MS Hotfixes.

[VictorC]

Does anyone know if MS is ever planning to make critical hotfixes
available via MSI packages? This would make it easier to deploy with
Group Policy. Currently we are using Active Directory and Group
Policies to deploy all software and patches, including Service Packs.
It would be really beneficial to have hotfixes available as MSI
packages.

Thanks,
Victor

 

[Carolyn Napier [MSFT]]

Going forwards, updates to Microsoft software will generally use update.exe (as
in the form of OS hotfixes and service packs) or MSI/MSPs (for MSI-based
applications).

MSI packages are generally provided for Service Packs and include deployment
information in the deployment guides for each service pack. As for OS hotfixes,
it's possible to create a MSI wrapper for deployment purposes although they
aren't truly supported. Information can be found at
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;320539.

Additionally, you may want to consider reviewing Windows Update Services which
will make it easier to deploy critical hotfixes in your organization. You can
find more information on Windows Update Services at
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserversystem/sus/wusfaq.mspx and
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserversystem/sus/wusbeta.mspx.


Hope this helps,
- Carolyn Napier
Microsoft Windows Installer Team

--
This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.
Please do not send email directly to this alias. This alias is for newsgroup
purposes only.

MSI FAQ:
<http://www.microsoft.com/windows2000/community/centers/management/msi_faq.mspx>