Distribute Windows Updates

Hello,

I have received great help from users here in the past and am hoping that it
will be an upwards trend.

I have a home network consisting of 4 clients connected to a server. The
server is used to share the internet connection and as a file and print
server.

All machines (including server) run Windows XP Pro SP2 (with all current
updates).

We are on a 56k dial-up connection (we can not get broadband –Australia is
behind in the IT department).

What I need is this:

Using windows update, I need to download the same software 5 times! The same
goes for Office 2003 and any software I need patches for, unless I dig
through the download sections of the various sites and download
redistributables and then manual update each computer.

The current way my Microsoft update system works is:

ClientA _______________________________________
Requires update: @2
|

\|/
ClientB ___________________________________|
Requires update: @2, #3
|

\|/
ClientC
________________________________|__>__Internet
Requires update: @2, #3, $4
|

/|\
ClientD _____________________________|
Requires update: @2, #3, $4, %5
|

/|\
ServerA ____________________________________|
Requires update: @2, #3

So in effect I have downloaded @2*5, #3*4, $4*2 and $5*1 which is clearly
inefficient.

What I would like is something that automatically does this at a specified
time:

ClientA _______________________________________
Requires update: @2
|

\|/
ClientB ____________________________________|
Requires update: @2, #3
|

\|/
ClientC ________________________________|
Requires update: @2, #3, $4
|

\|/
ClientD _____________________________|
Requires update: @2, #3, $4, %5
|

\|/

ServerA

Downloads: @2, #3, $4, %5

and installs appropriate

patches on itself and clients.

|

\|/

|

Internet

Thus downloading all patches only once!

Is there some software that can do this? My budget is very limited so I
would prefer a free product or at least a trial period.

I was hoping that there might be a way to configure the current Windows
Updater to do this, or perhaps another tool offered by Microsoft that works
on my current setup.

Thanks heaps for the help,
Drew Baker


.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Software Update Solution
    ... installed on an SBS 2003 server. ... I think the process was called SAS?? ... > scheduled a process to download the latest patches etc. ...
    (microsoft.public.windows.server.sbs)
  • Patch Problems
    ... even been able to patch the server! ... I use the DSUW, download the patches ...
    (microsoft.public.sms.swdist)
  • Re: This is an excellent site if anybody needs help with updates
    ... >> Another instance of Carey speaking without knowing. ... The download ... >> links are to the patches on Microsoft's server. ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.general)
  • IIS Problems
    ... I have just installed SBS 2003 and all the patches. ... I have installed the SUS on the server and had started to download the ... The DSL went down stopping the download. ...
    (microsoft.public.backoffice.smallbiz2000)
  • Re: Problem Updating New Messages from NTTP News Server OE
    ... > as far as I know and he doesn't have a server in his setup. ... download the answer to a problem he had posted in the Outlook group and I had seen the answer almost immediately on July 1. ... sure how taking the check out of the download headers boxes would have helped. ... pane 3) Get headers at a time 4) No check in mark all messages as read when exiting newsgroup ...
    (microsoft.public.windows.inetexplorer.ie6_outlookexpress)