Automatic UpdatesConcepts
| Automatic UpdatesConcepts |
Automatic Updates is a feature of WS2003 that lets you automatically download and install updates to the operating system from the Windows Update web site. The types of updates available include critical updates like security fixes and roll-ups , updated device drivers, and operating system enhancements. In order for this feature to work, it must automatically collect certain information from your computer so it can identify your machine the next time it contacts the Windows Update site to see if new updates are available. The types of information collected include:
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Product ID number (to verify you are running a valid, licensed copy of Windows)
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Version numbers for the operating system, Internet Explorer, and other software running on the machine
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Plug and Play ID numbers of hardware devices
Once this information is collected from your machine, Windows Update generates a GUID that identifies your machine for future visits and stores this GUID on your machine. Note that Automatic Updates protects your anonymity as no personal information ( name or email address) is collected.
Update Options
You can configure automatic updates to work using three different options:
- Manual
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You are notified when updates are available and you decide whether to download them and which of them to download. If you choose to download them, you are notified again once they are downloaded and you can decide whether to install them and which of them to install. You have total control over the processexcept that the icon in the notification area (bottom-right corner of desktop) keeps reminding you.
- Semiautomatic
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Updates are automatically downloaded when they become available on the Windows Update web site, but you have to manually install them afterward. This is more convenient than the first option but still gives you control over which updates to install and which to ignore.
- Automatic
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Updates are automatically downloaded when available and automatically installed according to a schedule you specify. This is probably the best approach for keeping your system up to dateas long as you trust every fix or patch Microsoft makes available on its site. On some occasions, a patch from Microsoft fixed one thing but broke another.
If you disable Automatic Updates entirely, you should either visit the Windows Update web site periodically to scan for new updates to download or use some other method like Microsoft Software Update Services (SUS) keep your servers up to date with critical security fixes.
Software Update Services (SUS)
The Automatic Updates feature included with WS2003 is really only for small networking environments with one or two servers connected to the Internet. In a large enterprise environment, administrators generally want more control over updating their machines, and for this purpose Microsoft has developed SUS.
SUS is a downloadable component that you install on a member server that resides within your firewall and has dedicated Internet connectivity. This SUS server automatically downloads updates from the Windows Update web site and allows administrators to test them before deciding which updates to approve for machines on their network. Servers running WS2003 or W2K Server with Service Pack 2 or later and desktops running Windows XP Professional or W2K Professional with Service Pack 2 or later can then use a downloadable, enhanced Automatic Updates client to connect to your SUS server and download any updates administrators have approved.
To download SUS server and client components , see www.microsoft.com/windows2000/windowsupdate/sus/. Note that SUS can't be used to deploy service packs or custom updatesuse Systems Management Server if you need that kind of functionality.
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