Joe said:
Is there anyway to download all Windows Updates for XP to a server and
then have LAN attached computers check the "local" Windows Update
server?
Hi
You could consider implementing SUS or something similar (links to some 3rd
party products further down) for security patches.
Microsoft Software Update Services (SUS)
http://www.microsoft.com/windows2000/windowsupdate/sus/default.asp
Note that the current version will only install critical updates and security
rollup packages (SRPs). A newer version with more functionality will go into
beta in the near future.
SUS needs to be installed on a IIS server. Supports Win2k and WinXP clients
only. SP1 for WinXP and SP3 for Win2k installs the WU/SUS client as default.
Patch Management Using Microsoft Software Update Services - Operations Guide
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/itsolutions/msm/swdist/pmsusog.asp
There is a separate newsgroup for SUS:
microsoft.public.softwareupdatesvcs
URL to the group softwareupdatesvcs for those who uses the not so good Web
interface to access the newsgroups:
http://communities.microsoft.com/Ne...newsgroup=microsoft.public.softwareupdatesvcs
A Web site about SUS with a FAQ and a SUS forum:
SUSserver.com
http://www.susserver.com/
When evaluating hotfix administration methods/programs,
there are also 3rd party solutions available that will
give a lot more than what SUS offer, but of course, they
are not free. It is as always a cost/benefit analyze that
needs to be done.
Below is links to a 3rd party product example that does
not need a server to run and no IIS is needed (it supports
NT4 clients as well). You can deploy mostly all types of
hotfixes and service packs from an ordinary workstation
if you want. I have not tested it, but it gets a lot of prize
by other people e.g. in the newsgroups.
Shavlik's htfnetchkLT
If 50 computers or less htfnetchkLT is free (
http://www.shavlik.com), it can
scan and push patches. It also finds patches needed for Office as well, and it
gives a really nice graphical analysis of the patch from truesecure.
UpdateEXPERT from Sunbelt
http://www.sunbelt-software.com/product.cfm?id=357
UpdateEXPERT reseller with a price list
http://www.softwareshelf.com/products/display.asp?p=71
Here is a couple of third party products that supports Win9x and WinME as well:
PatchLink's Update
http://www.patchlink.com
BigFix Enterprise Suite
http://www.bigfix.com/website/enterprise/overview.html