Microsoft’s Software Update Service (SUS) is a free product that automates the distribution and installation of critical OS fixes and service packs on Windows 2000 and later workstations and servers. SUS works in conjunction with Microsoft’s Windows Update Web site and the Windows Automatic Update (AU) agent supported on Windows 2000 Service Pack 3 (and later) systems. While AU and Windows Update require that each computer connect directly to the Windows Update Web site, SUS first downloads patches to a SUS server inside the organization’s firewall and holds them for approval before the AU agents automatically install them. (For more information on SUS, see “Software Update Service to Ease Patch Distribution” on page 3 of the May 2002 Update.)

Microsoft is readying a 2.0 version of SUS, and since SUS and Systems Management Server (SMS) overlap in certain ways, customers may wonder which technology is most appropriate for their needs. Although businesses will find SUS a definite improvement over the standard Windows Update service (even when Windows Update is coupled with the AU client), SUS is no match for SMS, and any organization already using SMS will find that it is better suited to the task.

Microsoft’s Software Update Service (SUS) is a free product that automates the distribution and installation of critical OS fixes and service packs on Windows 2000 and later workstations and servers. SUS works in conjunction with Microsoft’s Windows Update Web site and the Windows Automatic Update (AU) agent supported on Windows 2000 Service Pack 3 (and later) systems. While AU and Windows Update require that each computer connect directly to the Windows Update Web site, SUS first downloads patches to a SUS server inside the organization’s firewall and holds them for approval before the AU agents automatically install them. (For more information on SUS, see “Software Update Service to Ease Patch Distribution” on page 3 of the May 2002 Update.)

Microsoft is readying a new version of SUS, renamed the Windows Update Service (WUS), and since WUS and Systems Management Server (SMS) overlap in certain ways, customers may wonder which technology is most appropriate for their needs. Although businesses will find SUS a definite improvement over the standard Windows Update service (even when Windows Update is coupled with the AU client), SUS is no match for SMS, and any organization already using SMS will find that it is better suited to the task.