localzuk Posted October 23, 2014 Posted October 23, 2014 (edited) I'm just in the middle of prepping the move to SQL Server 2012/14 (probably going with the latter), moving from 2008 R2, as SIMS will stop supporting 2008/2008 R2 from the Summer release. Is everyone else ready for this? Oh, and the end of support for SOLUS 2 for non-independent schools at the same time. Edited October 23, 2014 by localzuk
stitch Posted October 23, 2014 Posted October 23, 2014 We moved to SQL server 2014 during the summer and all seems to be working well. I did no know about the 2008 R2 Server though. Thanks for that.
3s-gtech Posted October 23, 2014 Posted October 23, 2014 (edited) We did it earlier this year (onto 2012). I wasn't massively involved for the first SIMS database (we run two), but the instructions to do the second were very easy indeed (from 2008) and it didn't take long. Not sure where the official document link is, but here's last November's roadmap: https://www.eiskent.co.uk/userfiles/files/attachments/support/SIMS_Technical_Roadmap_November_%202013.pdf Windows Server 2008 and 2008 R2 will be supported for a good while yet, so it's only really the SQL Server changes that are impending. Edited October 23, 2014 by 3s-gtech
JRowley Posted October 23, 2014 Posted October 23, 2014 (edited) We are moving to SQL Server 2012 on Monday and rebuilding our sims server to be virtual at the same time. Wish us luck! Edited October 23, 2014 by JRowley
localzuk Posted October 23, 2014 Author Posted October 23, 2014 We moved to SQL server 2014 during the summer and all seems to be working well. I did no know about the 2008 R2 Server though. Thanks for that. I am referring to SQL 2008 R2, rather than Windows Server. Windows Server 2008/2008 R2 is supported for a while yet.
edutech4schools Posted October 23, 2014 Posted October 23, 2014 SQL2008 r2 is supported until the Spring 2015 release, is it not.
localzuk Posted October 23, 2014 Author Posted October 23, 2014 SQL2008 r2 is supported until the Spring 2015 release, is it not. Its supported in the spring release, yes. The summer release won't support it. So, that's about 6 months to get ready.
bossman Posted October 23, 2014 Posted October 23, 2014 Just sorting out our Hypervisor upgrade to version 6.2.0 which will then allow us to move to Server 2012R2 with SQL 2014, should be all done for the Spring release, looking at Summer to go fully Server 2012R2 with the possibility of Windows 10 clients, got a little bit of planning and testing to do before then.
SHimmer45 Posted October 23, 2014 Posted October 23, 2014 will be getting ready for this shortly, i don't fancy doing it "inhouse" so will look for assistance from capita, id like to do a migration but not on our live sims.net setup. not for a 1st time in case of an issue
featured_spectre Posted October 23, 2014 Posted October 23, 2014 Do we know what the reasoning is behind not supporting 2008R2 SQL?
Quackers Posted October 23, 2014 Posted October 23, 2014 (edited) Ive got 2 sites to move from Windows Server 2008, SQL 2008 to Server 2012 R2, so may as well go SQL 2014. Just me being cynical here, but when i first started in 2003 we had SQL Server 2000, we then went to SQL 2005, then to SQL Server 2008, then to SQL Server 2012, and now SQL 2014. We do more or less the same thing as we did 11 years ago, we put student details into the SIMS Database. I don't see it any faster on SQL 2012 than on SQL 2000. So why exactly are we chucking ££££££ at Microsoft year after year on SQL Licences to do what we already do. I know its not going to happen but wish they would go down the MySQL route so schools are not being stung with SQL licence costs, especially primary schools. Edited October 23, 2014 by Quackers
localzuk Posted October 23, 2014 Author Posted October 23, 2014 Do we know what the reasoning is behind not supporting 2008R2 SQL? They only support 2 releases at a time I believe. So, 2012 and 2014. My guess is that they might be moving to use features that are only available in 2012+.
stitch Posted October 23, 2014 Posted October 23, 2014 I am referring to SQL 2008 R2, rather than Windows Server. Windows Server 2008/2008 R2 is supported for a while yet. Doh. That's a relief
matt40k Posted October 23, 2014 Posted October 23, 2014 wish they would go down the MySQL route so schools are not being stung with SQL licence costs, especially primary schools. Primary schools use Express, which is free. There are some massive improvements in SQL 2012 over SQL2008, admittedly quite a few are in the paid for versions. With that said, if you fancy trying to achieve what you can do out-of-the-box with the newer versions with the old versions, you'll see the benefits of upgrading - said the guy trying to work with MySQL 4 and MS-SQL 2000.
localzuk Posted October 23, 2014 Author Posted October 23, 2014 Primary schools use Express, which is free. There are some massive improvements in SQL 2012 over SQL2008, admittedly quite a few are in the paid for versions. With that said, if you fancy trying to achieve what you can do out-of-the-box with the newer versions with the old versions, you'll see the benefits of upgrading - said the guy trying to work with MySQL 4 and MS-SQL 2000. Agreed. I'm using MySQL for stuff and it does drive me a bit loopy compared to MSSQL at times. The simple integration with things like LINQ in .Net make MSSQL a better platform for development on Windows.
PhilNeal Posted October 23, 2014 Posted October 23, 2014 We only support 2 versions because of testing. If you take the permutations of Office & SQL that is a huge overhead.
Boredguy Posted December 9, 2014 Posted December 9, 2014 Just to update this thread, Capita have released documentation for migrating to SQL 2014 now for those of us who have not yet moved from 2008. Resource document id is 23607
kennysarmy Posted December 12, 2014 Posted December 12, 2014 Our school pay the LEA for SIMS Support but are refusing to provide any documentation to assist in migrating to SQL 2012. Is this right? We need SQL to run the product but are left alone to upgrade ourselves, even though they have their own notes that they use when they upgrade schools who pay for "hardware" support?? I presume capita won't help us because they will say we get our support from the LEA! Has anyone put together any notes that they could share with me to assist in upgrading a server 2008R2 running SQL Server 2008 R2 to SQL 2012 or 2014 ? Many thanks
kennysarmy Posted December 15, 2014 Posted December 15, 2014 Tried 23607 on Supportnet? Have had to register....will let you know...
edutech4schools Posted December 15, 2014 Posted December 15, 2014 Our school pay the LEA for SIMS Support but are refusing to provide any documentation to assist in migrating to SQL 2012. Is this right? We are in a similar position although I did get sent some basic instructions. If you are paying for Sims support they should give you something. If you are paying Capita for Sims support they do give migration instructions. Bit of a rush now but will post back at some point or pm you.
kennysarmy Posted December 15, 2014 Posted December 15, 2014 We are in a similar position although I did get sent some basic instructions. If you are paying for Sims support they should give you something. If you are paying Capita for Sims support they do give migration instructions. Bit of a rush now but will post back at some point or pm you. Many thanks. Our LEA has now sent me a CAPITA document entitled "Migrating SIMS, FMS and Discover to SQL 2012" However this does not seem to cover re-installing SIMS if we decide to leave the existing server as it is and create a new SIMS Server running Windows Server 2012 and SQL 2014.
DrCheese Posted December 16, 2014 Posted December 16, 2014 Any benefit to moving to 2014 over 2012? We went to 2012 last year.
matt40k Posted December 16, 2014 Posted December 16, 2014 Backing up to Azure seems to be the big one, other then few index tweaks - most of the big ones won't benieft SIMS.
DrCheese Posted December 16, 2014 Posted December 16, 2014 aw shucks, would do anything to improve the performance of SIMS
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