SIMS and Microsoft SQL Server 2008
Capita announced at the recent Software Update Seminar that they are considering using the Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Engine to power SIMS reports in the next decade. As a result, SIMS may well be migrated to MS SQL Server 2008 in spring 2010.
The first reports to use the new engine will replace those currently found in Nova-T4, followed by FMS and then the rest of SIMS.
Consultation will begin in March 2009 and we’ll be keen to get as much input from Bolton schools as possible.
The reason Capita are not considering the reporting engine in SQL 2005 (the version currently used by SIMS) is that it isn’t fully functional in the Express (free) version used by most non-secondary schools. Changing the reporting engine without a move to SQL 2008 would result in those schools losing the ability to create custom reports.
The move to SQL 2008 in early 2010 will have licensing implications for those on the full version of SQL Server 2005. We made enquires with our licence re-seller regarding purchasing SQL Server 2008 licences now and downgrading. The response was as follows:
“Customers will have full downgrade rights as long as licences are purchased via Select. Box products do not have downgrade rights.”
So, if you are about to make the move to full SQL Server 2005, buy 2008 licences with downgrade rights to future proof your investment. For those already on the full version with 2005 licences, please consider budgeting for SQL Server 2008 licences in the next fiscal year.
Sam Prince:
Thanks for the heads-up on this. Funnily enough we were at a single site seminar only a few weeks ago and there was no mention of a move to MSSQL 2008. There was much talk of the switch to the MSSQL Reporting tools, which I suspect is going to be a Good Thing overall.
I can”t say I”m thrilled at the prosepct of another SQL upgrade. The last one required incense and mystical incantations, but we made it through in one piece.
They did mention (in a separate track) at the seminar that they are completely revamping the client deployment to effectively allow tightly controlled “push” deployment of the software. If it works as advertised it will be a million miles better than the status quo. Let me know if you missed it and I”ll see what I can drag from memory!
7 November 2008, 3:01 pmJohn Howarth:
Hi Sam,
Thanks for the comment.
In Capita’s defence, they were investigating the possibility of using the reporting engine in SQL 2005, but this would’ve meant that our Express users (all primary, nursery and special schools) could only run reports and not create or edit them.
I do have some information on the new Deployment Server. I’ll post another article on the blog so you can fill in the gaps!
7 November 2008, 3:42 pmJohn Howarth:
I”ve now posted the information regarding the new SIMS Deployment Server at the following link:
http://www.boltonlea.org.uk/blog/?p=66
12 November 2008, 9:47 pmSteven Burrows:
Will the current version of SIMS run on SQL 2008 as it is now? Anyone tried? (albeit unsupported by Capita!?)
8 February 2009, 9:28 pmJohn Howarth:
Hi Steven,
Thanks for your comment.
It’’s not something we”ve tried and, as a support unit, couldn”t possibly recommend!
If you do intend to have a go at your establishment, please ensure you”re using a stand-alone system and not on your live installation!
We”ll be advising full SQL Server users to use SQL 2005 for the time being and upgrade via Capita migration routines when moving to SQL 2008 in 2010.
If in doubt, speak to your SIMS support colleagues.
Kind regards,
John.
9 February 2009, 11:52 am