Patch Management Terminology Changes

Even though the basic system architecture of Windows Update Services (WUS) matches that of Software Update Services (SUS), name changes to the components used in the new solutions can lead to confusion.

Consumers have two options when updating their computers. They can use a Web browser to go directly to the Microsoft Web site for updating software (Windows Update in the old solution; Microsoft Update in the new solution), click a link to initiate a scan of their system, select which software updates they want to install, and then tell the program to install them. Alternatively, users of Windows 2000 and above can configure their agent (Automatic Update in the old solution; Windows Update in the new solution) to periodically connect to a Microsoft Web service (Windows Update Web service in the old solution; Microsoft Update Web service in the new solution). The agent determines which software updates are available and applicable, and then downloads and applies them, all without user intervention. Compared with their predecessors, the Microsoft Update Web site and Web service provides many more types of updates, such as drivers and feature packs, and will eventually cover all Microsoft products.