Question

SCCM and WSUS Integration

Asked by: UHampton

Our current Architecture is as follows:

We have one Primary site located at our Data center which also has our internet access for the company.  We have multiple branch offices connected via T1s with Secondary Child sites at each.
The primary site server has WSUS installed on it and has the Software Update Point Role installed on it.  Each secondary site has the management point role installed. We are trying to implement software updates via sccm to the remote branch offices in way that will minimize bandwith on our WAN.  Windows updates on the workstations are shut off.


1)      How does the client at the branch offices communicate with WSUS for windows updates?

2)       Will it go thru the management point or will it go directly to the primary site at our data center.

3)      My understanding is that clients will scan the primary site for updates and then report state messages to the management point.  Once the needed updates are determined, will the client get the updates from the primary site or will the primary download the needed updates to the management point that will inturn be accessed by the client?

4)      Is there any advantage to placing the Software Update Point Role on the secondary sites?  I assume that the local clients will communicate with the secondary site directly instead of going back to the primary.  

5)  In this scenario, will clients always go to the SUP at the primary site when performing scans or will it go to the SUP at the secondary site?

6)      How do we force workstations to go to SCCM/WSUS for their windows updates (i.e is a GPO needed to shut it done or does the SCCM client take care of this.

This Question has been solved and asker verified All Experts Exchange premium technology solutions are available to subscription members.

Subscribe now for full access to Experts Exchange and get

Instant Access to this Solution

  • Plus...
  • 30 Day FREE access, no risk, no obligation
  • Collaborate with the world's top tech experts
  • Unlimited access to our exclusive solution database
  • Never be left without tech help again

Subscribe Now

Asked On
2009-09-01 at 18:12:36ID24699980
Tags

SCCM 2007

,

System Configuration Manager 2007

,

WSUS

Topic

MS System Center

Participating Experts
4
Points
500
Comments
5

Trusted by hundreds of thousands everyday for fast, accurate and reliable tech support.

  • "The time we save is the biggest benefit of Experts Exchange to Warner Bros. What could take multiple guys 2 hours or more each to find is accessed in around 15 minutes on Experts Exchange." Mike Kapnisakis, Warner Bros.
  • "Our team likes having a resource that is more secure than just using Google and most experts using this service really know their stuff. It's nice to look here first versus using Google." Dayna Sellner, Lockheed Martin
  • "Anytime that I've been stumped with a problem, 9 out of 10 times Experts Exchange has either the accepted solution or an open discussion of the potential solution to the problem." Kenny Red, eBay Inc.

See what Experts Exchange can do for you.

Got a question?

We've got the answer.

Experts Exchange has been collecting answers to technology questions since 1996…3 million and counting! If you have a question, chances are we already have your answer.

Screenshot of Experts Exchange Knowledgebase

Need individual assistance?

Our experts are ready to help.

If you can't find the exact answer you're looking for, ask our exclusive community of 50,000 experts. You’ll get a personalized answer from a trusted professional.

Screenshot of Experts Exchange Knowledgebase

Want to learn from the best?

Read articles from industry experts.

Thousands of free tech tips, tricks, how-to’s and tutorials are available in our peer reviewed articles section. See for yourself how smart our experts are, no login required.

Screenshot of an Article

Working on a long term project?

Store your work and research.

Save solutions to your questions, answers you’ve discovered through searching plus helpful articles in your personal knowledgebase for easy future access.

Screenshot of Experts Exchange Knowledgebase

Access the answers to your technology questions today.

Subscribe Now

30-day free trial. Register in 60 seconds.

What Makes Experts Exchange Unique?

Members of the expert community talk about why the experience at Experts Exchange is different than what you will find anywhere else.

Trusted by the world's most respected brands.

image of each brand's logo

Faithfully serving IT professionals since 1996.

Experts Exchange Logo

Try it out and discover for yourself.

Subscribe Now

30-day free trial. Register in 60 seconds.

