Windows Server Update Services 3.0 SP2 Dynamic Installer for Server Manager

Microsoft has released the Windows Server Update Services (WSUS) 3.0 Service Pack 2 (SP2) Dynamic Install for Windows Server 2008. WSUS enables information technology administrators to fully manage the distribution of updates that are released through Microsoft Update to computers in their network.

This article includes information about the contents of the service pack, links to instructions and system requirements for installation on supported Windows Server 2008 operating systems by using Server Manager, and how to determine whether the service pack is installed.

Feature improvements and important software updates in Service Pack 2

• 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 box 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 for the WSUS 3.0 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. This new release provides improvements and fixes, such as support for APIs that are called by a nonlocal system callnoninteractiveteractive session.

By default, Windows Server 2008 SP2 includes the ability to install the WSUS Role Service by using Server Manager. This role lets you use the MMC Server Manager snap-in and wizards to install, configure, and manage WSUS 3.0 SP2. The dynamic package for WSUS 3.0 SP2 will only install by using Server Manager.

The WSUS 3.0 SP2 package has the following Microsoft Update detection logic and characteristics:

• Classification: Update
• Supersedes: WSUS 3.0 SP1
• This package is applicable only to the following Windows Server operating systems with the WSUS-Server Manager integration:
  • Windows Server 2008 SP1 with Server Manager
    
    For more information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
    940518

    (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/940518/ )

    An update is available that integrates Windows Server Update Services (WSUS) 3.0 into Server Manager in Windows Server 2008
  • Windows Server 2008 SP2
  • Windows Server 2008 R2, x64 edition only
• Applicability rules:
  • Is installed = No
  • Is installable
• Download Center:
  • The WSUS 3.0 SP2 Download Center Web site includes the RTM Microsoft user license terms.
  • Pre-3.0 SP1 versions of WSUS 3.0 are no longer available for download.

After WSUS 3.0 is detected as installed by Server Manager, it can be configured and managed within the Server Manager user interface or the WSUS 3.0 snap-in. To install WSUS 3.0 SP2 on a server that runs Windows Server 2008 SP2 which is being updated by a WSUS 3.0 server, approve the Windows Server Update Services 3.0 SP2 Dynamic Install for Windows Server 2008, and then install WSUS role by using Server Manager.

For detailed installation instructions, see the WSUS 3.0 SP2 Step by Step Guide at the following Microsoft Web site:

How to determine whether the service pack is installed

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

Removal information

You cannot use Add or Remove Programs in Control Panel to remove only WSUS 3.0 Service Pack 2 because it will also remove all WSUS 3.0.

To remove WSUS 3.0 SP2 by using Server Manager, follow these steps:

1. Log on to the server on 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 the 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.

For more information about the WSUS 3.0 SP2 Release Notes, visit the following Microsoft Web site: