Terminology for Update Status

  • Article

Applies To: Windows Server 2003 with SP2, Windows Server Update Services

You can access update status from various locations in the WSUS console. The following table defines each possible status that can be reported by WSUS for an update. Typically, WSUS presents update status for a particular computer (for example, the status of an update on one computer) or computer group (for example, status for the five computers in Computer Group X on which the update has been installed). You can filter the default views of computers or updates by update status, and in some cases by combinations of statuses (Failed or Needed, Installed/Not Applicable or No Status, and so on).

Update Status Definitions

Status Description

Installed

The update is installed on the computer.

Needed

When referring to the status of one computer, Needed means the update is compatible with (and should be installed on) the computer. When referring to status for a computer group, the Needed column displays the number of computers in the group to which the update is applicable. A positive Needed result means that the update was determined to be applicable, but has not been installed the last time client computers contacted the WSUS server,. Any of the following could be true when the status for an update is Needed:

  • You have approved the update for installation, but the client computers have not yet contacted the WSUS server since you made this change.

  • The update has already been downloaded and installed, but the client computer has not contacted the WSUS server since the update was installed.

  • The update has already been downloaded and installed, but the client computer must be restarted before changes go into effect, and the client computer has not yet been restarted.

  • The update has been downloaded to the computer but not installed.

  • The update has been neither downloaded nor installed on the computer.

Installed/Not Applicable

When referring to the status of one computer, Installed/Not Applicable means the update is not applicable to or required by that computer. When referring to the status for a computer group, the Installed/Not Applicable column displays the number of computers in the group for which the update is not applicable or not required.

No status

This usually means that since the time that the update was synchronized to the WSUS server, the computer has not contacted the WSUS server.

Failed

An error occurred when either a detection or an installation was attempted on the computer for the update.

Last contacted

This is the date on which the computer last contacted the WSUS server.