set up a new sims server

[priestm]

Hello everyone. im new here im just wondering if you could help.

 

been thrown in at the deep end a bit in seetting up a new SIMS server never had a previous one.

 

server 2003 Standard Edition

i ran CCSSQLExpressInst.exe to install the SQL on the server installing a new SQL Instance to host SIMS. then once all had finished i then ran SIMSINST.exe and chose the option for SIMS SQL Server and SIMS Document Server changed all the options that were applicable to us in the Settings tab and then installed. it installed the database called NewSimsDatabase.mdf into D:/Program Files/.../Data and called itself SIMS.

 

once that setup was complete i checked to make sure the SQL server services were all running and checked the settings were allowing TCP/IP AND Named Pipes and turned off the windows firewall on the server.

 

then worked on the workstation and installed SIMS Workstation. had mappings to S:/ and also turned off windows firewall and installed the SQL Server Studio on the workstation to make sure i could connect to the server. through there using username SA i could connect to the server and under the databases was our database, SIMS.

 

once all workstation software was setup i tried to login to SIMS using the username Sysman and the password password. i got both errors as Reason0 and incorrect username/password.

the local connect.ini file redirects to the S:/SIMS/Connect.ini and this is all fine.

 

i browsed the database using the SQL Server studio and found the username for sysman and the password is password but still wouldnt let me login

 

sorry for the lenghty detail but just thinking someone might be able to point us in the right direction if we are going slightly wrong in the setup procedures.

 

Many Thanks in advance!!

[John_Howarth]

Hi there and welcome!

 

When you say you're setting up a new SIMS server, is your establishment about to start using SIMS or do you have an existing SIMS database to attach to the newly created SQL instance?

 

If it's the latter, you don't need to connect to the "blank" database at all. The next step would be to attach the school's existing database.

 

Apologies if I've got the wrong end of the stick; I should really be in bed at this hour!

[priestm]

have got no existing sims installations. it is a new sims server and database. was explaining my processes of installation just incase i was going wrong somewhere

[superfletch]

You sound like you have done all the right things.

 

If it can give you a username/password error it souns like it is connecting.

 

Can a ping resolve the Name (not IP) of the Server.

 

Is the SQL Server Browser Service running on the Server?

 

Is there more than one instance of SQL Server on the Server somehow and you are trying to connect to the wrong one?

 

Can you run the SIMS module up successfully on the Server itself?

[priestm]

yes ping ok. browser service running. no other module of SQL.

 

SIMS Workstation isnt installed on the server itself. should it be installed and check that way??

 

Thanks

[superfletch]

I'd install it on the Server for the following reasons:

 

Helps with troubleshooting - if you can connect on the Server it will most likely be a network/firewall issue that's been overlooked and giving you this problem.

 

Good for upgrades - if SIMS Workstation is installed on the Server and you have agreed downtime to do your SIMS upgrades (not always possible) it makes it easy to check that the upgrade has worked successfully before deploying it to clients. If you have a problem you can rollback quickly.

 

Are your workstations up to date with .net framework?

 

[EDIT]

 

Also make sure CLR is enabled in the SQL Server management Studio - can't remember the exact route for this though.

 

Once this is enabled restart the SQL Server Service and (possibly) re-run SIMSInfrastructureSetup.exe

Edited September 18, 2009 by superfletch
Add more gumf

[priestm]

have installed workstation on server. still getting incorrect username/password.

the .net framework is all fine on the workstations

could you point in a way to enabling CLR in management studio?

 

Thanks

Edited September 18, 2009 by priestm
added more

[CAM]

Sounding picky but you have to be with SIMS.

 

I noticed you typed S:/SIMS/Connect.ini but the slashes should be a backslash. Have you checked these?

 

Also try this in your connect.ini on the local computer:

 

[sIMSConnection]
Redirect=S:\sims

 

Note that there is no connect.ini on the end of the path.

[ravens]

There a few things Capita want you to try if you get this error.

 

Below is the link, good luck.

 

Hot Topics

 

Also you could try entering the details in the connect.ini rather than the redirection, using the ip address in case the name of the server cannot be resolved, for example:

 

[sIMSConnection]

ServerName=IP ADDRESS\sims

DatabaseName=SIMS

ServerType=SIMSSQL

Commandtimeout=10000

 

and see if that works

Edited September 18, 2009 by ravens
Addtional thought

[priestm]

have changed all connect.ini info to what ravens said. also enabled CLR in management studio.

i have browsed through the tables in the SIMS database and found under "sims.db_user" 2 users as DataExportsUser and sysman.

is there any way in the management studio to create a user that has administrator rights? is it in the same table as these users.

Thanks

[superfletch]

Seeing you used the CCSSQLExpress installer I don't think this should be an issue, I'll say it anyway though... could it be the authentication type (ie using Trusted instead of SQL based authentication).

