[sims] Solus 2 to Solus 3 Upgrade

[TGilly]

Hi all,

 

Our current system server is still running on the old solus 2 software so we are looking to upgrade to solus 3.

 

Any advice before jumping into the upgrade would be most appreciated, so we can keep the process as smooth as possiable.

 

Thanks Tom

[teejay]

My nervous twitch has returned just from seeing the thread title

[TGilly]

I'm taking from that, this process might not be as smooth as I had hoped for...

[Rawns]

Put it this way, this is me before I started using SOLUS3:

 

Gabriel.bmp

 

This is me after I used SOLUS3:

 

 

True story.

[Rawns]

On a more helpful note, this was being discussed in a thread on SupportNet.

 

- When you're authorising releases ensure that you select the correct release! (e.g. select 'SIMS 2012 Summer 4' and not 'SIMS Database Summer 2012 Update')

- Ensure you've got a decent GPO setup for the firewall exceptions (or disable it completely!)

- Ensure DNS is 100% - a dodgy DNS will play havoc with S3 as it will always resolve the hostname.

- Use group policy to install .net 4 - S3 can install this but may cause restarts without warning

- You have to release at least 1 update per channel in order to install new workstations - i.e. once your server is setup, release the current version of SIMS, FMS and Discover before adding any clients. This will bring S3 up to the correct version. When adding new workstations, they will now install automatically (provided a sims.ini + connect.ini is defined).

- When browsing the AD within a channel, any workstations within AD Groups will not appear. You must navigate to the topmost OU folder to make these appear (hope that makes sense).

- When registering a new site you may receive an error (Violation of Primary Key...) - Just try again and the site will register.

- S3 isn't good at telling you when it's unable to reach the internet - If something isn't working as it should, ensure that proxy is correct and that internet is working.

- Delete the old setups folder only if you intend to never ever use SOLUS2 again for things like patches or license activators. Some patches are still not available/auto-deployable in SOLUS3 and it's quicker to just bash them out using SOLUS2 (if you have an automatic routine to in place to apply them!), but this requires a "Setups" folder. May be worth leaving the Setups folder there but deleting/moving the contents instead to "encourage" you to stop installing SIMS in the old way.

Edited November 15, 2012 by Rawns

[mavhc]

I refer you to http://www.edugeek.net/forums/mis-systems/10114-sims-msi-6.html#post538364

 

Who could have predicted this mess?

[vikpaw]

On a more helpful note, this was being discussed in a thread on SupportNet.

 

- When you're authorising releases ensure that you select the correct release! (e.g. select 'SIMS 2012 Summer 4' and not 'SIMS Database Summer 2012 Update')

- Ensure you've got a decent GPO setup for the firewall exceptions (or disable it completely!)

- Ensure DNS is 100% - a dodgy DNS will play havoc with S3 as it will always resolve the hostname.

- Use group policy to install .net 4 - S3 can install this but may cause restarts without warning

- You have to release at least 1 update per channel in order to install new workstations - i.e. once your server is setup, release the current version of SIMS, FMS and Discover before adding any clients. This will bring S3 up to the correct version. When adding new workstations, they will now install automatically (provided a sims.ini + connect.ini is defined).

- When browsing the AD within a channel, any workstations within AD Groups will not appear. You must navigate to the topmost OU folder to make these appear (hope that makes sense).

- When registering a new site you may receive an error (Violation of Primary Key...) - Just try again and the site will register.

- S3 isn't good at telling you when it's unable to reach the internet - If something isn't working as it should, ensure that proxy is correct and that internet is working.

- Delete the old setups folder only if you intend to never ever use SOLUS2 again for things like patches or license activators. Some patches are still not available/auto-deployable in SOLUS3 and it's quicker to just bash them out using SOLUS2 (if you have an automatic routine to in place to apply them!), but this requires a "Setups" folder. May be worth leaving the Setups folder there but deleting/moving the contents instead to "encourage" you to stop installing SIMS in the old way.

 

Or in short:

1) Don't use it!

[Whitclark]

disagree.

It works, it needs careful prep work and an full understanding of it which most of Capita don't have. My advice get Capita to come in and do it for you as when it's in a working it saves you so much time effort and bother.

 

sorry all there is always someone that has to be different from the crowd.

[bossman]

@Whitclark:

 

Beg to differ on the fact that your the only one and different!

 

I too have it all setup and working fine so far, only problem that I envisage is the odd client not starting so will have to write a start up script to check if Solus3 agent is running if not then start the little b*gger hehe!

 

 

Before Solus 3

 

 

After Solus 3

@Rawns: thanks for the pics

Edited November 17, 2012 by bossman

[PhilNeal]

It's good to see that @bossman & @Whitclark have some success. Feedback at the Southern LA User Group was that those that persevered were getting there. One LA reported setting SIMS up in two new school networks as working like a dream (no not a nightmare!).

 

The next set of enhancements are due out at the end of this year and that should close down the odd failures to upgrade.

