boogster Posted August 23, 2011 Posted August 23, 2011 I have been asked to look into getting our 2nd site to connect to sims/fms. I am getting Atomwide/LGFL to link the 2 sites (same network/domain) but am unsure how the 2nd site will connect to sims/fms. Will this be very slow connection or should I go down the route of TS, if so can someone give me some guidance on doing this.
glennda Posted August 23, 2011 Posted August 23, 2011 Erm depends on what the link between the two is going to be? is it fiber and at what speed? you might be able to setup a trust between the two domains and then just map a drive across the domains - i would only recommend doing this if you have at least a 100mb connection between the two. If not then either TS or Introducing Sims Learning Gateway and using that for registers etc. Although there is no support for FMS this way.
boogster Posted August 23, 2011 Author Posted August 23, 2011 Erm depends on what the link between the two is going to be? is it fiber and at what speed? you might be able to setup a trust between the two domains and then just map a drive across the domains - i would only recommend doing this if you have at least a 100mb connection between the two. If not then either TS or Introducing Sims Learning Gateway and using that for registers etc. Although there is no support for FMS this way. We are only on 1 domain and server is at site 1. Site 2 pcs will be joined onto domain and authenticate on server site 1. I can install sims/ Fms on these pcs and map drive etc but am a bit worried on speed, it is a 50mb fibre connection I believe. Is sims learning gateway a web based connection? And can it be used for admin duties like pupil/staff data entries etc?
glennda Posted August 23, 2011 Posted August 23, 2011 Sims learning gateway is based on sharepoint i beleive which is a web front end for sims which can be used to do what ever you want it to do (although limited to what is available) more info is available here SIMS Learning Gateway
RobT Posted August 24, 2011 Posted August 24, 2011 (edited) I have a school that I support that has 3 sites. The main site site1 has the SIMS & FMS Server. Sites 2 & 3 are approx 6 miles away from site 1. Sites 2 & 3 have fibre between them accross some fields. Between site 1 & 3 there is a 10Mb link. I have no issues with SIMS .net or FMS across the 10Mb link. The only time there is an issue is when an update is done and all workstation are wanting to upgrade. We get round this by getting the staff to leave machines on and setting a scheduled job on each machine to run sims .net over night. To get the best performance I used IP address only and no mapped drives for SIMS .net. So in the sims.ini [setup] SIMSDirectory=\\*.*.*.*\SIMSROOT\SIMS SIMSSetupsDirectory=\\*.*.*.*\SIMSROOT\SIMS\Setups For the connect.ini (Local C Drive) [sIMSConnection] ServerName=*.*.*.*\SIMS2008 DatabaseName=sims Hope this helps, any questions message me. Edited August 24, 2011 by RobT
boogster Posted August 24, 2011 Author Posted August 24, 2011 I have a school that I support that has 3 sites. The main site site1 has the SIMS & FMS Server. Sites 2 & 3 are approx 6 miles away from site 1. Sites 2 & 3 have fibre between them accross some fields. Between site 1 & 3 there is a 10Mb link. I have no issues with SIMS .net or FMS across the 10Mb link. The only time there is an issue is when an update is done and all workstation are wanting to upgrade. We get round this by getting the staff to leave machines on and setting a scheduled job on each machine to run sims .net over night. To get the best performance I used IP address only and no mapped drives for SIMS .net. So in the sims.ini [setup] SIMSDirectory=\\*.*.*.*\SIMSROOT\SIMS SIMSSetupsDirectory=\\*.*.*.*\SIMSROOT\SIMS\Setups For the connect.ini (Local C Drive) [sIMSConnection] ServerName=*.*.*.*\SIMS2008 DatabaseName=sims Hope this helps, any questions message me. Thats great RobT and thanks for reassurance. I will be doing this in the next couple of weeks so fingers crossed it will be fine. As per your reply I will get back to you if required
matt40k Posted August 25, 2011 Posted August 25, 2011 DO NOT RUN FMS ACROSS A WAN\VPN. Unless it's uber fast and low latency. SIMS is happy, but FMS you must run it via Terminal services. We've tried it for about 5 mins - 4 of them was waiting for it to load and the other was close all the error messages that appear.
localzuk Posted August 25, 2011 Posted August 25, 2011 DO NOT RUN FMS ACROSS A WAN\VPN. Unless it's uber fast and low latency. SIMS is happy, but FMS you must run it via Terminal services. We've tried it for about 5 mins - 4 of them was waiting for it to load and the other was close all the error messages that appear. Was that the FMSSQL you tried over VPN or the old FMS? Reason I ask is that SQL is designed to handle latency and slower links, so it is a bit odd if FMS isn't working via a VPN link...
matt40k Posted August 25, 2011 Posted August 25, 2011 Yes, FMSSQL using SQL 2008. It worked over a VPN, you couldn't really use it however. FMS being odd? Surely not
vikpaw Posted August 27, 2011 Posted August 27, 2011 @boogster - i think you'll be fine over the WAN. test it and see. the only issue would be as mentioned updates and possible FMS.. SIMS Learning Gateway would be very costly unless you want / need it at both sites anyway, it's a web interface to give teachers/students/parents access to data. So would in theory also be available outside your WAN over the internet if you allow it and configure it. Admin staff will still need a desktop install though to do the day-to-day input and maintenance. Perhaps you'll be lucky and have them all located on one site.
Oops_my_bad Posted September 4, 2011 Posted September 4, 2011 Shouldn't have a problem with 50meg.. assuming that's what you will actually get and they don't bastardise the link. Try it and see, otherwise you might have to go down the TS/RemoteApp routes. Wouldn't bother with SLG for SIMS... it's great for parents/students etc but probably lacks functionality for "proper" staff use.
matt40k Posted September 5, 2011 Posted September 5, 2011 Shouldn't have a problem with 50meg.. assuming that's what you will actually get and they don't bastardise the link. I really, really wouldn't.
Jamman960 Posted September 5, 2011 Posted September 5, 2011 If there is line of sight between the two sites and they're close enough I'd consider going for a laser(FSO) or a direct cable, it might work out cheaper over several years. Ours cost 12k initially(1gbit fso+radio backup) plus 1.4k/year maintenance but then we don't need to pay 5k+ each year for an inferior connection via an ISP. Another option we looked at was fibre via the sewer, this didn't work out too badly however it still required 4k+ rental for the first 10 years
sefton Posted September 16, 2011 Posted September 16, 2011 We ran FMS over a WAN and the amount of TCP/IP drop outs was ridiculous but since the move to FMSSQL this has not been an issue.
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