MYK-IT Posted June 14, 2010 Posted June 14, 2010 We’ve taken delivery of our brand new server in preparation to replace our old Admin SIMS Server. I know there are issues with SIMS not (officially) supporting Windows 2008 R2 etc, but it does seems such a shame not to install Windows 2008 R2 with SQL 2008 R2 as we have the licenses to install them! Anyone else running SIMS on a similar setup? Any issues etc? I suppose the alternative is to build the server with Windows 2008 R2 and use Hyper-V for a virtual instance of SIMS server running Server 2008 64Bit? But I’ve not done Hyper-V virtual servers before, and then there are the issues of backups etc. Although we have Backup Exec 12 that does not support 2008 R2, the SIMS data is backed up remotely using Attix and that is compatible, so we can continue to use that until we can upgrade the backup solution etc. Any feedback would be appreciated.
creese Posted June 14, 2010 Posted June 14, 2010 It's not that there is no support, there are actually problems with R2. 1
localzuk Posted June 14, 2010 Posted June 14, 2010 I have just a few minutes ago been informed at there are currently issues with SIMS on R2. I don't know more than that, but I'm sure a perusal of SupportNet would come up with some details. (Drat! Creese beat me to it!!) 1
MYK-IT Posted June 14, 2010 Author Posted June 14, 2010 So, looks like a Windows 2008 64Bit install then (or a Hyper-V instance of).. is SQL 2008 R2 ok to use?
localzuk Posted June 14, 2010 Posted June 14, 2010 So, looks like a Windows 2008 64Bit install then (or a Hyper-V instance of).. is SQL 2008 R2 ok to use? With SIMS you really need to stick to the version Capita say, just in case. Otherwise you could end up in a mess... So I'd stick with SQL 2008, not R2.
Sivadam Posted June 14, 2010 Posted June 14, 2010 Check out my Post on Page 2 of the following on SupportNet:- SQL 2008 R2 is out May 2010 (26323)
Hecate Posted June 14, 2010 Posted June 14, 2010 It's not that there is no support, there are actually problems with R2. Can you elaborate - I can't find anything on support net
creese Posted June 14, 2010 Posted June 14, 2010 Can you elaborate - I can't find anything on support net http://support.capitaes.co.uk/newforum/main.asp?params=%95%9E%A1%9B%A0%A6%C8%A0%B0%A2%A4%B4%A9%8E%F1%97%C6%D3%D7%DA%D9%E1%DE%A4%DC%D5
creese Posted June 14, 2010 Posted June 14, 2010 And http://support.capitaes.co.uk/newforum/main.asp?params=%95%9E%A1%9B%A0%A6%C8%A0%B0%A2%A4%B4%A9%8E%F1%97%C6%D3%D7%D8%DE%E1%DE%A4%DC%D5
Sivadam Posted June 14, 2010 Posted June 14, 2010 (edited) Can you elaborate - I can't find anything on support net This is a copy of the info but it ought to be read in the context of the SupportNet Thread! I posted the following to another thread re. this topic, but here it is again:- This is a direct quote by Phil Neal on Edugeek:- http://www.edugeek.net/forums/mis-systems/53518-sims-server-side-64-bit-2.html Not sure what's been said by whom and have made sure that the desks know the position which is: We support both 64 and 32 bit variants of Windows Server 2003 and 2008 and will continue to do so for the foreseeable future as many schools have 32 bit Servers. We do not currently support Windows Server 2008 R2 for SIMS and have no plans to do so in 2010 but we will be supporting this for SLG (for the Application tier and ADPS server) from the Summer 2010 release. We (Handsworth Grange) are using it with no problems. If we get problems then I am told that we will just install a version of R1 and transfer the database! That is my highly knowledgable Technical colleague speaking! Edited June 14, 2010 by Sivadam
Hecate Posted June 14, 2010 Posted June 14, 2010 Right, I had seen that I thought there must be some new breaking news I had missed.
creese Posted June 14, 2010 Posted June 14, 2010 Right, I had seen that I thought there must be some new breaking news I had missed. No, breaking news would only be 'You can now use R2'
vikpaw Posted June 15, 2010 Posted June 15, 2010 This subject keeps cropping up and people just need to decide whether they want to be in a supported setup or not. Personally, i was going to try a Windows Server 2008 R2 box with SQL 2008, however am more and more inclined not to even try. Everything we do here relies on SIMS from personnel, finance, timetables, reports, lesson plans, behaviour, admissions, cover - i just can't afford for things to break or go down. I'm not willing to risk being told "It's your problem as you are on an unsupported system", i'd probably get the sack if something major went wrong. I'd rather be the one that says to Capita "It's your problem, because i've installed as per your instructions!" I'm sticking with Windows Server 2008 with SQL 2008, and all other servers are going to upgrade to Windows Server 2008 R2, we'll have a separate SQL server with all other databases on running SQL 2008 R2, so i might run tests on it if need be.
matt40k Posted June 16, 2010 Posted June 16, 2010 If you use Windows Server 2008 R2, you can restore back to Windows Server 2008 without any data loss, assuming you do it right. So if you really want to use Windows Server 2008 R2 it's just a question of can you restore back to Windows Server 2008 (R1) and can you afford the loss of time to do it. If you use SQL 2008 R2, you can't.
