Sims Updates and SLG

[Sylv3r]

I've heard it from various sources some say that the SIMS update should not be installed until the relevant SLG update is available but others say its fine then update SLG later.

 

Can anybody confirm which of the above is true - the SIMS updates are generally released a week or two earlier then the SLG update and I just want to be sure that the webparts will still work as expected if SIMS database is newer than the released webparts.

 

Thanks

 

Andrew

[meastaugh1]

Afaik you should install the SLG update first because SLG is compatible with the current and two previous versions of SIMS. Therefore if you upgrade SIMS to a newer version than SLG, some web parts may not work as expected.

 

Although SLG should support the three most recent versions, I've noticed issues that could only be resolved by upgrading SIMS to the same version as SLG. With that in mind, I wait for SLG to become available before contemplating upgrading SIMS.

[Sylv3r]

Cheers Michael

 

I wait also, but I had heard conflicting stories saying it was fine to upgrade SIMS before SLG.

 

I'll stick to waiting, as it saves all the hassle in the long run.

[meastaugh1]

Np. Out of interest were those conflicting stories from Capita, or other SLG sites, or both?

[Sylv3r]

Np. Out of interest were those conflicting stories from Capita, or other SLG sites, or both?

 

I think I read on the supportnet that you needed to upgrade both at the same time, whereas other SLG sites have mentioned you can update SIMS prior to SLG.

 

As we use SLG for attendance, assessment and profiles - its not worth the risk running one before the other for me if its going to cause issues.

[Sivadam]

As a Capita Hosted school for SLG we ALWAYS get an email from Capita advising us when the Hosted Service will be upgraded and hence when we can run the SIMS Upgrade - which should be done after the SLG one.

If you upgarde SIMS in advance of the SLG Upgrade then the SLG may not work. The reverse is not true. The SLG Upgrade should support the previous two (or three) SIMS Upgrades. This is all also made quite clear on SupportNet and in the SLG Release notes.

Edited December 7, 2009 by Sivadam

[teejay]

Don't upgrade SIMS to SQL 2008 yet, SLG doesn't work with it yet apparently.

[Sivadam]

Can you please explain the source of that information teejay?

 

I have heard nothing about this at all! There is nothing on SupportNet and I believe some of our fellow SLG users have migrated to 2008.

It should have SQL Server 2008 compatibility - as per the Release notes!

Edited December 7, 2009 by Sivadam

[teejay]

SIMS consultant from Capita we had in last week, think it's when you are using the SLG hosted by Capita.

[Sivadam]

Even more curious!

We are a Capita SLG Hosted School!

And I haven't heard any information on this - despite being a UAT and Partnership School!

Maybe I should contact the Project Manager for confirmation or otherwise. Looks like a job for tomorrow!

Edited December 7, 2009 by Sivadam

[Sivadam]

The Project Manager confirms what I thought.

If there had been problems then a good few people would have been shouting about it before now! He is unaware of any reported issues. As far as he is concerned this concern is unfounded.

Edited December 8, 2009 by Sivadam

[teejay]

He may want to pass that onto other Capita staff then, because they are sending out mixed messages. I have had two people from Capita say this to me now.

[Sivadam]

I did mention where the rumour originated!

[Greg]

The info that I was given (and we have verified this) is that some web parts may not display any details if SIMS is on a newer version than SLG. Capita confirmed to that there is no danger of data corruption in this scenario. The cause is if sql tables are changed in the SIMS then the older SLG is not 'aware' of these changes and cannot call these correctly to display the data.

[Sivadam]

It is standard procedure not to Upgrade SIMS until AFTER SLG is upgraded.

This information is always available on SupportNet, in the Release Notes and, certainly in our case, on the Email we receive that always precedes any Upgrade.

 

I would have assumed that all schools supported by LAs would also receive this information via their heldesks as well. SLG usually supports the previous 2 or 3 Versions of SIMS. The reciprocal of this is not true and this is made clear in the documentation.

Edited December 9, 2009 by Sivadam

[Greg]

Totally agree, however, in some cases (exams changes in Aug and some issues in SIMS that were only resolved in upgrades, not via patches) the SIMS upgrade could be required at the school before SLG was upgraded centrally so schools could make individual decisions on weather to upgrade to resolve the SIMS issues or keep the SIMS issue and have fully functioning SLG

[Sivadam]

Then I am afraid that you run the risk of parts of SLG not working.

 

I concur with your frustrations. I am as keen as anybody to get the fixes in a new Upgrade at the earliest possible moment. If you have read my many Posts re. August Upgrade and NON-EDI Results in Exams, on SupportNet, you will understand my frustrations. In the event I did get the SIMS Upgrade in time to sort this before GCSE Results day - and very welcome it was too! On this occasion I think I did upgrade SIMS a couple of days before SLG - on the grounds that there would be few users needing SLG. (My ancient memory may well be mis-leading me on this one tho'!)

 

At least I only have to wait a few days (maybe a week) for Capita Hosted SLG to be upgraded. I dare not risk irate Staff not being able to do their Assessments, Profiles Reports etc. using SLG as a result not following the correct guidelines. And it would be a bit embarassing if a parent rang up because SLG is not working correctly - as a result of my incompetency!

Edited December 9, 2009 by Sivadam