Related Solutions

  1. WSUS + GPO
    I have setup WSUS on a server and have created a GPO so workstations can use WSUS for updates. On the computers OU in AD(where the computers are) I have created a group policy called WSUS with the following attributes :- In Computer Configuration/Administrative Templates/Wind...
  2. WSUS and GPO
    I have a Windows Server Update Services (WSUS). Is there a way to tell my workstations to use the WSUS for updates through group policy objects?
  3. Best practice for WSUS deployment in branch offices
    Hi, I've been asked to install WSUS on some branch servers (4 branches and 1 main office). Each office has a number of desktops, a DC and a number of laptop users that are based at the office but may plug into the network at another office. I'm OK with installing WSUS but w...
  4. WSUS GPO questions
    Hello Experts! I need clarification on some issues with WSUS. The environment is aas follows: Server 2003 AD domain with WSUS 3.0 Clients: 2000/XP/Vista Their is 1 primary and 8 child WSUS servers which are also v3.0 8 child servers are pulling updates/report...
  5. How to hanlde WSUS for laptops that move from branch to …
    HI, I've setup a Main WSUS server at the Head office, and a downstream WSUS server at each of our branches. Each branch has a number of desktops. Each branch also is home to a number of laptops that migrate between branches. I've setup SITE GP so computers iin the Activ...
  6. How to configure WSUS with multiple WSUS Servers and B…
    This is most likely a very simple task.. I am setting up for the first time WSUS on our network. We have over 40 branches.. I want one master WSUS server that downloads the updates from Microsoft.. I then want to distribute those updates to branch servers (downstream serve...

Free Tech Articles

  1. WARNING: 5 Reasons why you should NEVER fix a computer for free.
    It is in our nature to love the puzzle. We are obsessed. The lot of us. We love puzzles. We love the challenge. We thrive on finding the answer. We hate disarray. It bothers us deep in our soul. W...
  2. SCCM OSD Basic troubleshooting
    SCCM 2007 OSD is a fantastic way to deploy operating systems, however, like most things SCCM issues can sometimes be difficult to resolve due to the sheer volume of logs to sift through and the dispe...
  3. Migrate Small Business Server 2003 to Exchange 2010 and Windows 2008 R2
    This guide is intended to provide step by step instructions on how to migrate from Small Business Server 2003 to Windows 2008 R2 with Exchange 2010. For this migration to work you will need the fo...
  4. Create a Win7 Gadget
    This article shows you how to create a simple "Gadget" -- a sort of mini-application supported by Windows 7 and Vista. Gadgets can be dropped anywhere on the desktop to provide instant information, ...
  5. Outlook continually prompting for username and password
    There have been a lot of questions recently regarding Outlook prompting for a username and password whilst using Exchange 2007. There are a few reasons why this would happen and I will try to cover t...
  6. Backup Exchange 2010 Information Store using Windows Backup
    There seems to be quite a lot of confusion around the ability to backup Exchange 2010 using the built in Windows Backup feature. This stems from the omission of this feature prior to Exchange 2007 s...

Cloud Class Webinars

  1. Avoiding Bugs in Microsoft Access
    Alison Balter takes and in-depth look at avoiding bugs in Access. In this webinar you will learn about using the immediate window to debug your applications, invoking the debugger, using breakpoints to troubleshoot, stepping through code, setting the next statement to execute, ...
  2. Top 10 Best New Features in Visio 2010
    Scott Helmers gives live demonstrations of the top 10 new features in Visio 2010. This webinar will teach you how to create compelling diagrams by adding shapes to the page with a single click, linking the shapes in a diagram to data in Excel (or SQL Server, or SharePoint), ...
  3. IT Consultant Business Secrets Revealed
    Michael Munger, Experts Exchange tech pro and IT consultant, pulls back the curtain on his very successful businesses and answers question on every IT consultant and business owner should know about. He shares secrets on what he did to solve the 5 most common problems in IT, ...
  4. Disaster Recovery and Business Continuity
    Quest CTO, Mike Billon, gives an overview of the steps involved in building a dunamic disaster recovery plan. Through case studies and an examination of software/hardware tooles for monitoring and testing, you'll gain a better understandin of where you are, where you want ...
  5. Organize Your Visio Diagrams with Containers and Lists
    Scott Helmers uses cross functional flowcharts, wireframe diagrams, data graphic legends and seating charts to teach you: how to ustilize all three new structured diagram components in Visio 2010, the best practices for organizeing shapes in previous version of Visio, how to organize ...
  6. How to Us Objects, Properties, Events and Methods in Microsoft Access
    Alison Dalter gives an in-depbth look at objects, properties, events and methods in Microsoft Access. In this webinar you will learn about using the object browser, referring to objects, working with properties and methods, working with object variables, understanding the ...

Join the Community

Give a Little. Get a Lot.

Join the community of experts here and help other tech pros by answering question in your area of expertise. You can earn FREE access to all Experts Exchange's premium features and resources.

Join the Community

Answers

 

by: xxdcmastPosted on 2009-09-01 at 18:46:53ID: 25237626

Ok so here is my take on the situation.