Sivadam Posted June 16, 2010 Posted June 16, 2010 As I keep saying:- It is working fine here! There again - we do have myself and my excellent ICT Services colleague to sort SIMS between us!!!
matt40k Posted June 16, 2010 Posted June 16, 2010 Yes! Hahaha... I dare you to log a call with helpdesk about a problem with your SIMS system (and upload your data)!! 1
creese Posted June 16, 2010 Posted June 16, 2010 Hahaha... I dare you to log a call with helpdesk about a problem with your SIMS system (and upload your data)!! Wouldn't be a problem, until you get the bill from Capita.
Sivadam Posted June 16, 2010 Posted June 16, 2010 (edited) Hahaha... I dare you to log a call with helpdesk about a problem with your SIMS system (and upload your data)!! We have logged 54 Cases since we upgraded to the new Server in February. All have been resolved by Capita except the two that will be sorted via the Summer Upgrade, the Patch that is currently being tested (that will probably benefit you all!) and the one Case that is still ongoing! Yes! Capita have remoted in on a couple of occasions. None of the Cases are affected by R2 and most are as a result of me testing and finding issues with new Upgrades! I guess you will all have some of the patches that have resulted as a result of some of my cases. I don't recommend you all jump into R2 however! You must know what you are doing! And 'No!' it isn't supported yet! I should point out that we are a SIMS Partnership school and a UAT Associate School! If 'owt goes wrong because of R2 then we will sort it. And the info would be passed on to Capita. Edited June 16, 2010 by Sivadam
creese Posted June 16, 2010 Posted June 16, 2010 I should point out that we are a partnership school and a UAT Associate School! Hmmm, yes you should.
matt40k Posted June 17, 2010 Posted June 17, 2010 So how did Capita deal with loading your data? I assume you being a partnership school and a UAT Associate School your data is over the limit for SQL 2008 R2 Express? (Just have visions of some Capita helpdesk person running to the Microsoft shop to pick is copy of SQL 2008 R2 - it's been a long week)
Sivadam Posted June 17, 2010 Posted June 17, 2010 I am not sure Matt. But they don't seem to have a problem. It's only a few weeks ago that I uploaded our data for the Timetable Reporting Workshop, testing the new functionality for the Summer Release.
vikpaw Posted June 17, 2010 Posted June 17, 2010 If you use Windows Server 2008 R2, you can restore back to Windows Server 2008 without any data loss, assuming you do it right. So if you really want to use Windows Server 2008 R2 it's just a question of can you restore back to Windows Server 2008 (R1) and can you afford the loss of time to do it. If you use SQL 2008 R2, you can't. I have neither the time nor the inclination, but will do some tests with Virtual Machines. The plan is to implement as supported setup, and then test moving it to Windows Server 2008 R2 after. Presumably the ability to restore is 2 way. I'd like to know exactly what is 'doing it right', just to be on the safe side. SQL 2008 R2?? Yes! @sivadam; When did you upgrade to SQL 2008 R2? I thought it only came out in May. (RTM in April?), unless it was available even earlier under Software Assurance. I thought you'd previously said you were on SQL 2008 R2 but were mistaking it for Windows Server 2008 R2. Perhaps i misread the thread. If it's true, it's good news for us, assuming we can get the same support that you do! We have logged 54 Cases since we upgraded to the new Server in February. All have been resolved by Capita except the two that will be sorted via the Summer Upgrade, the Patch that is currently being tested (that will probably benefit you all!) and the one Case that is still ongoing! Yes! Capita have remoted in on a couple of occasions. None of the Cases are affected by R2 and most are as a result of me testing and finding issues with new Upgrades! I guess you will all have some of the patches that have resulted as a result of some of my cases. I don't recommend you all jump into R2 however! You must know what you are doing! And 'No!' it isn't supported yet! I should point out that we are a SIMS Partnership school and a UAT Associate School! If 'owt goes wrong because of R2 then we will sort it. And the info would be passed on to Capita. I imagine being a Partnership school / UAT School means that you get better support, does it also mean that they are testing 'unsupported' versions? If you send in your data, surely they need to recreate it on a VM as exact as possible. I wonder what response we would get if we sent in data from an unsupported setup.
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