Run WSUS Server Setup

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Applies To: Windows Server 2003, Windows Server 2003 R2, Windows Server 2003 with SP1, Windows Server 2003 with SP2, Windows Server Update Services

After reviewing the previous topics, you are ready to install WSUS. You must log on with an account that is a member of the local Administrators group. Only members of the local Administrators group can install WSUS.

If you want to do an unattended installation, see Appendix A: Unattended Installation later in this guide.

Important

Be sure to read the WSUS Release Notes. Release notes often contain important late-breaking information about the release. Look for the WSUS Release Notes in the following location:
WSUSInstallationDrive:\Program Files\Microsoft Windows Server Update Services\Documentation\En

Note

The latest version of WSUSSetup.exe is available on the Microsoft Web site for Windows Server Update Services at https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=47374.

To install WSUS on your server

  1. Double-click the installer file (WSUSSetup.exe).

  2. On the Welcome page, click Next.

  3. Read the terms of the license agreement carefully, click I accept the terms of the License Agreement, and then click Next.

  4. On the Select Update Source page, you can specify where client computers get updates. If you select Store updates locally, updates are stored on WSUS and you can select a location in the file system to store updates. If you do not store updates locally, client computers connect to Microsoft Update to get approved updates.

    Make your selection, and then click Next.

    For more information, see Determine Where to Store Updates earlier in this guide.

  5. On the Database Options page, you select the software used to manage the WSUS database. By default, WSUS offers to install WMSDE to computers running Windows Server 2003. You can specify where WSUS installs WMSDE. To accept the default setting, click Install SQL Server desktop engine (Windows) on this computer. If you cannot use WMSDE, click Use an existing database server on this computer, and select the instance name from the drop-down list.

    Make your selection, and then click Next.

    For more information, see Choose the Database Used for WSUS earlier in this guide.

  6. On the Web Site Selection page, you specify the Web site that WSUS will use. Note two important URLS: the URL to point client computers to WSUS and the URL for the WSUS console where you configure WSUS.

    Make your selection, and then click Next.

    For more information, see Install and Configure IIS earlier in this guide.

  7. On the Mirror Update Settings page, you specify the management role for this WSUS server. If you want a central management topology, enter the name of the upstream WSUS server. If this is the first WSUS server on your network or you want a distributed management topology, skip this screen.

    Make your selection, and then click Next.

    For more information about management roles, see Choose a Management Style earlier in this guide.

  8. On the Ready to Install Windows Server Update Services page, click Next.

  9. If the final page of the wizard confirms that the WSUS installation was successfully completed, click Finish.

To complete the setup, the root of the drive where WSUS stores updates must have certain permissions for WSUS to function. WSUS setup does not modify permissions on the root drive where you store updates, but this drive may not have appropriate permissions set. For example, security tools may have been used to strip away default permissions from the disk prior to the installation of WSUS. To manage this problem, use the following procedure to check the drive where updates are stored to ensure permission are set correctly.

To check permissions on the drive where updates are stored

  1. Double click My Computer, and then right-click the drive where updates are stored and select Sharing and Security.

  2. Ensure that the drive has read permissions for the NT Authority\Network Service group on Windows Server 2003. For Windows 2000 Server, the drive should have read permissions for the Users group. If the drive does not have these permissions, you must add them.

For a comprehensive list of all permissions required by WSUS, see the topic "Verifying WSUS Server Settings" in the Troubleshooting Windows Server Update Services in the Operations Guide. The latest version of this document is available on the Microsoft Windows Server 2003 TechCenter site for Windows Server Update Services at https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=41171.