[sims] Server Support Companies?

[Gongalong]

Hi folks,

 

Until a year or two ago we had both our functional and server support for SIMS through our county IT, but they dropped the latter. We then switched to SCOMIS for server support, but they are dropping it from the end of next March.

 

Is anyone aware of other companies that provide server support?

 

I have tried contacting ESS, twice, but had no response. I am not sure if they would offer just server support, or insist that we buy the SIMS license from them as well (currently that's bought through our county's IT).

 

Thanks

[Tefters]

What server support are you after exactly?

 

Software, hardware, what are your expectations?

[PotNoodleTech]

There are two different issues here - one is SIMS suppoort for the software and database itself on your server which if SCOMIS are not supporitng any more I guess ESS will be supporting instead.

 

The other is physical server support for whatever hardware the SIMS Database is installed on - this is generally up to you to support or arrange hardware support with a third party, I gather this was provided by SCOMIS prebviously and there's no reason why they can't support the hardware like they did before? They are not allowed by ESS to support the SIMS software any more but they can still support the physical hardware right?

[Gongalong]

@Tefters We get SIMS functional support from our county IT still, the server is virtualised, and we don't need any of the classic IT server support. Essentially, we just need the SIMS server bits e.g. if someting stopped working SIMS-wise on the server, if/when we need to migrate to a new server etc. Sorry, difficult to describe! Basically everything other than functional support, and Windows Server environment support. I'm guessing this is why SCOMIS have had issues, in that the provider will ultimately need a support contract with ESS.

 

I am aware of one school at least that don't have third party support, but they are planning on moving to another MIS anyway.

[MrKJLS]

We use Schools ICT and they are good. Used with SIMS and Arbor

 

https://www.schoolicts.co.uk

[Tefters]

ESS would ultimately be your best port of call in which case due to direct support with the application owner. I would imagine they should be able to offer you just support as your county are buying licensing in bulk for many schools.

[dmj]

ESS prevent any third companies offering support: they changed their license agreement of SIMS so that no other company was allowed access to the database ergo all the support companies cannot offer that service anymore.

Even with hardware support they have database access so that is explicitly denied by the license agreement.

 

Somehow, the CMA said that was OK.

[Gongalong]

Now I just need to get ESS to reply to sales enquiries...

[Gongalong]

ESS prevent any third companies offering support: they changed their license agreement of SIMS so that no other company was allowed access to the database ergo all the support companies cannot offer that service anymore.

Even with hardware support they have database access so that is explicitly denied by the license agreement.

 

Somehow, the CMA said that was OK.

It's a barmy situation, and is only going to cause ESS to lose more SIMS customers. There seems to be a lot of shortsightedness in the MIS market at the moment.