Sims Only updates when logged in as Admin

[rowed]

 

We upgraded Sims (v7.126) a few weeks ago, and all of our users are unable to update to the latest version unless logged in as an Administrator. We don't want to give all users Admin rights for obvious reasons, has anyone else seen this issue?

 

Any help appreciated.

[dsquared2]

When I do SIMS upgrade i go round every workstation and log on and let it update anyway or I get teachers moan at the time it has wasted.

 

Maybe you will have to go round every workstation!!!

[Edu-IT]

When I do SIMS upgrade i go round every workstation and log on and let it update anyway or I get teachers moan at the time it has wasted.

 

Maybe you will have to go round every workstation!!!

SIMSPERM to set permissions? (Yes, I still laugh at that)

 

http://www.edugeek.net/forums/mis-systems/42503-sims-permissions-bat-file.html

 

A batch file called SIMSPerm.bat is available to

provide SIMS .net users with the required access in order to automatically run

the upgrades when they log into SIMS .net.

 

How long do your updates take to apply dsquared2? Ours take a few minutes. Longer than it would for me to go round, log in, update, and log out.

Edited February 9, 2010 by Edu-IT

[rowed]

I tried to run the bat file using GPO, but still the same problem when logging on as a teacher. It wont update Sims.

[Gatt]

We've been getting similar problems off and on since 7.126 was released - some users ok - some users need to be logged in as Administrator

 

All PCs from same WDS Image which had SIMSPERM ran on it and the C:\Program Files\SIMS folder has the all staff security group granted FC...

[rowed]

it worked ok on other upgrades, but not this one.

[Stuart_C]

Hmm... This will be worth knowing. Might give it a go over half term so I can trial a few machines.

To be honest I gave up on SIMSperm. Opened the BAT file up and then used GP to set the permmissions bassed on the contents of the BAT file. That way I don't have to worry about forgetting to run it when I install new machines.

[vikpaw]

Never used simsperm, most schools i've been in allow users to be local Power Users or Admins, which combats most issues. They need rights over the local temp folder.

 

Despite that, due to network speed and to prevent staff moans we tend to go around and manually update as many as we can.

 

Something must have changed...

 

Surely you can now use SOLUS 3 to push the upgrade out..?

[apeo]

AFAIK vikpaw is right and Solus 3 will do automatic updates of computers. We still use scripted updates here and will run Solus 3 when its on General Release in Autumn.

 

There are threads on here on how to script the upgrade. The script i use is one i've created specifically for here so require configuring if its to go on another network.

[sandeep2504]

there is a thread on here about how to give appropriate permissions using group policy.

 

no scripts required.

[sparkeh]

I no longer let SIMS update itself in any way after a series of botched upgrades.

Now I run SOLUS to get the updated packages on the server and push out the new packages to workstations to install over the top of the old ones.

Works every time without issues.

[IrritableTech]

there is a thread on here about how to give appropriate permissions using group policy.

 

no scripts required.

 

Yeah it's very easy. Just copy the settings set by simsperm.bat in the registry and folder permissions. Having said that, we're on 7.124 and the OP is an issue with 7.126.

 

We update the server, then a handful of office machines, but leave the teacher machines to the teacher. We tend to pop a message on the smartboard in the staff room informing staff of the update. It generally only takes 3-5minutes, and nobody complains much.

[apeo]

there is a thread on here about how to give appropriate permissions using group policy.

 

no scripts required.

 

Automated client updates avoides having users to do the install/update. Saves the teacher time and hastle.

[sparkeh]

Automated client updates avoides having users to do the install/update. Saves the teacher time and hastle.

 

Exactly why I push out new packages, no user involvement whatsoever, and that suits everyone

[matt40k]

Use SOLUS3, set permissions via group policy. SOLUS3 will do most of them, but if the staff to quick then the user will have enough permissions to do it "manually". Just rememeber, you need to be a power user\local admin if they use exams etc.

[apeo]

Exactly why I push out new packages, no user involvement whatsoever, and that suits everyone

 

Yeah , its also the reason why i wrote a vbscript to check what version of SIMSApps is on the client and compare that with the setup. If setup is higher version, then install away .

 

The script also updates an access database to show which computers may have missed the install so i can check them out/reboot them.

 

It seems to work better then bat scripts i use to have.

[rowed]

are you willing to share?

[apeo]

Sure but as i say its taylored for here so it needs to be altered to get it working in another network i.e. its wont be a simple case of sticking it in gpo as a startup and it works. Will require some installation.

 

I'll have a look at it today and see if i can tidy it abit.

Edited February 11, 2010 by apeo

[PhilNeal]

I go into lots of schools and ask how often the distribution of SIMS to workstations goes wrong. I was in a huge Norwich school yesterday and asked. The answer I normally get back is "we don't have any problems and if we do its because we forgot to prep the new machine".

 

The disribution system we supply is used by 1000s of schools; if something is going wrong in your school please log a call because it shouldn't be going wrong.

[zag]

Its been like this for years, never found a solution other than adding the admin staff to the power users group.

 

I run simsperm on every computer when we install sims and it doesnt seem to make a difference at all.

 

Hopefully Solus 3 will fix all these issues though.

[IrritableTech]

I go into lots of schools and ask how often the distribution of SIMS to workstations goes wrong. I was in a huge Norwich school yesterday and asked. The answer I normally get back is "we don't have any problems and if we do its because we forgot to prep the new machine".

 

The disribution system we supply is used by 1000s of schools; if something is going wrong in your school please log a call because it shouldn't be going wrong.

 

I really don't understand why people have trouble either.

 

My GPO consists of:

 

Computer Settings - Windows Settings - Security Settings - File System

Add %Program Files%\SIMS - allow your staff group Full Control

Add %SYSTEMROOT%\sims.ini - allow your staff group Full Control

 

Computer Settings - Windows Settings - Security Settings - Registry

Add Machine\Software\Classes - allow your staff group Full Control

Add Machine\Software\Classes\CLSID - allow your staff group Full Control

Add Machine\Software\Classes\Interface - allow your staff group Full Control

Add Machine\Software\Classes\TypeLib - allow your staff group Full Control

 

Make sure everything is set to propagate sub folders / keys.

 

Apply to the correct computer OU. Bob's your uncle.

[sparkeh]

I go into lots of schools and ask how often the distribution of SIMS to workstations goes wrong. I was in a huge Norwich school yesterday and asked. The answer I normally get back is "we don't have any problems and if we do its because we forgot to prep the new machine".

 

The disribution system we supply is used by 1000s of schools; if something is going wrong in your school please log a call because it shouldn't be going wrong.

 

Basically for us, every update resulted in a few machines unable to launch SIMS after the workstation ran the upgrade. This was due to the updated files not being present on the machine. This affected different machines each time without there appearing to be any common link. A call was logged with LA support but no cause was found.

 

Therefore I now just update the packages on the server with the new .exes and allocate out again. I find this better for the users as well as they don't have to sit through an upgrade.

[DMcCoy]

Sims also updates by running exe files from the temp folder. Software restriction policy can interfere with this depending on how you have it set up.

[matt40k]

Sims also updates by running exe files from the temp folder. Software restriction policy can interfere with this depending on how you have it set up.

 

Like RM

[apeo]

@rowed: do you still want the script?