There comes a time where your SIMS database has something wrong with it, that will ultimately require a custom patch to fix the problem. Traditionally once Capita request your data, you would have sent it on a CD/DVD or uploaded the files to their FTP server. However there has never been any requirement to Encrypt the data before sending it.
Backups are one of the most important things that you always make sure is on the priority list to check, even more so now that all of the SIMS data lives in a single database file. Of course we are all used to verifying our backups and running regular test restores, although since the migration from the MS SQL 2000 server engine to the MS SQL 2005 engine, running a test restore and attaching the SIMS .net database seems to be impossible.
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Creating an MSI to deploy SIMS .net is quite time consuming, so in an effort to reduce the demands upon my time. I set about designing an MSI that didn’t have to be updated 3 times a year. The end result is a downloadable MSI package that can be used by schools for deploying SIMS on there RM Community Connect Networks and ordinary Windows Active Directory based networks. In the past, every time a new SIMS common platform was introduced a new MSI needed to be created, tested and then released, not an easy task when there are demands on the latest release being installed in schools. This has usually resulted in burning the midnight oils to get a package to a school for the following day.
With the move to SIMS .net backing up your schools data has never been so important, but as you may already know the SIMS SQL database is held open by the Microsoft SQL database engine all the time, so the SIMS.MDF and SIMS.LDF data files can't be backed up using conventional means. If you are looking for a good way to ensure a SIMS database backup then read on.
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Please Use the New Mini Solus Installation Method. Using this MSI will break your SIMS installation.
As always happens, there is an update to SIMS and I am the last person to know. Mean while Schools are installing the Summer 2004 update on there systems. This is normally not going to cause an issue, but there if you have used the MSI package that I have previously released through this site, then you will be in for a spot of bother.
Because of the nature of MSI files, they have the ability to self-repair. What this means is that when the SIMS Online updating application (SOLUS) detects that there is a newer version of SIMS on the network it starts updating the local workstation. SIMS appears to work after SOLUS has finished, but the next time SIMS .net is launched SIMS no longer works – allsorts of error messages appear, etc.
Once again, I will remind Schools to check for a new MSI BEFORE they install an upgrade to SIMS, otherwise you will have problems that your helpline support will not be able to help you with.