[sims] SOLUS 3 : Spring 2016 upgrade for SIMS

[kennysarmy]

Just been advised by the LEA that this can now be pushed out to the clients.

 

One of the first lines in their instructions says:

 

Note: Please ensure all users are logged out of all SIMS/FMS software before continuing.

 

 

Surely that's not necessary?

 

Does n't the upgrade install the next time the user opens SIMS.net and if it's open it will wait and install later?

 

Ensuring everyone is out of SIMS.net each time there is an update for a school the size of ours is difficult!

[Steve21]

Guessing you mean Summer one? But in terms of the query it seems to be more for the server side, as it's updating the SQL etc, and if you're trying to access it at the same time there "could" be issues.

 

That's generally why we do it overnight, or plan a specific time to have downtime

 

(Solus3 itself has a 2 minute timer to close SIMS locally on the client I thinky)

 

Steve

[KibosJ]

Just been advised by the LEA that this can now be pushed out to the clients.

 

One of the first lines in their instructions says:

 

Note: Please ensure all users are logged out of all SIMS/FMS software before continuing.

 

 

Surely that's not necessary?

 

Does n't the upgrade install the next time the user opens SIMS.net and if it's open it will wait and install later?

 

Ensuring everyone is out of SIMS.net each time there is an update for a school the size of ours is difficult!

 

I just tell staff when the upgrade is happening.

 

We haven't had any issues with people still being logged in to SIMS and I certainly don't check, but we do the update after hours (midnight)

Edited July 13, 2016 by KibosJ

[localzuk]

SOLUS 3 doesn't install updates when SIMS is opened. It installs them in the background when SIMS isn't open.

 

However, if an update tries to install and can't because SIMS or FMS is open, then it just fails. No retry. You'd have to manually kick of the install again.

 

Our updates roll-out overnight, and install on clients when they first turn on their computer in the morning. We very rarely get issues with this now. The update rolled out last night here, and I had a single person who had an issue this morning, as they were a bit quick trying to open SIMS.

Edited July 13, 2016 by localzuk

[kennysarmy]

I just tell staff when the upgrade is happening.

 

We haven't had any issues with people still being logged in to SIMS and I certainly don't check, but we do the update after hours (midnight)

 

Thanks for all the updates....

@KibosJ - is it possible to schedule the installation time or do you remote in at midnight?

[Boredguy]

@kennysarmy I schedule our SIMS/FMS updates via Solus normally for 6am in the morning so that it is updated ready for staff when they come in (since Solus will wake stations up if they have WOL enabled)

[Cache]

Just done 2 schools in 2 days.

 

SIMS client doesn't need to be closed although it does help. Solus3 will now close the client on deployment to the workstation if it is still open for whatever reason (but doesn't do it while it's deploying SQL or anything else for some reason).

 

Not had any issues here although staff now know if they don't and they have issues afterwards that they have a fair bit of grovelling to do because they do feel guilty after pointing out the extra time to come and look and sort it!

 

Only 1 or 2 may forget now to close it.

Edited July 13, 2016 by Cache

[Greg]

This is probably to try and make it a smoother process for schools.

 

The SOLUS3 System Admin manual states

WARNING: When a SIMS or FMS upgrade is run using SOLUS3, any open

instance of that software on that machine will be closed automatically. This

action enables SOLUS3 to continue its upgrade. If the software is not closed,

the files will be locked by the operating system and this can prevent the

upgrade from running.

 

SOLUS3 will drop any SQL connections to do the upgrade so users would save any unsaved work.

 

Re scheduling, you can schedule the upgrade in SOLUS3 for any time that you want, have your LA not given you notes on this

[lisaj]

Oh the joy of online systems, eliminating the need for upgrades on site!