Re: sms 2003 patch management is brutal!

From: Cathy Moya [MS] (camoya_at_online.microsoft.com)
Date: 11/12/04


Date: Fri, 12 Nov 2004 12:23:18 -0800

You did, it just isn't called a synch host in the setup interface.
<restraining myself from a tirade on interface design>

It is screen #7 of the setup process and the text is:
----------------------------------
Database Updates
If you have internet acces, setup can configure a task to automatically
obtain the latest database. Please specify the NetBIOS name of an existing
SMS client computer to run this taks. This computer will be added to a
collection, and a weekly assignment will run while you are logged into the
computer you specify below. Leave the space below blank if you do not want
to use this feature.
Obtain updates using:
<field>
-------------------------------------
Look ma, no synch host mentioned, but that's what it is. Office uses exactly
the same setup wizard, and the same screen. There may be slight improvements
in the screens when we release the WUS scanner (believe me, we're trying),
but the real improvements will have to wait for another version of SMS. And
we're working on it.

-- 
Cathy Moya, MCSE: Security
Technical Writer, Enterprise Management Content Group
Check out the SMS Technical FAQ: 
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/sms/sms2003/techfaq/default.mspx
This posting is provided AS IS with no warranties and confers no rights.
"yaba daba doo" <yabadabadoo@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message 
news:EB574130-5307-4DD6-98F1-CF11DE5A6EFE@microsoft.com...
> Cathy,
>
> I never got the option to setup synch host during installation of scan 
> tools.
>
> "Cathy Moya [MS]" wrote:
>
>> The sync host is only selected once, during installation of the scan 
>> tool.
>> You don't re-select it when running the Distribute Software Updates 
>> Wizard.
>>
>> -- 
>> Cathy Moya, MCSE: Security
>> Technical Writer, Enterprise Management Content Group
>>
>> Check out the SMS Technical FAQ:
>> http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/sms/sms2003/techfaq/default.mspx
>> This posting is provided AS IS with no warranties and confers no rights.
>>
>> "yaba daba doo" <yabadabadoo@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
>> news:B649B4D0-B6BA-43AB-B65D-E0A9CAA73260@microsoft.com...
>> >I am actually going thru implementing Patch Mgmt myself and I am running
>> >into
>> > alots of problem.  Specially the wizard is not giving me the options 
>> > that
>> > it's suppose to give me.  I am not able to select a synch host, it 
>> > never
>> > gives me that option in the wizard.
>> >
>> > But I do have to say that people on this newgroup are quite helpfull 
>> > with
>> > answering the questions.  I haven't given up on it yet.
>> >
>> > "Allan Tee" wrote:
>> >
>> >> i agree, i would rather also use SUS than SMS's software updates. but
>> >> then
>> >> again, SUS can only handle OS/IE patches. SMS patch management is
>> >> extremely
>> >> hard to implement!
>> >>
>> >> "Kim Oppalfens" wrote:
>> >>
>> >> > inline
>> >> >
>> >> > > I just started to play with patch management. I created an
>> >> > > advertisement for the latest IE cumulative update (834707) using 
>> >> > > the
>> >> > > Software Update Wizard. I then targeted it at my 'servers'
>> >> > > collection.
>> >> > > In the options I told it to defer rebooting for servers.
>> >> > >
>> >> > > Here's my experience with it:
>> >> > >
>> >> > > - The program ran on servers that already had the patch installed
>> >> > > previously (isn't that the point of the scan tool, to determine 
>> >> > > what
>> >> > > patches are needed?)
>> >> > Yes, it is, are you sure the patch was installed and active? That 
>> >> > means
>> >> > was the machine rebooted after the patch if needed? If a patch that
>> >> > requires a reboot is installed without rebooting the patch isn't 
>> >> > really
>> >> > alive and the scan tool will report it as such. By consequence the
>> >> > patch
>> >> > will reinstall.
>> >> >
>> >> > > - Despite telling it to not reboot the servers, lo and behold all 
>> >> > > the
>> >> > > servers tell me they are rebooting and gave me the countdown timer
>> >> > How did you tell it not to reboot the servers? I assume in the
>> >> > distribute software updates wizard. Did you also use the suppress
>> >> > reboot
>> >> > switch on the patch? The wizard actually waits for the result of 
>> >> > every
>> >> > patch you install if you suppress the reboot in the patch it will 
>> >> > write
>> >> > to a log file that the reboot was suppressed. Once all patches have
>> >> > installed the wizard will check the log file and verify whether any
>> >> > reboots were suppressed. If so, the wizard tool might trigger a 
>> >> > reboot,
>> >> > unless you suppress that reboot during the wizard.
>> >> >
>> >> > > - There's absolutely no logging in Event Viewer on the clients to 
>> >> > > say
>> >> > > that the patch was installed
>> >> > Not really an sms issue, this is something that the patches should 
>> >> > take
>> >> > care of if we want that. Sms does generate a log file called
>> >> > patchinstall.log and registers in wmi.
>> >> >
>> >> > >
>> >> > > I think I'll stick with SUS........it's free, it's intuitive in
>> >> > > comparison, and it works as it's designed.
>> >> > I agree with all your observations on SUS, just want to add that sms
>> >> > works as designed as well.
>> >> >
>> >> > I think Microsoft is well aware of the not so intuitive way sms 
>> >> > patch
>> >> > management works.
>> >> > >
>> >> > > J.
>> >> > >
>> >> >
>> >> > -- 
>> >> > Kim Oppalfens
>> >> > Proud father of Lennart Oppalfens
>> >> > Since 05/11/2004 08.53 GMT+1
>> >> >
>>
>>
>> 


Relevant Pages

  • Re: sms 2003 patch management is brutal!
    ... The sync host is only selected once, during installation of the scan tool. ... You don't re-select it when running the Distribute Software Updates Wizard. ... SMS patch management is ... >>> requires a reboot is installed without rebooting the patch isn't really ...
    (microsoft.public.sms.admin)
  • Re: sms 2003 patch management is brutal!
    ... I then targeted it at my 'servers' collection. ... Yes, it is, are you sure the patch was installed and active? ... How did you tell it not to reboot the servers? ... distribute software updates wizard. ...
    (microsoft.public.sms.admin)
  • Re: Alert users to restart
    ... managing the SMS 2.0 environment some time ago but since we upgraded to SMS ... >> patch after office hour, user may have the computer shut down already, ... >> apply the patch and the reboot. ...
    (microsoft.public.sms.swdist)
  • Re: sms 2003 patch management is brutal!
    ... I am actually going thru implementing Patch Mgmt myself and I am running into ... gives me that option in the wizard. ... >> requires a reboot is installed without rebooting the patch isn't really ... Did you also use the suppress reboot ...
    (microsoft.public.sms.admin)
  • Re: sms 2003 patch management is brutal!
    ... SUS can only handle OS/IE patches. ... SMS patch management is extremely ... >> I just started to play with patch management. ... > requires a reboot is installed without rebooting the patch isn't really ...
    (microsoft.public.sms.admin)