Description of Windows Server Update Services 3.0 Service Pack 2

Microsoft has released Service Pack 2 (SP2) for Windows Server Update Services (WSUS) 3.0. This article includes information about the contents of the service pack, how to obtain the service pack, and how to determine whether the service pack is installed.

The feature improvements and important software updates in WSUS 3.0 SP2

WSUS 3.0 SP2 includes the following improvements:

New Windows Server and client version support
• Integration with Windows Server 2008 R2
• Support for the BranchCache feature on Windows Server 2008 R2
• Support for Windows 7 clients

WSUS feature improvements
• Auto-Approval Rules: Auto-approval rules now include the ability to specify the approval deadline date and time for all computers or specific computer groups.
• Update Files and Languages: Improved handling of language selection for downstream servers includes a new warning dialog that appears when you decide to download updates only for specified languages.
• Easy Upgrade: WSUS 3.0 SP2 can be installed as an in-place upgrade from earlier versions of WSUS and preserves all settings and approvals. The user interface is compatible between WSUS 3.0 SP1 and SP2 on the client and the server.
• Reports: New Update and Computer Status reports let you filter on updates that are approved for installation. You can run these reports from the WSUS console or use the API to incorporate this functionality into your own reports.

Software updates
• Stability and reliability fixes are included for the WSUS server, such as support for IPV6 addresses that are longer than 40 characters.
• The approval dialog now sorts computer groups alphabetically by group name.
• Computer status report sorting icons are now functional in x64 environments.
• A new release of Windows Update Agent is included with WSUS 3.0 SP2 that provides improvements and fixes, such as support for APIs called by nonlocal system callers in a noninteractive session.

How to obtain and install WSUS 3.0 SP2

The following file is available for download from the Microsoft Download Center:


Download the WSUS 3.0 Service Pack 2 package now. (http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=161140)

For more information about how to download Microsoft support files, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: Microsoft scanned this file for viruses. Microsoft used the most current virus-detection software that was available on the date that the file was posted. The file is stored on security-enhanced servers that help prevent any unauthorized changes to the file.

To install WSUS 3.0 SP2 using Server Manager

1. Log on to the server on which you plan to install WSUS 3.0 SP2 by using an account that is a member of the local Administrators group.
2. Click Start, point to Administrative Tools, and then click Server Manager.
3. In the right side pane of the Server Manager window, if Windows Server Update Services is not listed in the Roles Summary section, click Add Roles.
4. If the Before You Begin page appears, click Next.
5. On the Select Server Roles page, select Windows Server Update Services.
6. On the Windows Server Update Services page, click Next.
7. On the Confirm Installation Selections page, click Install.
8. When the WSUS 3.0 SP2 Setup Wizard starts, skip the next page in the wizard, and complete the steps in the wizard that begin on the To continue installing WSUS 3.0 SP2 page.

How to determine whether the service pack is installed

Look for Windows Server Update Services 3.0 SP2 in Add or Remove Programs in Control Panel or Program Files and Features in Control Panel. If Windows Server Update Services 3.0 SP2 is not displayed, the service pack is not installed.

Removal information

You cannot use Add or Remove Programs in Control Panel to remove only WSUS 3.0 SP2 because it also removes the complete installation of WSUS 3.0.

To remove WSUS 3.0 SP2 by using Server Manager on a Windows Server 2008-based computer

1. Log on to the server from which you plan remove WSUS 3.0 SP2 by using an account that is a member of the local Administrators group.
2. Click Start, point to Administrative Tools, and then click Server Manager.
3. In the right side pane of the Server Manager window, in the Roles Summary section, click Remove Roles.
4. If the Before You Begin page appears, click Next.
5. On the Select Server Roles page, clear Windows Server Update Services check box.
6. On the Windows Server Update Services page, click Next.
7. On the Confirm Installation Selections page, click Remove.
8. On the Remove Windows Server Update Services 3.0 SP2 page, select any additional items to be removed, and then click Next.
9. Click Finish to exit the wizard when the WSUS 3.0 SP2 Removal Wizard is finished.

To read the WSUS 3.0 SP2 Release Notes for more information about this release, visit the following Web site:For detailed installation instructions, see the WSUS 3.0 SP2 Step by Step Guide at the following Microsoft Web site: