solus 3.10

[minimoo]

Just want to see if anyone else is seeing issue we are seeing with solus 3.10, or if it's unique for a few of our pc's:

 

Is the solus 3 agent service running on the PC after a reboot ?

 

Paul

[cullingsh]

On most machines, doesn't seem to be

When I launch it and then click the check for updates button it moans with 'failed to request deployment.' Are you getting that too?

[winng]

Me too!

[cullingsh]

We are also finding that when launching SIMS it moans about a missing or incomplete SIMS.ini file, which if you click ok on the box, you can then log in normally. This is new and I suspect since pushing through SOLUS 3.10 - again, anyone getting that?

Shaun

[cullingsh]

Have found that re-installing the Solus3 agent (using the re-install button, not removing the 'Target' and adding it back in) sorts out Solus3 not starting when the machine starts, and also sorts out our SIMS.ini warning box.

 

Which is good that I can push a button and it fixes itself. Bad that I discovered it after removing a load of machines and now have a whole other mess to deal with :<

[winng]

Kool. Okay I'll try that now. Shame I can only do 10 machines at a time...

[cullingsh]

yeah, I noticed that too, lots of fun as we have 180:(

[winng]

I have three all-through schools..... job done now and it seems okay

[minimoo]

Sim's support had a look this afternoon and tried out a test DLL file for solus that might fix the issue with the agent not starting. I think there's a "timing" issue that some pc's are seeing.

 

Given there's not likely to be a sims release for a few weeks now (given normal pattern of capita), I suspect there'll be a solus update before the next release - and I'd be inclined to think waiting for that might be a sensible move for people that haven't yet pushed out 3.10 and sticking on 3.9 for now.

[speckytecky]

Sounds like I'm going to have fun next week. Term time only and SOLUS 3 is set to run auto updates. What am I going to find first day of term!

[minimoo]

Should be fine - assuming you haven't got sims summer release waiting as well - if that's already on, whether solus is running or not will be irrelevant

 

Evidently, there's a issue where at least some pc's are hitting an timing issue with service starting (so that's going to need a new dll to fix) - I'm probably going to write a script next week to copy dll down to pc's with broken version to fix solus 3, or write a start up script /schedule that runs in background and waits 5 minutes after boot and starts solus3. Waiting to see what capita do / say their plan to fix for affected pc's is first.

[cullingsh]

Don't take the solus upgrade - what a waste f time. If you can, leave it.

 

The previous fix of reinstalling SOLUS only lasted for a couple of reboots. Have had a case raised with Capita since last Friday, and nothing has progressed. We now have students and staff back and everyone is jumping up and down because the error box comes up everytime they go to log in.

[cullingsh]

DLL file would be lovely but we haven't yet been able to speak to anyone who's looking at it. If it's just a duff dll then I could quite happily distribute it to our SIMS machines.

[winng]

SOLUS 3.10 update

 

We have an update to the SOLUS 3.10.0.3 release

 

01/09/2015

 

What’s the issue?

We have identified an issue effecting a sub set of customers that have updated to SOLUS3.10.0.3. In some environments the SOLUS3 agent is not starting up in the time allocated. Which can cause a knock on effect to SIMS and FMS clients in some situations.

 

We have decided to withdraw the release so that no further customers are effected.

 

What's do you recommend if I have this issue?

 

Please contact your support team who can confirm you have been authorised the following fix through SOLUS3.

 

The Fix and Package name will appear in SOLUS3 as 3.10 agent restart patch

 

The patch will run automatically if SOLUS3 is set to Auto Update and resolve the issue with any machine that is connected to the network at the time it runs.

 

Customers can also manually run the patch for machines that connect to the network at a later time by extracting the package from SOLUS3 to any location on the SOLUS3 User interface machine followed by running the following .exe as a user with workstations administrative permissions. 3.10Agent.Patch.3.10.restart.exe

 

For further help...

 

Please contact the SIMS Service Desk or your local SIMS Support Unit.

 

- - - Updated - - -

 

Not ideal timing!

 

SOLUS3 - Upgrade

 

An update on infrastructure changes to SOLUS3 Hosted Services.

 

01/09/2015

 

What are the changes?

 

At 09:00 on Thursday 3rd September 2015 we will be upgrading the SOLUS3 servers in the Azure data centre.

 

What does this mean for customers?

 

For a brief period customers will be enable to apply SIMS, FMS and Discover upgrades using SOLUS3 and Local Support Units will be unable to authorise software to schools.

 

For further help...

 

Please contact the SIMS Service Desk or your local SIMS Support Unit.

[Sylv3r]

Yep, we've got this issue. I'll speak to CAPITA tomorrow about getting hold of the fix.

[Cache]

Funny, the release hasn't been withdrawn for me.

[minimoo]

Capita's fix is a new .exe and .dll file for solus, and a "agentpatcher.exe" to apply it. That's fine if the PC's are on when you run the agent patcher - as it'll try and copy across the dll files and start the service, however not so good if the PC is turned off or it's a laptop that's not on etc.

 

As i'm lazy, i've just knocked up a quick script that i'm going to test and probably use tomorrow so I don't get to play a game of "which of the 500 PC's on site haven't been turned on when I ran the agent patcher", i've knocked up a quick vbscript i'm planning on using to deploy the update in a startup script. I've not (yet) added anything to start the solus 3 service, so currently would need 2 reboots to fix.

