Patching Things Up

One of the annoyances that every network manager faces is applying software patches to keep the operating system and other software up to date. A software patch is a minor update that fixes the small glitches that crop up from time to time, such as minor security or performance issues. These glitches aren't significant enough to merit a new version of the software, but they're important enough to require fixing. Most of the patches correct security flaws that computer hackers have uncovered in their relentless attempts to prove that they are smarter than the security programmers at Microsoft or Novell.

Periodically, all the recently released patches are combined into a service pack. Although the most diligent network administrators apply all patches when they're released, many administrators just wait for the service packs:

• For all versions of Windows, you can use the Windows Update Web site to apply patches to keep your operating system and other Microsoft software up-to-date. Windows Update scans your computer's software and creates a list of software patches and other components that you can download and install. You can either

  • Find Windows Update in the Start menu.

  • Fire up Internet Explorer and go to http://www.windowsupdate.microsoft.com.

  Tip 

  You can configure Windows Update to automatically notify you of updates so you don't have to remember to check for new patches.

• Novell periodically posts patches and updates to NetWare on its product-support Web site (http://www.support.novell.com).

  Tip 

  You can subscribe to a service that automatically sends you e-mail to let you know of new patches and updates.

  Tip 

  Keeping a large network patched can be one of the major challenges of network administration. If you have more than a few dozen computers on your network, consider investing in server-based software that's designed to simplify the process. For example, PatchLink (http://www.patchlink.com) is a server-based program that collects software patches from a variety of manufacturers and lets you create distributions that are automatically pushed out to client computers. With software like PatchLink, you don't have to rely on end users to download and install patches, and you don't have to visit each computer individually to install patches.