1. You will need to re-enable automatic updates on the client this is how they communicate with WSUS. Rather than going to ms website you point them to your WSUS server with a GPO. See number 6

2. Depending on how your have your WSUS configured it could go to either. If you have only the main WSUS server they will go there but if you configure the other servers to be downstream servers they will go to their local server.

3.  Again this depends on if you use a downstream server. If you dont use a downstream server the updates will come from the main server. If you do use the downstream server then the updates will be downloaded one time to the downstream server and then pushed out from there.

4. You are correct this should decrease your bandwith usage and give your clients a local install source.

5. Im not 100% sure on this but I belive it will go to the local server at the site and you can configure those servers to update the main server with their status.

6. You can use a GPO in order to point your clients to the correct servers.

 

by: JonLambertPosted on 2009-09-02 at 16:22:23ID: 25246613

Another take.

1.  The only requirement for SCCM Software Updates to work is that the automatic updates service is started .. do not configure it at all, especially by GPO, the SCCM client will do the configuration

2. clients will go directly to your primary site where sofwtare update service is installed, as the Software Update point on the secondary will be by default a passive software update point, used for downloading the scan package at nothing else.

3. You are correct with the scanning part, though the clients will not automatically 'pull' down udpates as such, you first have to deploy them the updates via a Deployment Package which is advertised to a collection of clients (via a Deployment template).  It's pretty easy once you get the hang of it.  Clients will report what patches are required, then you can either create a new deployment package (based on a Deployment Template), or drag and drop the updates on to an existing Deployment Package via Deployment Management.  So in summary, the clients will get their updates from an Distribution Point they have access to that contains the Deployment Package

4. If you install a Software Update point on your secondary sites, it will sync upstream to the primary site.  For the clients, this will only save the amount of traffic related to the scan packages (It's called a Passive Software Update Point from memory).   The actually updates will be downloaded from a distribution point.  (Depending on the number of clients you are servicing, I wouldn't bother)

5.  as per 5, they will go to the local SUP for downloading the scan package

6.  SCCM takes care of it all.

 

by: Al-QadriPosted on 2010-02-08 at 22:30:11ID: 26521326

How can one be sure that clients are going to the SUP and not to the primary site?  I have SCCM/WSUS set up in a primary site and at my remote sites I have BDP/SUP/DP roles on the machines.  I also have WSUS console on those machines.  For some reason, clients continue to come to the main site for updates.  What am I doing wrong here?

 

by: JonLambertPosted on 2010-02-09 at 21:08:38ID: 26531593

I regret to say that my original post has some misinformation .. though I was lead to believe that clients will go to a local passive SUP to download their scan package, this (as far as I've been able to prove) is incorrect, and clients will only go to an active SUP.  The only purpose of a passive SUP is to act as a fallback in case the active SUP fails.  My sincere apologies for ths incorrect information.

 

by: bdbuchananPosted on 2010-08-23 at 07:53:13ID: 33501672

JonLambert: I have a question about your clarification: Does this mean I will not be able to push update lists from the Primary Site server to the Secondary Site servers? Or will each Secondary Site server have to host its own Active SUP? Can I do that? My architecture is similar to that of the original poster, UHampton. Additionally, does each Secondary Site server require a full, but non-configured WSUS install? That is, do I install WSUS on the Secondary Site server and let SCCM manage it, as per the Primary Site instructions. Thanks.

20120131-EE-VQP-002

3 Ways to Join

30-Day Free Trial

The Experts

98% positive feedback on 31,087 answers since March 2000. angeliii is a Microsoft Most Valuable Professional for his work with MS SQL Server & Develoment.

He has also proven his knowledge of Visual Basic Programming, PHP Scripting and Oracle Databases.

The Experts

97% positive feedback on 10,752 answers since July 2000. lrmoore has more than 18 years experience in the networking industry.

The six-time Mircosoft MVPs specialties include firewalls, virtual private networking, and network management.

Testimonials

"...and excellent source for support... Kind of like having your very own IT dept." Electriciansnet

Testimonials

"I was apprehensive at signing up at first. However... it has already made my life as an IT administrator much easier." JaCrews

Testimonials

"WOW! You guys have great, active, and knowledgeable people on here." moore50

Business Clients

Business Clients

In the Press

"If you’ve got a question... Experts Exchange can supply an answer.”

In the Press

"...an invaluable aid for both IT professionals and those who require tech support."

In the Press

"where IT professionals provide quick answers on just about any topic"

Business Account Plans

Loading Advertisement...