 

Old fixes are the best - have you detached and re-attached the SIMS database using SIMS DBAttach and logging in using your SQL Server SA user account?

[scebe427]

When you attached the database, what configuration did you select?

[priestm]

i think it was SQL Authentication. i wouldnt use trusted authentication because i dont think its that secure. have detached and attached but still no login

[scebe427]

i think it was SQL Authentication. i wouldnt use trusted authentication because i dont think its that secure. have detached and attached but still no login

 

which phase configuration did you select when you configured the blank database? If you install a blank database it needs to be configured. For example, the sector, region and suchlike.

[priestm]

i dont recall it asking that. im going to uninstall all sims apps and SQL off the server and retry installing again and see what happens. will let you know if i get anywere.

[scebe427]

i dont recall it asking that. im going to uninstall all sims apps and SQL off the server and retry installing again and see what happens. will let you know if i get anywere.

 

Dont bother uninstalling. Do this:

 

* Dettach the database

 

* Run SIMSInst.exe (this must be from the August 2008 installable CD) on the server and select to install a SIMS SQL server. On the next screen you can choose the instance you installed earlier.

 

* When it asks about setting up the database, ensure you select to create a new database. Select the sector and school type options here. Do not choose attach an existing database unless you have one from a different server or whatever.

 

* Then click next a few times and then the sims configuration util should pop up, follow this through and then it should all be done.

[priestm]

installed again and it never asked me for any phases. instead of running CCSSQLExpress i ran simsinst.exe and installed Server that way but still no luck.

[scebe427]

what version of simsinst.exe are you using? can you put up some screen grabs of the stages you're going through?

 

do you have access to a SIMS August 2008 installable CD?

[priestm]

sorry i never saw your previous post i closed the tinterweb.

the version i am using of SIMSINST.exe is v1.21

dont have August 2008 CD.

[superfletch]

Hiya have you experienced (or can you look for) any Event Log errors referring to *Memory Pressure*. It is related to the CLR integration thing.

 

The fault will also be shown in the SQL Server logs.

 

If so there is a patch but I only needed it once.

 

[Edit]

 

Can I ask what might seem like an odd question at this junction - if you have never had SIMS before but you don't have the August 08 installer then where are you getting your file structure (eg Setups folder etc) from?

 

Also I'm guessing you must have some kind of existing MIS in place at the moment and seeing your conversational tone is not at all worried about your problem I'll ask - how long have you got before you have to install it?

 

The November Installable release of SIMS will come complete with an SQL 2008 installer, potentially saving you the problem of migrating 2005 - 2008.

Edited September 18, 2009 by superfletch
Add stuff

[priestm]

do apologise for my late reply. having time off work and so on.

 

havent seen any errors of the kind in the logs. but can i ask what patch it is just incase i have missed it? im new to the job and the file structure was already on the server. im just guessing my predecessor was going to start then left. not to sure on that situation. i havent really been asked about a timeframe.

 

is V1.21 of the SIMSINST.exe the right version? can i ask if that is the same one you use too?

[bossman]

V1.21.30 is the one we use.

[vikpaw]

not sure if you've tried this or if it's relevant to your express install.. but ...

 

I was playing with many virtual machines in the summer to practice sharepoint and slg.

once i was lazy, and installed the full sql but with no instance name i.e. default instance only.

sims really doesn't like this. it's easy to connect with management studio etc. you just put no name, everything else looks fine, and connect.ini was setup the correct way, but for some reason you need to have a proper named instance.

 

installing a new instance on the same sql installation and putting sims on that worked spot on...

[priestm]

not sure if you've tried this or if it's relevant to your express install.. but ...

 

I was playing with many virtual machines in the summer to practice sharepoint and slg.

once i was lazy, and installed the full sql but with no instance name i.e. default instance only.

sims really doesn't like this. it's easy to connect with management studio etc. you just put no name, everything else looks fine, and connect.ini was setup the correct way, but for some reason you need to have a proper named instance.

 

installing a new instance on the same sql installation and putting sims on that worked spot on...

 

so when i set up SQL and it asks for an instance name and SIMS2005 is the default, i should change that to something else?

[vikpaw]

No, if it gives you a name and sims2005 is there then that's okay.

 

i was referring to when you install sql normally, the default is blank unless you specify one.

 

so sounds like it's not an issue, however you can still install another instance with a different name, for troubleshooting purposes.

 

if this is your first use of sims, surely capita or local support should do all the installation for you, otherwise aren't they likely to just not support you...?

 

also, i'm sure that some installation files have different default usernames and passwords for the blank databases. i'm sure when i created a dummy virtual instance, i couldn't log in until i detached the database, dropping logins, and then reattached. then the default password worked.

 

also don't forget when you detach the database to move the file to another folder before you reattach...