Compress WSUS folder

I have worked with this issue several times, especially on inherited servers.   Unfortunately, I have found there is little you can do to increase disk space with regards to WSUS taking up space on the server.   There are many update related files stored in WINsxs folder under the WIndows directory.

If you have Windows Server 2012 R2 you can cleanup the WINsxs folder.   Here is a link with instructions:  https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dn251565.aspx

Here is the link for Server 2008 R2: http://blogs.technet.com/b/askpfeplat/archive/2014/05/13/how-to-clean-up-the-winsxs-directory-and-free-up-disk-space-on-windows-server-2008-r2-with-new-update.aspx

If you have Windows Server 2008 SP2, you can use the Windows Component Cleanup Tool.   You can find this at: Windows Component Clean Tool

Stephen

Sorry forgot the link for Windows Component:   https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dd351467(v=WS.10).aspx#BKMK_COMPCLN

Stephen

Run the Clean-up wizard in the WSUS console leaving out the top choice for run 1.

That should clean things up quite a bit.

From there, you can schedule the WSUS Cleanup Wizard to run on a weekly basis.

Worse goes to worst and WSUS can be set to manage updates and not download them leaving that to the endpoints.