Windows Server Update Services and Windows Home Server -- worth doing?

Windows Updates have been a real thorn in my side since moving to the country where I have limited bandwidth ISP. I have 6-7 Windows PCs I (try to) keep updated, both XP and W7. I've tried downloading updates just ONCE using the Microsoft Update Catalog, but then I still have to note what pc needs what updates and install them manually.

Newegg's sale on Windows Home Server today has me wondering whether I might dedicate a PC to WSUS just to manage updates.

Can folks here with WSUS experience suggest whether this is worth doing? Or might be more trouble than it's worth vs. the manual "Update Catalog" method? Or tried w/WHS and that's a problem in itself? TIA for any feedback...

I manage the WSUS implementation where I work. Overall, it's a pretty straightforward product. The only hassle will be going through the list of "all updates" for Windows 7 and for XP and declining the ones that don't pertain to your systems. The good news is that WSUS will determine for you, which are needed and which aren't and will place an icon next to the ones which you need.

I don't have experience with running WSUS on WHS myself....but I'm guessing it would be pretty much the same as doing it on a straight up Windows server.

As far as getting the clients to use your WSUS server, that's a simply registry change.

I won't speak for xp, but when it comes to win 7:

Win 7 is not XP. Always download and install all updates. If your system doesn't need/use them, then no harm is done. Never try to 2nd guess whether you "need" an update. MS has been notorious for slipping small essential updates into an inconspicuous update. That will make your Win 7 life easier.

I also recommend working towards replacing all of your xp systems with win 7 systems. XP is a dying horse.

Whether pushing your updates from a server will be less trouble or not, in the long run, I do not know. Windows Home Server 2011 has received positive acclaim.

pparks1 said:

I manage the WSUS implementation where I work. Overall, it's a pretty straightforward product.

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Thanks pparks for your reply--I had seen your thread about WSUS and was hoping you would respond.

karlsnooks said:

...I also recommend working towards replacing all of your xp systems with win 7 systems. XP is a dying horse.

Whether pushing your updates from a server will be less trouble or not, in the long run, I do not know. Windows Home Server 2011 has received positive acclaim.

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Yeah I like W7 a LOT, but have several PCs where I'd never want to spend the $ to upgrade even if W7 DID work with them (a tablet here, and old All-in-One there, with oddball driver needs).

Ok, well good now I'm gonna look into WHS. I've used Linux servers in the past but know nothing about WHS so have to do some research before deciding which of my hardware boxes (I have a bunch of options) to deploy it on.

Thanks for y'alls replies so far.

karlsnooks said:

Win 7 is not XP. Always download and install all updates.

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You may have missed the point I was making. With something like WSUS, you might see a patch that says, "Update for Windows 7 32bit .NET Framework 3.0". Well, if you are running Windows 7 64bit with Service Pack 1 and .NET FRAMEWORK 4.0....then you wouldn't actually need that exact update. If you were to just run Windows update on your machine, it would never display these unnecessary updates. If you are using WSUS, you have to pick and choose which get downloaded to your WSUS server. You don't want to approve any and all updates...or you will download a truckload of patches you simply won't ever need.

Well, I'd understood that myself; in fact I DL'ed WSUS Offline and looked at it before I realized I needed Server to take advantage of it.

I seem now to be stopped dead-in-my-tracks as WHS 2011 seems to be a 64-bit OS. I didn't want to build a new computer for this function.

It occurs to me that at one point I'd used AutoPatcher for updates, before MS shut them down. I am going to look at that again and see if it meets my needs for lower-bandwidth WU.

maxseven said:

I seem now to be stopped dead-in-my-tracks as WHS 2011 seems to be a 64-bit OS. I didn't want to build a new computer for this function.

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Yes, these server OS's are indeed going 64bit only.

I'm fiddling with AutoPatcher now, and it appears it will do what I want: permit one-time downloading of MS updates, and *once* downloaded, allow updating of my individual PCs with ease.

To function, it requires they (members of the AP team) maintain "scripts" which know what/where to download (updates) and then the AutoPatcher app tells you what you need to install (and lets you do it).