network updates

[Andy]

Hello

I had a general question about Win 2K used in a large
networked setting.

I sometimes leave my computer turned off at work
overnight but windows update patches appear to be
scheduled to be done at 5:00 a.m. according to event
viewer.

why is it that these updates cannot be completed once i
log in the next morning?

how new updates managed in a network environment: does
the network administrator download updates and push
updates centrally or does each computer's windows update
get the updates, and windows update is configured
centrally???

additionally, is it possible to set up windows update (if
that is the proper mechanism for updates that large win
2k networks use) to install updates at the earliest
possible time once the computer is turned back on, as
opposed to being scheduled for a specific time???

thanks

 

[Katherine Coombs]

Andy,

There is no set "way" of applying patches, especially in a network
environment. You may find that some network admins have configured the
machines to download the updates from MS, using the Windows Update service.
However, that means that every machine is downloading the patches
individually, and this can lead to bandwidth (and cost) issues, especially
when a service pack is released.

Instead, a lot of networks use either SUS or SMS, whereby the network admin
has the chance to test a patch or SP, and then pushes it out to the clients
that he/she decides should have it.

For more information on the various technologies, check out:

SMS
http://www.microsoft.com/smserver/default.asp

SUS
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserversystem/sus/default.mspx

Windows Update
http://v4.windowsupdate.microsoft.com/en/default.asp and click on the "About
Windows Update" link at the bottom left hand corner.

HTH,
Katherine