[Rawns]

It's good to see that @bossman & @Whitclark have some success. Feedback at the Southern LA User Group was that those that persevered were getting there. One LA reported setting SIMS up in two new school networks as working like a dream (no not a nightmare!).

 

The next set of enhancements are due out at the end of this year and that should close down the odd failures to upgrade.

 

I'm aware of those two schools as it was my colleague who set them up. Indeed, in these brand new sites, it worked like a dream. Once we were sure the network was set up accordingly, with a few clicks, SIMS and FMS was installed across the whole estate. That's how SOLUS3 should function. Unfortunately, 99% of schools in the LA are not brand new and already have SIMS and FMS in their environment, and SOLUS3 is a a monster to get installed and working as it should do. I've come across far more issues using SOLUS3 then successes using it.

[Sylv3r]

Another vote for SOLUS 3.0. Setup and working without any issues here too.

[Cache]

I'm quite happy with Solus 3, however......... I don't understand why I can't alter my environment when there is no internet connection available?

 

I'll admit it's rare but is bound to happen at some point. Approval to deploy updates I can understand, however altering the environment I don't.

[TechMonkey]

Feedback at the Southern LA User Group was that those that persevered were getting there.

 

My thoughts would be surely a mission critical system like SIMS shouldn't need to be persevered with to be getting there. A bit of careful thought and tinkering should be needed maybe to get to a working result, but the efforts I have heard about on here and through other channels that are needed to get Solus3 working mean it is not in my best interests to do it yet.

[techie08]

I heard monday after speaking to capita that we wil HAVE to upgrade to SOLUS 3 within the next couple of months. Does anyone know if this is correct?

[Ghostgame]

I heard monday after speaking to capita that we wil HAVE to upgrade to SOLUS 3 within the next couple of months. Does anyone know if this is correct?

 

Yes. Capita are going to stop supporting SOLUS2 after the Spring 2014 update.

Got confirmation from Capita as well about this.

[vikpaw]

I heard monday after speaking to capita that we wil HAVE to upgrade to SOLUS 3 within the next couple of months. Does anyone know if this is correct?

I heard 18 months too, so don't panic.

[Ghostgame]

I heard 18 months too, so don't panic.

 

22,000 schools in 18 months isn’t that long, that’s over 40 schools a day!! I doubt you’ll get the same response if you leave it to the last few months.

[vikpaw]

Very true but some schools will just work, many will have LA support in place, and all the risk takers on here who have been dabbling will know how to fix our issues

Plus after another 12 months i'm hoping the remaining issues will be cosmetic.

 

But my main point was more that it's not happening in 'the next couple of months'

Edited November 23, 2012 by vikpaw
forgot the point.

[matt40k]

I think what Capita are too afraid to say is, SOLUS3 ok (give or take a few bugs), if your network is setup correctly and your working correctly.

 

IE your removing pc from AD when they get decomissioned etc, machines don't have S3 in the image, your DNS actually works and isn't fudged with host file workarounds. Basically schools have 18 months to move over to Win7/8, Windows Server 2008 R2\2012, Office 2007/2010 and they need to include SOLUS3 in the plan.

 

Also it's worth checking you don't have any proxy issues - that normally takes months to sort out - unless your using smoothwall of course

 

Sure you'll be find vikpaw, but they'll be a fair few people who'll be going back to the drawing board on pretty much everything.

[vikpaw]

SOLUS3 : No likey, no lighty

 

I was quite fond of the Before Solus 3 @bossman , still i'm sure the new look will grow on me.

[bossman]

@vikpaw:

 

I too, like you had a perfect Solus 2 setup that just worked, having worked with Solus 3 now as I have stated its not 100% but that I feel is the nature of the beast and we have to move on to pasture's new.

 

I do think Capita in their defence created this monster from the needs and requirements bourne from BSF which then fell by the wayside.

 

Things can only get better as that song goes hehe!

[Rawns]

Only when these things are included/fixed will I be truly happy using SOLUS3:

 

- Workstations check SIMS/FMS/Discover version against the and auto-update as soon as they come online

- Automatic housekeeping of the SOLUS3 Repository

- A way to update the Discover config files on ALL devices when you move Discover to a new server

- Auto-attempt to reinstall the SOLUS3 agent intermittently if the install failed because the device was offline.

- Save Admin credentials for the deployment of the SOLUS3 agent

[mavhc]

If only microsoft had created a way to deploy MSI files, and self healing MSIs, and the registry.

[matt40k]

Yer, if only, and if only Microsoft had created a way to distribute updates and restrict updates for paying customers... and give reports for the support team (la) to confirm the status of the install. And tell me the spec of my machines etc - without buying an extra license (SCCM), and all this without forcing a small primary to buy a Windows Server license...

 

Oh if only... (waits for the cloud MIS folks to appear)

 

PS: Please don't talk about ClickOnce, I may start twitching...