Introduction to WSUS

Introduction

The Microsoft Windows Software Update Service (WSUS) is a tool for management and distribution of critical Windows patches. These patches address known security vulnerabilities and stability issues in Microsoft Windows 2000, Windows Vista, Windows XP, and Windows Server 2003 and Windows Server 2008 operating systems.

CITES is redistributing this Microsoft service on a WSUS server located within the campus firewalls, for improved speed and reliability to Urbana-based client systems.

WSUS is well-suited for an Active Directory environment; however, you can use WSUS without using AD.

Supported Windows versions

WSUS is supported on:

• Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional (with Service Pack 2 or later)
• Microsoft Windows 2000 Server (with Service Pack 2 or later)
• Microsoft Windows 2000 Advanced Server (with Service Pack 2 or later)
• Microsoft Windows XP Professional
• Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition
• Microsoft Windows Vista
• Microsoft Windows Server 2003
• Microsoft Windows Server 2008

Older versions of Microsoft Windows, including 95, 98, NT, and ME, are not supported by SUS and cannot be patched with this server.

Patches released through WSUS

Currently, WSUS provides:

• Windows Critical Updates
• Windows Critical Security Updates
• Windows Security Roll-ups
• Patches for other Microsoft products such as Microsoft Office or Exchange Server

It is not possible to use WSUS to deploy:

• Your own updates or third-party updates.

It is also not possible to update to a newer version of Internet Explorer via WSUS. WSUS will provide the latest patches available for the version currently running on your system, but it will not install a different version on your system.

Who can use the service

The CITES redistribution of the Microsoft Windows Software Update Service is being targeted to Urbana campus system and network administrators, so that we can focus limited support resources where they will affect the largest number of systems. For more information, see the Target Audience page.

If an end user encounters a problem with the WSUS service, he or she should contact the system's administrator or the CITES Onsite Consulting service. (Note that Onsite Consulting is a fee-based service.)

Last content change March 17, 2009