Updating Machines

[Sid]

I have a couple of questions and would appreciate some
advice.
We have 2 DC's running w2k, 1 with SP3 the other SP4 and
10 workstations running WK2 all on SP4.

We just had a strange network drop out, which forced me to
reboot the servers, when they came back everybody's
password had expired and was forced to change them. Since
then it seems to be ok aprt from a couple of glithches
which seem to have gone now.
I have just found out that a colleague had changed windows
update to automatically install any new updates at
scheduled times during the day, on the workstations and
one of the DC's.

Questions:
Is it advisable to have this on, or should we (as I was
doing) schedule time for this out of hours?
And does it matter if PC's and servers in the same domain
are a bit mixed with what service pack and patches they
have on?

Please advise. I am worried with these schedules updates
that things could become unstable as patches are being
applied before I know what they are for.

 

[Marc Reynolds [MSFT]]

You may want to consder Software Update Server to help mamange patches. For
more information see:

http://www.microsoft.com/windows2000/windowsupdate/sus/default.asp

Thanks,
Marc Reynolds
Microsoft Technical Support

This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.

 

[CyberDroog]

I have just found out that a colleague had changed windows
update to automatically install any new updates at
scheduled times during the day, on the workstations and
one of the DC's.

I would never do that. There have been too many instances of updates
screwing a system. I think it's better to let all updates age a few days
and check the newsgroups for complaints before installing them.