Update Deployment

[Dave]

Can anyone help me? I am in charge of 9 PC's running
Windows XP Professional all linked to a LAN.

I was wondering if there was any way to check from one
workstation that the critical updates have been installed
on other machines (the reason I am asking is that most of
the staff here will not update their machine, even when
told to do so). If there is a way of checking the update
status of a machine (or even forcing it to update) I
would be most grateful.

Dave

 

[Jeff]

why not employ a computer to run SUS? this will be able
to automatically keep all LAN machines up to date. im
sure one of the MVP's here will provide a link to it. if
you are running active directory, you can determine if
they at least have SP1 installed.

however, being an IT admin myself, i dont see how hard it
is to visit 9 machines during the course of the day and
run windows update either. but thats just me.

 

[ScC]

I have been looking at this too. Ive got 30 pc's to look after. have spend
last 2 days doing service packs, still another 2 days work.

You can use SUS (http://www.susserver.com), but with all the documentation
that goes with it, it seems confusing. You could try HFNetChkPro from
Shavlink. They have a evaluation copy of it which can be used on up to 10
pc's i think. There were doing a eval copy for up to 50 pc's, but i cant
seem to find a key, all the websites direct you to the 10 pc's download. If
anyone has they key for the free 50 pc's version, that would be handy.

Thanks.

 

[Dave]

It is not hard to go to each machine and run Windows
update - I was thinking more along the lines of updating
the machine from an external source without having the
need to 'kick' the users off their machines, they are
very picky about that

Dave

 

[Jeff]

Why not do it during lunch when they are away from their
PCs? Either that or let them know ahead of time that you
need to do important work on them. Hell, you ARE the guy
in charge, right?

But like the other user said, there is SUS. I believe it
is free and free of licensing issues as well. If you
have a spare machine to throw it on, it might be worth
the hassle of manually updating the machines proves to be
a problem.

 

[Dave]

Do you know where I can download this SUS?

And yes, I am supposed to be in charge of the computers
here but keeping them up-to-date seems to be a low
priority to everyone else.

Dave

 

[Jeff]

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserversystem/sus/default.m
spx

if keeping your little network secure and safe is not a
priority of the people who work there, they should
serious re-think their thinking...

 

[Jeff]

do you deploy your service packs via group policy? if
not, this might cut down on the amount of time it takes
you to deploy. 2 days for 30 pcs isnt TOO bad.

 

[ScC]

No, i dont do it via group policy, have you got a link so i can learn more
about that, sounds usefull.

Thanks

 

[Jeff]

you are running win2k servers, correct? if so, active
directory should already be installed.

try here -->
http://www.microsoft.com/resources/documentation/WindowsSe
rv/2003/all/deployguide/en-us/Default.asp?
url=/resources/documentation/WindowsServ/2003/all/deploygu
ide/en-us/dmebi_sgp_wsmw.asp for starters.

 

[ScC]

you are running win2k servers, correct? if so, active
directory should already be installed.

try here -->
http://www.microsoft.com/resources/documentation/WindowsSe
rv/2003/all/deployguide/en-us/Default.asp?
url=/resources/documentation/WindowsServ/2003/all/deploygu
ide/en-us/dmebi_sgp_wsmw.asp for starters.

Yeah win2k server with AD and XP workstations. Cheers for the link!

 

[Jeff]

great. group policy is an IT admins friend

-----Original Message-----



Yeah win2k server with AD and XP workstations. Cheers for the link!


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