This guide assumes that an instance of SQL Server has been installed on the new server.

Migrating the SIMS Database on the Same Server

  1. Run SIMSSQLApplicationSetup.exe from the SIMS\Setups folder and install to the SQL Server 2016 Binn folder, e.g. C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL11.SIMS2016\MSSQL\Binn.

  2. Click: Start > All Programs > SIMS application.

  3. Select DBAttach.

  4. You will to need to enter your SQL server and SQL instance name along with your SA (SQL Administrator) username and password. Once these details have been entered click 'Connect'.

  5. Under 'Detach a Database', select your SIMS database from the drop-down menu and click 'Detach'.

  6. Once the database has been successfully detached, please move your SIMS .MDF and .LDF files from the SQL DATA folder to a temporary location on another machine whilst you upgrade the original server

  7. Run DBAttach and attach the database to the new SQL instance

  8. Update the ServerName= line in the central connect.ini file, located by default in S:\SIMS, to point to the new SQL Server instance, for example:
    ServerName=SIMSSERVER\SIMS2016
    If the SIMS workstations do not redirect to a central connect.ini file you will need to update the connect.ini file on each workstation or if SOLUS is used this can be configured to push out a new Connect.ini via Environments | Configure Workstations

Updating the DOCSTORAGE folder structure 

The Document Management Server DOCSTORAGE folder structure will need to be updated to reference the new SQL Server instance.

  1. Take a backup of the DOCSTORAGE folder which is located by default in C:\DOCSTORAGE.

  2. Within the DOCSTORAGE folder, name the SQL Server Instance folder to the match the new SQL Server Instance name, e.g. C:\DOCSTORAGE\SIMSSERVER\SIMS2016\SIMS.  

Migrating the SIMS Database to a New Server

  1. Run SIMSSQLApplicationSetup.exe from the SIMS\Setups folder and install to the new SQL Server Binn folder, e.g. C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL11.SIMS2016\MSSQL\Binn.

  2. Copy the following files from the SIMS\Setups folder on the old server:

    1. SIMSSQLApplicationSetup.exe.signature

    2. SIMSSQLApplicationSetup.exe

  3. Create a SIMS\Setups folder on the new server then paste and run the SIMSSQLApplicationSetup.exe file.

  4. Run DBAttach on the old server and detach the database.

  5. Copy the database to the new server.

  6. Run DBAttach on the new server by right-clicking and selecting Run as Administrator.

  7. Attach the database.

  8. Update the ServerName= line in the central connect.ini file, located by default in S:\SIMS, to point to the new SQL Server instance, for example:
    ServerName=SIMSSERVER\SIMS2016
    If the SIMS workstations do not redirect to a central connect.ini file you will need to update the connect.ini file on each workstation or if SOLUS is used this can be configured to push out a new Connect.ini via Environments | Configure Workstations (this can be done at a later point)

Migrating the Document Management Server

If the SIMS Document Management Server is on the old server and you want to move it to the new server:

  1. Copy the SIMSDocumentServerInstaller.exe from SIMS\Setups on the old server to SIMS\Setups on the new server.

  2. Run the SIMSDocumentServerInstaller.exe.

  3. Ensure the correct Document Management Server is selected within SIMS via Tools | Setups | Document Management Server.

  4. Copy the DOCSTORAGE folder, which is located by default in C:\DOCSTORAGE, from the old server to the new server.
    On the new server, rename the SQL Server Instance folder within the DOCSTORAGE folder to the match the new SQL Server 2016 Instance name, e.g. C:\DOCSTORAGE\SIMSSERVER\SIMS2016\SIMS.

Migrating the FMS Database on the Same Server

  1. Run FMSSQLApplicationSetup.exe from the SIMS\Setups\FMS folder and install to the new SQL Server Binn folder, e.g. C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL11.SIMS2016\MSSQL\Binn.

  2. Run DBAttach and detach the database from the old SQL Server instance.

  3. Copy the database to the Data folder of the new SQL Server instance.

  4. Run DBAttach and attach the database to the new SQL Server instance.
    NOTE: If you have attached documents to your FMS database, you must also copy the Filestream folder onto the new server.

  5. Update the ServerName= line in the central FMSconnect.ini file, located by default in S:\SIMS, to point to the new SQL Server instance, for example:
    ServerName=SIMSSERVER\SIMS2016
    If the SIMS workstations do not redirect to a central FMSconnect.ini file you will need to update the connect.ini file on each workstation or if SOLUS is used this can be configured to push out a new Connect.ini via Environments | Configure Workstations (this can be done at a later point)

Migrating the FMS Database to a New Server

  1. Copy the following files from the SIMS\Setups\FMS folder on the old server:

    1. FMSSQLApplicationSetup.exe.signature

    2. FMSSQLApplicationSetup.exe

  2. Create a SIMS\Setups\FMS folder on the new server then paste and run the FMSSQLApplicationSetup.exe file.

  3. Run DBAttach on the old server and detach the database.

  4. Copy the database to the new server.

  5. Run DBAttach on the new server by right-clicking and selecting Run as Administrator.

  6. Attach the database.

  7. Update the ServerName= line in the central FMSconnect.ini file, located by default in S:\SIMS, to point to the new SQL Server instance, for example:
    ServerName=SIMSSERVER\SIMS2016
    If the SIMS workstations do not redirect to a central FMSconnect.ini file you will need to update the connect.ini file on each workstation or if SOLUS is used this can be configured to push out a new Connect.ini via Environments | Configure Workstations (this can be done at a later point)