SQL 2012 refers to Microsoft SQL Server 2012, which is the database technology SIMS uses to store its data. The migration process involves moving the SIMS, FMS and Discover databases from the older Microsoft SQL Servers (2008 or 2008 R2) to a new 2012 SQL server and reconnecting our software to the new database location. This could be either on a different or the same physical machine.

1. Customers can migrate to SQL 2012 from the SIMS 2013 Summer Release until the end of support date for their current SQL Server edition.
2. Customers on SQL Server 2008 will be supported until they apply the SIMS 2014 Autumn Release.
3. Customers on SQL Server 2008 R2 will be supported until they apply the SIMS 2015 Spring Release.

NOTE: Discover users must upgrade to the Autumn 2013 releases of SIMS, FMS and Discover in order to use the automatic redirection facility for Discover.

We provide a utility that enables you to:

• install a SQL 2012 Express Instance.
• migrate the SIMS, FMS and Discover databases over to the new SQL server.
• redirect SIMS, FMS and Discover (from Autumn 2013) clients automatically to the newly moved database server.

Alternatively, you can choose to do any of the above steps manually. However, most customers will find it easier and more applicable to use the SIMS SQL 2012 Migration Utility to perform these tasks.

The utility is available as a download.

SQL 2012 is the latest Microsoft database server platform and development organisations wanting to take advantage of its new features need to move onto this platform. Sites using the free Express edition will see their storage limit increased to 10Gb.

A  list of the features for Microsoft SQL Server 2012 is available:

(http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2792921).

The SIMS SQL 2012 Migration Utility makes the migration as simple as possible and assists you through the process of both installing a new SQL Server and moving the SIMS, FMS and Discover databases over to it. However, if you need assistance with the process, please contact Professional Services on 0844 893 6000* or email the team (info@capita-sims.co.uk) so we can provide consultancy options for you.

*Calls to 0844/0845 numbers will cost three pence per minute, plus your phone company’s access charge.

The SIMS suite will stop support for SQL 2008 on the SIMS 2014 Summer Release and for SQL 2008 R2 on the SIMS 2014 Autumn Release. When support has ended for a version of SQL Server, we will not support you if any errors or security issues occur as a result of using an unsupported version of SQL Server.

If you are using the free Express edition of SQL Server we have previously provided then we would recommend that you use the SIMS SQL 2012 Migration Tool to install the SQL 2012 express edition, which has no additional cost.

If you have purchased a licence for a previous version of SQL Server (e.g. SQL Server 2008) then dependent on your purchasing agreement, it might also cover you for a licence for SQL 2012. We would recommend checking your licence agreement because it might already cover you for installing or upgrading to SQL 2012. Further details on Microsoft licensing agreements are available

(http://www.microsoft.com/licensing/about-licensing/sql2012.aspx#tab=4).

SQL Express 2012 is a free version of SQL Server 2012, ideal for small schools. It is free to install and run, however it is limited to 10GB database size and cannot utilise all of the power available on servers, resulting in reduced performance.

A full comparison of the different editions of SQL Server, including SQL Express, is available

(http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc645993(v=SQL.110).aspx).

A utility is available to assist with the migration of SQL 2008 Databases for SIMS and FMS to a SQL 2012 Instance. By default, SQL Server 2012 is installed with FILESTREAM turned off. Where scanned documents are stored in FMS, this must be turned on.

It is our recommendation that sites using SOLUS 3 use the new SOLUS 3.6 release in tandem with the other database moves to make it as seamless a transition as possible. The utility will redirect SIMS and FMS clients automatically to the newly moved database server.

We recommend that both the SIMS and Discover SQL migrations are performed at the same time. If these are performed on the same machine then the SQL Migration utility will also reconnect the Discover services to the newly moved databases.

If the migrations are performed ‘out of step’ or are migrated to a different server, this can still be accomplished. In this case, you will be required to update the configuration of the Discover service to point to the newly moved database servers. If Discover is migrated to a different server, it is recommended that SIMS is migrated first in order for the Discover configuration to operate correctly.

In addition, with the SIMS 2013 Autumn Release, the Discover clients can redirect automatically when the SQL databases are moved.

Customers using InTouch who choose to install a new SQL 2012 Instance on the same machine will be asked to run a configuration tool that configures the service to connect to the newly moved SIMS database.

Customers using InTouch who choose to install a new SQL 2012 Instance on a different machine before the SIMS 2014 Spring Release will require the InTouch service to be re-installed. Please contact SIMS Professional Services on 0844 893 6000* or email the team (info@capita-sims.co.uk) so an appointment can be arranged.

*Calls to 0844/0845 numbers will cost three pence per minute, plus your phone company’s access charge.

We have kept the SQL 2012 migration of the SOLUS 3 system outside of the SQL 2012 Migration tool in order to maintain security and we released the SOLUS 3.6 update in August in order to support the migration. SOLUS 3.6 fully supports SQL 2012 and contains functionality that enables you to migrate your SOLUS 3 system to a new server and enables the SOLUS 3.6 agents to redirect to the new server with minimal intervention.

Full details are included in the SOLUS 3 documentation.

If you are a self-hosting SIMS Learning Gateway system, you will need to move the supporting infrastructure over to the new SQL 2012 Server. Documentation is provided alongside the release on how to do this, similar to previous SQL Migrations.

Customers that have their SLG systems hosted by another party (e.g. CAPITA or their Local Authority) should inform their hosting provider of the new location for the moved SIMS database.

You can choose to perform the SQL 2012 migration yourself. However, if you are a school directly supported by Capita and would like Capita to perform the upgrade for you, please contact your account manager or local support team to discuss the available options.