972493 Update for Server Manager x64 edition - WSUS says its required by computers, but those computers don't get it

WSUS 3.0 SP2 (Version 3.2.7600.226) says that update 972493 is required by
several servers running Windows Server 2008 R2 64 bit edition, but none of
those computers ever install it - these servers do not have WSUS installed -
WSUS is used to manage updates for them.

Even though WSUS says this update is "required", "Check for updates" in
Windows Update on those computers reports no updates are available. There
is no evidence that 972493 that I can see that this update was ever
installed on those computers.

So, if WSUS is saying this update is required, why are no servers it is
"required" for receiving and installing it?

--
Bruce Sanderson
http://members.shaw.ca/bsanders

It is perfectly useless to know the right answer to the wrong question.

"Bruce Sanderson" <> wrote in message
news:...

> WSUS 3.0 SP2 (Version 3.2.7600.226) says that update 972493 is required by
> several servers running Windows Server 2008 R2 64 bit edition, but none of
> those computers ever install it - these servers do not have WSUS
> installed - WSUS is used to manage updates for them.

Bruce.. this one has been beat to death... it's the same conversation as
you'll find under the WSUS v3 SP1 Dynamic Installer discussions from last
spring, summer, and fall.

The update is reported as "Not Installed" because WSUS /COULD/ be installed
on those machines, if you chose to do so -- just like SILVERLIGHT could be
installed on those machines, if you chose to do so. (I imagine neither will
be installed on the majority of Windows Server 2008 systems.) The only
reason you have this update in your catalog is because you've enabled the
product category for the WSUS Dynamic Installer.

> Even though WSUS says this update is "required",

No... WSUS *never* says an update is "required" (sic). Neither the WUAgent,
nor WSUS, report "required" as a state. They report NOT INSTALLED, as a
state -- a simple fact, not a recommendation, suggestion, or implication of
any action that should be taken on the part of an administrator.

> "Check for updates" in Windows Update on those computers reports no
> updates are available.

Yes.. because those updates are not available via the web-based *consumer*
oriented front-ends (although if you configure a Windows Server 2008 system
to use Automatic Updates and choose to install the WSUS role, that server
will get the content from "Microsoft Update".)

> There is no evidence that 972493 that I can see that this update was ever
> installed on those computers.

That is correct. It won't be unless you choose to install WSUS on those
servers using Server Manager.

> So, if WSUS is saying this update is required, why are no servers it is
> "required" for receiving and installing it?

Because it's a DYNAMIC INSTALLER. :-)

If you do not plan on deploying additional WSUS servers to Windows Server
2008 then you can ignore this update (just as I presume you're doing for
Silverlight), or even DECLINE (which you cannot do for Silverlight as it's a
multi-platform package).

You should probably also unselect the product category for WSUS and Server
Manager dynamic installers.



--
Lawrence Garvin, M.S., MCITP:EA, MCDBA, MCSA
Principal/CTO, Onsite Technology Solutions, Houston, Texas
Microsoft MVP - Software Distribution (2005-2010)

My Blog: http://onsitechsolutions.spaces.live.com
Microsoft WSUS Website: http://www.microsoft.com/wsus
My MVP Profile: http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/pro...awrence.Garvin

Lawrence,
You can make as many counterpoints as you want but what WSUS is doing is confusing and in this case isn't working like a majority of the end users are expecting.

As administrators we want to go in to WSUS and see all the servers we are managing say 100% not 99%. When there are 100's of servers you are managing you want to be able to spend as little time with any app as possible. Because this update says needed on so many machines, we as administrators have to spend time we don't want to spend double checking that we are at 99% because of this one update.