After a long beta trial period, Microsoft has released Windows Server Update Services (WSUS) version 3.0. WSUS enables IT administrators to deploy the latest Microsoft product updates to computers running the Windows operating system. By using WSUS, administrators can fully manage the distribution of updates that are released through Microsoft Update to computers in their network.

Some of the new features for WSUS 3.0 are:

Straightforward Installment

• In place upgrade over 2.0, this means that your existing WSUS 2.0 will be automatically upgraded if you approve the update.
• New configuration wizard to guide setup and configuration

Improved Administrative Experience

• New MMC based powerful UI (can also be installed as a remote console on clients (for example on Windows XP) & host multiple WSUS servers in one console

• Custom views and results filtering
• Report Viewer only admin group
• Integrated "in-context" reporting
• Clean up wizard for management of stale clients/content & built in email notifications
• Reporting rollup support
• Multiple, granular auto-approval rule options
• Enhanced Target group concepts including hierarchies for approval inheritance or block, and overlapping target group membership support

Flexible Deployment Options to improve Branch Office support

• Support for language sub-setting on downstream replica servers
• Independent replica content source options (MU or Upstream Server)
• Optional Peer-cashing capability
• Synchronization up to every hour

Performance Enhancements and Operational Reliability

• 50% improvement in reporting performance – report viewers only admin group
• Native support for x64 platform
• Network Load Balancing & SQL cluster support
• MOM management Pack for proactive alerts on server health

More Content Access and On-demand client synchronization

• Easy access to drivers and hotfixes
• Personalization to make the MU Catalog customized to your downloading needs
• Client ’synch me now’ quick check-in/download support of pending approved updates from WSUS or needed updates from Microsoft Update

System Requirements
Supported Operating Systems:

• The WSUS 3.0 server is supported on Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 1 and Windows Server "Longhorn".

Note: Windows 2000 Server is not a supported operating system for WSUS 3.0 servers. Also, WSUS 3.0 is not supported on servers running Terminal Services.
WSUS 3.0 Server Software Prerequisites:

• Windows Server 2003 SP1 or later
• IIS 6.0 or later
• Microsoft .NET Framework 2.0
• Microsoft Management Console 3.0
• Microsoft Report Viewer

  

• SQL Server 2005 SP1 is optional. Note if a compatible version of SQL Server is not installed already, WSUS 3.0 will install Windows Internal Database.

  

System requirements for WSUS 3.0 remote console installation:
The WSUS 3.0 remote console can be installed on the following platforms:

• Windows Server "Longhorn"
• Windows Vista
• Windows Server 2003 SP1
• Windows XP SP2

WSUS 3.0 Administration Console Software Prerequisites:

• Additional Supported Operating Systems: Windows Server 2003 SP1 or later, Windows XP SP2 and Windows Vista
• Microsoft .NET Framework 2.0
• Microsoft Management Console 3.0
• Microsoft Report Viewer

System requirements for client installation:
Automatic Updates is the WSUS client software. It can be used with WSUS on any of the following operating systems:

• Windows Vista
• Windows Server "Longhorn"
• Microsoft Windows Server 2003, any edition
• Microsoft Windows XP Professional SP2
• Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional SP4, Windows 2000 Server SP4, or Windows 2000 Advanced Server with SP4

Tags | General, Networking, Windows Vista, Windows XP