amann44
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SUS updates to individual PCs/groups?
I am running SUS from a Windows 2003 Server and have a large set of updates to deploy. However, I do not want to deploy these updates out to all of my workstations. I would rather like to only deploy them to a smaller subset first and then monitor for any problems (kind of like a lab machine). I realize I could bypass SUS and just sit down at the machine and deploy individually. However, I am just wondering if there's a way to deploy to individual PCs/PC groups via SUS without visiting the PCs? My experience has always been with SUS deploying throughout the organization. Thanks in advance!
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None that I'm aware of; the only influence you have on the client side is the SUS server's address, and the only influence you have on the server side is which hotfixes you approve; that doesn't leave a lot of possibilities that I can think of.
So unless you're willing to turn off the auto updates on the other clients while testing (which would be a rather messy solution), you'll need two servers. Given that the test server won't be accessed by a lot of clients, this can easily run in addition on another server, or on some desktop hardware.
Yet another possibility, if your server has enough RAM (and enough CPU cycles left), might be the use of Virtual Server. Let your "real" SUS run from the "real" hardware, and the Test SUS as a virtual machine (or both as virtual machines). An evaluation kit is available:
Microsoft Virtual Server 2005
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserversystem/virtualserver/default.mspx
So unless you're willing to turn off the auto updates on the other clients while testing (which would be a rather messy solution), you'll need two servers. Given that the test server won't be accessed by a lot of clients, this can easily run in addition on another server, or on some desktop hardware.
Yet another possibility, if your server has enough RAM (and enough CPU cycles left), might be the use of Virtual Server. Let your "real" SUS run from the "real" hardware, and the Test SUS as a virtual machine (or both as virtual machines). An evaluation kit is available:
Microsoft Virtual Server 2005
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserversystem/virtualserver/default.mspx
ASKER
Alright oBdA. Good logic there. Now, I read somewhere that SUS will only run from Windows 2000/2003 server. You mentioned in your last post "or on some desktop hardware". So, is that referring to Windows 2000 Pro or Windows XP Pro? I would really like the idea of that as a test box. I'm somewhat new to SUS (especially customizing it). Thanks very much!
You'll need to install W2k Server or W2k3, but this can run on regular desktop hardware.
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