Windows Server 2008 : Designing a Windows Update Strategy for the Enterprise - WSUS Options

Update Source and Proxy Server

You can redirect a WSUS server to another area of the network or to Microsoft Update.

Products and Classification

You can specify new products to update or remove old products.

Update Files and Languages

You can choose your languages and file locations.

Synchronize schedule

You can set up your schedule for manual or automatic synchronization.

Automatic Approvals

You can specify the automatic approval for updates you know will need to be deployed without user approval.

Computers

You can assign computers to groups.

Server Cleanup Wizard

You can clean up old updates and update files on other servers.

Reporting Rollup

You can have replica downstream servers roll up updates and computer status.

Email Notifications

You can set up your WSUS server to send emails and status reports.

Microsoft Update Improvement Program

You can elect to join the update improvement program.

Personalization

You can customize the appearance of your program.

WSUS Server Configuration Wizard

You can relaunch the original configuration wizard to configure your server again.

1. WSUS Reports

One benefit of automating the installation of updates is that you don't have to oversee every step of the installation. However, one of the many responsibilities of a worthy administrator is to keep up with the changes in their environment. Accordingly, part of the robust nature of WSUS includes the ability to produce reports that allow you to monitor the changes made to your network infrastructure while using WSUS.

On the WSUS home screen, the Reports area is located underneath your server name, as shown in Figure 1. Within this report area, there are three sections:

• Update Reports

• Computer Reports

• Synchronization Reports

Figure 1. WSUS Reports area