Upgrade path WSUS v2/SQL 2000/SMS 2003 SP2 to WSUS v3/SQL 2005/SMS 2003 SP2

Hi All,

I have a twopart question regarding WSUS v3. I have about a dozen small
sites that include a W2K3 SP1 server running WSUS v2, SQL 2000 and SMS 2003
SP2. We have chosen this route in order to reduce IT staffing requirements.
(Automation + remote control means fewer tier one personnel throughout our
enterprise) In addition, I run Mom 2005 SP1 to keep me apprised of what is
going on at the servers. I went looking for a management pack for WSUS and
it has been suggested that one would be available for WSUS version 3.

First question: can anyone confirm or deny this MPs existance (planned or
actual) for WSUS v3?

If this MP will exist, then I am going to be interested in upgrading these
systems. Our WSUS systems use the same SQL 2000 back end as the SMS 2003 SP
2 installations. I understand that the SMS 2003 SP2 version will run on SQL
2005. I have no objection to running SQL 2005, if it will get me all that my
heart desires.

Second question: can anyone tell my what the upgrade path will be like?

I understand the upgrade from WSUS 2 to 3 will be easy and straight forward.
But what about the upgrade from SQL 2000 to 2005? will that be easy as well?
Will it affect my SMS 2003 installations? Should I run and flee from the
idea now?

Thanks,
Dave Coate, MCSE

 

Hi Dave;

First question: can anyone confirm or deny this MPs existance (planned or

Yes and it is released now (for MOM 2005) on the WSUS 3.0 RC Connect site
with the RC builds

Second question: can anyone tell my what the upgrade path will be like?

--
Bobbie Harder
Program Manager, WSUS
Microsoft

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Upgrading SQL 2000 to SQL 2005 is fairly straightforward as well, but the
specific details would depend on what edition of SQL 2005 you've deployed
with WSUS, and what machine it sits on.

First, you'll need to coordinate my notes here, with any issues with
upgrading SQL2000 under SMS2003 as well.

Upgrading the SQL2000 on a WSUS server to SQL2005 (any edition), will
require these basic steps:
[1] Install WSUS SP1 to gain SQL2005 compatibility.
[2] Perform SQL2000 to SQL2005 upgrade procedures as documented in
SQL2005 installation instructions.

Now.. comes the question of which edition you want to install, and/or which
edition(s) you have licensed.

If by 'back-end' server, you mean a physically separate server, then it's
really a non-issue. Upgrade the back-end server to SQL 2005 Standard Edition
(or Workgroup Edition if SMS2003 supports that), and press on with life.

If by 'back-end' you simply mean that the database server is supporting both
applications, but they're all resident on the same physical box, then you'll
have to give some consideration to the database edition to use. My
understanding is that WSUS v3 will "upgrade" a SQL 2005 EXPRESS Edition
installation to SQL 2005 Embedded Edition. This has pros and cons for your
environment.
[a] You'll still need SQL2005 to support your SMS2003 environment.
SQL 2005 Embedded Edition is a /better/ database solution for WSUS
than SQL 2005 Express Edition.

So, if you install Express, and WSUS v3 "upgrades" it to Embedded Edition,
you're probably going to break your SMS2003 installations.

If you upgrade to SQL2005 Workgroup/Standard Edition, then the WSUS v3
installer should detect the WSUS v2 SUSDB database on the SQL2005 and
continue to use it -- but that requires the requisite licensing for SQL
2005. Part of that answer revolves around how Microsoft is licensing the
database server for SMS.

I'll be testing various installation scenarios over the next week or two, so
if I get additional information, I'll share it in the beta newsgroup. Be
sure to subscribe to the beta newsgroup. Instructions can be found at the
MSConnect website.


--
Lawrence Garvin, M.S., MCTS, MVP-Software Distribution
Everything you need for WSUS is at
http://technet2.microsoft.com/windowsserver/en/technologies/featured/wsus/default.mspx
And, everything else is at
http://wsusinfo.onsitechsolutions.com
.....