Windows Server Update Services (WSUS) Changes in System Center Essentials 2010

Applies To: System Center Essentials 2010

If you currently use Windows Server Update Services (WSUS) 3.0 with SP1 or 3.0 with SP2 in your environment to distribute updates, System Center Essentials 2010 upgrades the WSUS installation to WSUS 3.0 SP2. Most WSUS settings are preserved during this upgrade, and you can migrate existing WSUS settings during Essentials installation. You should back up your existing WSUS database (SUSDB) before upgrading.

Important

If your existing WSUS 3.0 installation is using Windows Internal Database, Essentials 2010 automatically moves the WSUS database to the SQL Server instance used by Essentials 2010 as part of the upgrade process. However, if your existing WSUS 3.0 installation uses a different SQL Server instance (not Windows Internal Database), you must manually move the WSUS database (SUSDB) to the SQL Server instance used by Essentials 2010.

If you are installing Essentials 2010 with SQL Server 2008 Express Edition and, as part of that installation, are upgrading an existing WSUS 3.0 installation that has been using a different edition of SQL Server, you might not be able to run any of the WSUS Inventory reports. The working combinations are as follows:

  • Essentials 2010 is installed with SQL Server 2008 Express Edition with Advanced Services, but WSUS is not upgraded.

  • The SQL Server Reporting Services chosen in Essentials 2010 is SQL Server 2008 Express Edition with Advanced Services, and all Essentials database components are also installed on SQL Server 2008 Express Edition with Advanced Services.

  • Essentials 2010 is installed on an existing instance of SQL Server 2008 Standard or Enterprise Edition.

WSUS Upgrade information

The following WSUS settings are changed during the upgrade:

  • If the existing WSUS server is operating in downstream server (DSS) or replica mode, it is made autonomous.

  • The number of daily synchronizations from Microsoft Update is set to 1.

  • The hierarchy of computer groups is removed, and all computer groups are then at the same level (under All Windows Computers). During this process, names may be changed for some computer groups.

  • The method of assigning computers to computer groups is changed to server-side targeting.

  • If the existing WSUS server is version 3.0 with SP1 or 3.0  with SP2 and is using a database server that is not Windows Internal Database, you must manually move the WSUS database (SUSDB) to the Essentials 2010 database server.

The following WSUS settings are not preserved during the upgrade:

  • Information about computers (because computer groups are migrated from WSUS to Essentials 2010).

  • Automatic approvals.

  • Any existing approvals for groups named All Windows Clients or All Windows Servers. You must re-create the approvals after Essentials 2010 Setup is completed.

You should not proceed with the upgrade if the following conditions apply:

  • The existing server has active downstream servers. Essentials 2010 does not support upstream server (USS) mode.

  • You are using WSUS 3.0 with SP1 or 3.0 with SP2 and using a remote database server that is not running SQL Server 2008 to store WSUS data.

Backup Considerations for WSUS Upgrade

Before you start the upgrade process, ensure that you back up the current WSUS database to a safe location.

See Also

Concepts

Environmental Prerequisites and Considerations for System Center Essentials 2010