Jeff's Connected Corner

Windows Server System news and real-world info

Still running SUS? Migrate Now!

I heard a startling fact today – the number of SUS servers synchronizing with Microsoft has actually gone up in recent months.  Yes, you read that right…SUS (the v1 product that’s not even available for download anymore) is increasing in popularity.

Here’s the really scary part – Microsoft will stop delivering updates to SUS servers on December 6, 2006 (official link).  This means all clients and servers that pull updates from SUS will go unpatched unless someone takes action soon.  Last time I checked December 6th is less than 4 months away.  Furthermore, the fact that December’s Patch Tuesday falls on the 12th means that SUS admins really only have 3 months to migrate to WSUS.

OK – now for some good news.  Upgrading to WSUS is about as straightforward as it gets.  Microsoft even provides a Step-by-Step Guide to walk you through the upgrade.  Since WSUS is free, and has similar hardware/software requirements to SUS, there really isn’t any reason NOT to upgrade.  If you can think of one, feel free to leave a comment and we’ll chat :P  Or better yet, just check out the WSUS FAQ and get on with the upgrade.

Only published comments... Aug 17 2006, 10:57 PM by Jeff
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Comments

 

Richard Gadsden said:

Wouldn't it be nice if SUS kept getting updated until WSUS 3 came out so people could jump directly to WSUS3?
August 18, 2006 10:12 AM
 

Dave said:

A reason not to is that some would rather not install MSDE or SQL Server.
August 18, 2006 6:59 PM
 

Tim said:

Well, WSUS requires W2K3, where SUS works with W2K. Which means that simple upgrade from SUS to WSUS means upgrading the damn OS!
August 18, 2006 9:05 PM
 

Jeff said:

Richard - interesting idea, but what is the deployment blocker for WSUS 2.0?  I've done quite a few of these in my line of work... and it's a total snooze.  Much bang for little buck.

Dave - not sure I understand your concern.  What do you think SUS used for its DB?  Certainly not MySQL :P  As long as you use the included MSDE (or wMSDE on Win2003) there is no additional license cost.  Would you prefer a flat file or something?

Tim - WSUS works on Win2000 Server w/ SP4.  Check the FAQ before getting too worked up.  There's plenty of conspiracies out there... but this isn't one of them.
August 18, 2006 10:22 PM
 

Paul said:

Tim - WSUS works fine on Windows 2000 SP4. Here is a link to the documentation for it http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=4169C932-63B5-4629-91D3-C8901C2AFA07&displaylang=en
August 20, 2006 10:02 PM
 

babatunde kehinde (tundehinde@yahoo.com, babatundek@crinigeria.com) said:

i have tried the WSUS, its really nice but i can not get any update again, anytime i synchronize for update it goes to idle, i am really worried, i am also finding it difficult pushing the initial updates to my client on my cooperate network, i therefore decided to go back to my SUS server, that is even another problem, problem of synchronization, has microsoft stop support for SUS, but the damn thing has been extended to july 10, 2007

please help my out before my boss kick my a**

thank you

November 21, 2006 4:50 AM
 

Jeff said:

MS has not stopped SUS synchronizations (yet).  That's the date that got extended recently (now end-of-life is July 10, 2007).  Regardless, I'd strongly suggest you take the time now to work through any migration headaches - as opposed to waiting until next year.  There's plenty of how-to docs on the MS WSUS site (www.microsoft.com/wsus)... and also info on the WSUS Wiki (www.wsuswiki.com).  Post any questions not answered in the documentation to the public newsgroups (microsoft.public.windows.server.update_services).

November 28, 2006 8:15 AM

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About Jeff

Jeff Centimano is a Windows Server MVP based in Fairway, KS (USA). In addition to blogging and freelance technical writing for Microsoft, Jeff leads the KC-MEC User Group (kcmec.org) and assists with various site duties here at WindowsConnected.com. Jeff has been in the IT industry since 1994 and is currently a Solutions Architect at EMC Global Services.
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