 

Whilst i've only done testing offsite at the moment, in case it might help others to tweak and test properly in their environment, i'm posting a copy here. My plan at the moment is to test this tomorrow at work, and use as a start up script for a week or two until all laptops/pc's on site have updated and then remove it.

 

' ##### Solus 3.10 #####
' This script fixes a broken solus 3.10 initial release to 3.10.73 to fix solus 3 startup issue in a start up script.
' ######################

' ### Configuration Paths
' *** UNC Network path to fixed solus files to patch
' *** Sims.Solus3.Agent.AgentService.exe and Sims.Solus3.Agent.Business.dll
SPatchDir = ""

' *** Local Path to Solus3 e.g. c:\program files\solus 3
SSolusDir = ""

' ### SCRIPT STARTS HERE ###

Dim SDLL, SEXE
SDLL = "Sims.Solus3.Agent.Business.dll"
SEXE = "Sims.Solus3.Agent.AgentService.exe"

Dim oFSO
Set oFSO = CreateObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject")

CheckSolusVersion(SDLL)
CheckSolusVersion(SEXE)

' ### Functions ###
Sub CheckSolusVersion(oFile)
Set fso = CreateObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject")
If fso.FolderExists( SSolusDir ) Then
	Wscript.Echo "*Checking: " & SSolusDir & "\" & oFile
	LocalVersion = oFSO.GetFileVersion(SSolusDir & "\" & oFile)
	WScript.Echo "* Installed Version: " & LocalVersion

	VerParts = Split(LocalVersion, ".")
	if (VerParts(0) = "3") and (VerParts(1) = "10") Then
		If fso.FolderExists( SPatchDir ) Then
			Wscript.Echo "*Checking Patch: " & SPatchDir & "\" & oFile
			PatchedVersion = oFSO.GetFileVersion(SPatchDir & "\" & oFile)
			WScript.Echo "* Patched Version: " & PatchedVersion

			Select Case CompareVersions( PatchedVersion, LocalVersion )
				Case -1
					' Local Version 'newer' then network
					Wscript.Echo "** Local Version is newer then patch - Skipping"
				Case 0
					' Versions match, therefore local
					Wscript.Echo "** Local Version matches patch version - Skipping"
				Case 1
					'Network Update Available
					Wscript.Echo "~~%%~~ Update Version Available - Updating"
					fso.CopyFile SPatchDir & "\" & oFile, SSolusDir & "\" & oFile, True
					Wscript.Echo "~~%%~~ Update Should be done ~~%%~~"
			End Select
		Else 
			Wscript.Echo "** Network Patch Location is not available or does not exist - skipping"
		End If
	else
		Wscript.Echo "** Solus is not a version of 3.10 - skipping"
	end if
Else
	Wscript.Echo "** Solus is not installed - skipping"
End If
End Sub


' Compares two versions "a.b.c.d". If Version1 < Version2,
' returns -1. If Version1 = Version2, returns 0.
' If Version1 > Version2, returns 1.
Function CompareVersions(ByVal Version1, ByVal Version2)
 Dim Ver1, Ver2, Result
 Ver1 = GetVersionStringAsArray(Version1)
 Ver2 = GetVersionStringAsArray(Version2)
 If Ver1(0) < Ver2(0) Then
   Result = -1
 ElseIf Ver1(0) = Ver2(0) Then
   If Ver1(1) < Ver2(1) Then
     Result = -1
   ElseIf Ver1(1) = Ver2(1) Then
     Result = 0
   Else
     Result = 1
   End If
 Else
   Result = 1
 End If
 CompareVersions = Result
End Function

Function GetVersionStringAsArray(ByVal Version)
       Dim VersionAll, VersionParts, N
       VersionAll = Array(0, 0, 0, 0)
       VersionParts = Split(Version, ".")
       For N = 0 To UBound(VersionParts)
           VersionAll(N) = CLng(VersionParts(N))
       Next
       Dim Hi, Lo
       Hi = Lsh(VersionAll(0), 16) + VersionAll(1)
       Lo = Lsh(VersionAll(2), 16) + VersionAll(3)

       GetVersionStringAsArray = Array(Hi, Lo)
End Function

Function Lsh(ByVal N, ByVal Bits)
   Lsh = N * (2 ^ Bits)
End Function

Edited September 3, 2015 by minimoo

[matt40k]

Oddly I've heard the bug only really affects slow PCs

[PhilNeal]

Slow PCs and under certain network tools.

[minimoo]

@PhilNeal @matt40k - not sure i'd agree on the slow pc's front - I was seeing the issue on PC's with i5 PC's with SSD's - I wouldn't consider that "slow".

[matt40k]

How long does it take for a cold boot up? So switched off, off to you logged in and fully loaded and ready to work?

[DevilsAdvocate]

Has anyone got a copy of the fix? I've been sent it by Capita and the archive was empty *sigh*. Now the person I was dealing with is out of the office!

[winng]

Message from Capita yesterday:

 

"I have been advised by my technical team to advise you to install .net 4.5 then the solus 3.10 fix"

 

So now I have to persuade my IT Services department to globally install .net 4.5 and the solus fix which came as .exe, oh joy

Edited September 8, 2015 by winng

[cullingsh]

Didn't .net 4.5 go on with a previous SOLUS 3 upgrade, back in last December?

[Atomic_Zombie]

The install manual for 3.10 states that "Microsoft .NET Framework 4.5.0 must be installed on the device hosting the Deployment Service" with "Framework 4.0 must be installed on all devices in the DeploymentEnvironment."