FYI - Microsoft just announced the public availability of WSUS 3.0 SP1 Release Candidate 1. Improvements include support for Windows Server 2008 and product bug fixes (see Update2 below for details). More information is available on Microsoft Connect. Click the 'Available Connections' link and look for Windows Server Update Services 3.0 SP1 Release Candidate. Here's a brief overview of the WSUS page on Connect:
"Thank you for joining the WSUS 3.0 Service Pack 1 Release Candidate Program and we welcome you to provide feedback on the Service Pack 1 through the channels listed below. By including you in our development process, we can ensure that our products meet the needs of our customers and are reliable.
WSUS 3.0 SP1 addresses a number of product fixes and includes the addition of support for forth coming Windows Server 2008 (code named Longhorn Server). The release notes on this release can be downloaded along with the build which provides more details on the installation."
Download Service Pack 1 and Documentation:
The downloads link on the left hand menu will take you to the download page for the following SP1 builds and documentation:
- WSUS 3.0 SP1 Beta x86 Build
- WSUS 3.0 SP1 Beta x64 Build
- WSUS 3.0 SP1 RC ReadMe
- WSUS 3.0 SP1 RC Pre Release License
- WSUS 3.0 Overview Document
- WSUS 3.0 Operations Guide
- WSUS 3.0 Step by Step Guide
Update 1: 11/4/2007
I installed the new build on Windows Server 2008 and all is well. The prerequisites can be a little tricky if you aren't familiar with the new IIS Role Services... but aside from that it's a no-brainer. Here are a couple screen shots of the install process (including a failed prerequisite check), the prerequisite list, and finally one of a running WSUS 3.0 SP1 console on Windows 2008 RC0.
From what I've been told this RC build isn't appropriate for production server use, but the automatic updates RC client will self-update to the RTM build when it goes gold. In other words, don't plan on a 'build-over-build' update for your server - just your test client machines. As always, your mileage may vary. Feel free to drop me a comment with your RC observations or if you have any questions.
Update 2: 11/10/2007
The WSUS team just posted a list of fixes and enhancements included in SP1. I've included it here since the list is brief. Head over to Connect if you want to download the official list (WSUS 3.0 SP1 RC Features and Fixes.htm). There are a couple interesting fixes and enhancements in this build - highlighted in red for your convenience. I'll blog about these in more detail at a future date.
Window Server 2008
- Integration with Server Manager as an out-of-band role
- Fixed bugs that required workarounds for Windows Server 2008
New Client Servicing API
- Supports software distribution for non-Windows platforms
- Client registration
- Filtering of updates by Category and Classification
- Provides Applicability Rule Extension mechanism
- Get package metadata
- Report Update Status for each client
Driver Publishing via existing Admin API
- Supports publishing of drivers within the enterprise using vendor provided catalogs
- Support for bundles
- Support for prerequisites
Bug Fixes
- Bulk approval of updates now does not overwrite existing approvals
- “Optional” approvals are taken into account when computing effective approval for overlapping target groups
- Computer Detailed Status report to Excel works!
- Configuration Wizard retains proxy server password if one is set before upgrade
- Support for separate proxy server and port for SSL traffic
- Improved performance by turning off AUTO SHRINK on SUSDB
- Some client bug fixes based on Windows Error reporting (Watson)
- Add Printer Wizard now works when getting very large number of drivers from Windows Update