaw]

Worth checking if there is an exclusion for the mapped drive in your AV software. It doesn't need to be on access, only on-write, which can make a huge difference.

[andyheth]

I had already eliminate that - but thanks

[splattthecat]

Once you remove the shared drive you can also set the Sims launch shortcut to "Pulsar.exe" rather than simsload.exe and it will load quicker.

 

Simsload is just an upgrade wrapper I believe and is not needed any more when you have solus 3.

 

It looks as if SOLUS3 may revert to using SIMSLoad in a future release, to ensure SIMS is the correct version if SOLUS3 hasn't had a chance to upgrade the client before it is run. This from a SOLUS3 Webinar with Capita last week!

[andyheth]

@splattthecat - thanks for the heads up

[Banjo]