SIMS SoftwarePrimary User Forums

Autumn 2009

Welcome

Presenting

• Ralph GardnerSIMS Support Manager

• Natasha MarshCapita Children’s Services

Housekeeping

Agenda

1. Census – Some Feedback and News

2. Technical Update – SQL 2008, SOLUS3

3. SIMS .net – What’s New and Coming

4. Primary Assessment 2010 – Planned Improvements

Census

Some Feedback and News

Census October 2009

• October Pupil Census

• Went well as per usual

• October SWC Dry Run

• Helpdesk very busy

• Good Return!

Census January 2010

• January Pupil Census

• No major changes expected

• January SWC

• Keep your personnel data up to date, don’t store up your changes!

• After January 2010 the next SWC will be October 2010 and annually thereafter

Technical Update

SIMS Releases

Previous Name New Name

SIMS 2009 October Main SIMS 2009 Autumn Main

SIMS 2009 December Update SIMS 2009 Autumn Update

SIMS 2010 March Main SIMS 2010 Spring Main

SIMS 2010 June Main SIMS 2010 Summer Main

SQL 2008 Migration

• Migration of both SIMS and FMS at the same time

• Why migrate?

• Support for SQL 2005 predicted to drop in 2011

• Allows enhanced 64 bit support

• Proven, stable Microsoft technology

• Timeframe

• November 2009 and September 2010

• Must be done before the Autumn 2010 SIMS upgrade (October 2010)

SQL 2008 Migration• How will it happen?

• EIS will do it for you remotely as part of your support agreement with us

• Mutually agreed appointment

• How long will it take?

• Approximately 2 hours

SQL 2008 Migration

• SIMS Backups• Compression removed from Autumn

2009 Main Release• Quicker backups• Tidy Backups in System Manager will

be removed

• What happens to SQL 2005?• Will still exist but will need turning off

and/or uninstalling once a safe time has passed

SOLUS3• Replaces SOLUS2

SIMS File Server/ SQL Server

CCS License Server

SOLUS3• SOLUS2 Current Issues

• Scheduling the workstation updates is difficult

• Required user rights might be limited thereby causing issues

• Workstation visits are still often required

SOLUS3• How does it work?

• Deployment Service

• A service that controls and manages SIMS updates

• SIMS Agents

• Sits on each SIMS computer

• Are ‘smart’ and know the role of the computer e.g. if it is a SIMS or FMS computer or both.

• A service that updates SIMS without user intervention

SOLUS3• Overview

CCS License Server

Deployment Service

Automated polling by SOLUS3

SIMS Workstations

Authorised software is downloaded

SQL Database is upgraded.

SIMS SQL Database

If SQL Database Upgrades successfully then the workstations are upgraded.

SOLUS3• Workflow

• EIS releases upgrade to schools• The Deployment Server receives an

update from Capita• The Deployment Server then rolls

out the update package to the relevant SIMS agents

• Either manually or scheduled• Laptops can be upgraded when they

next connect to the school network

• The SIMS Agents run the update and install any supporting infrastructure

SOLUS3• Additional Points

• Requires a TCP/IP connection

• For remote agent installation a domain is required

• For peer to peer networks a one off manual installation of the agent is required

SOLUS3• Main Advantages

• Scheduled updates

• Updates can be performed when you choose

• New computers can have SIMS installed remotely

• The entire SIMS system can be automatically upgraded without user intervention

• Any infrastructure needed by SIMS can also be automatically deployed

SOLUS3• Main Advantages

• The deployment manager at each site can easily determine what has been upgraded

• Reduce the need for visits to each computer that runs SIMS

SOLUS3• Implementation

• Phase 1 – Autumn 2009Allows the SIMS client to automatically updated on computers

• Phase 2 – Summer 2010Functionality for managing the deployment of the entire SIMS suite

Supported Operating Systems• Server

• 32bit and 64bit

• Windows Server 2003 SP2

• Windows Server 2008

• 32 bit only

• Windows XP Pro SP2

• Other Software

• .NET framework 2.0 SP1

• For PX, SQL2008, SOLUS3 and SLG you need 3.5 SP1

Supported Operating Systems• Workstation

• 32bit

• Windows XP Pro SP2

• Windows Vista Business SP1

• Other Software

• .NET framework 2.0 SP1 minimum

• .NET framework 3.5 will be installed by SOLUS3

• Office 2003 or 2007

New Technologies• Internet Explorer 8

• Supported from Autumn 2009 Main Release

• For SLG still under review

• Windows 7

• Six months from release date – April 2010

• Office 2010

• Six months from release date

Module Support Dates

Module Date Support Ends

Attendance 6 August 2009

Fees Ledger 3.09 August 2009

Dinner Money 1.40 Summer 2010

EIS Projects

• EIS Hosting Service

• KLZ with SIMS Web Parts