Windows Tip Sheet
Get SUS Out of Your WAN Pipe
Streamline your Software Update Services with a second server.
If you’re still using Software Update Services (SUS) to manage your Windows
patch-deployment, you may have run into some disadvantages about how it works
with remote users. Typically, a corporate environment will store updates on
its SUS server so that network users don’t have to utilize WAN bandwidth
to retrieve updates.
For telecommuters and other remote users, though, the scenario winds up looking
like this: SUS uses the WAN to download updates from Microsoft; remote users
use the WAN to pull the updates from SUS. Double WAN whammy.
An easy fix is to deploy a second SUS server (this isn’t necessary if
you’re using the newer version named WUS, or MUS, or whatever) for remote
users. Hopefully, you’ll be able to place these folks in their own organizational
unit (OU) so you can use a GPO to target them to the second SUS server; this
works best with telecommuters who are always remote. Configure this second SUS
server to store updates at Microsoft; what’ll happen is that the SUS server
will tell the telecommuters which updates to install (those you’ve authorized,
of course), and the telecommuters will go directly to Microsoft’s servers
for the actual download, preserving your precious WAN pipe.
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Gadget |
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| Talk everywhere you go,
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I’m developing a real liking for Bluetooth headsets, and
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not that cool. What’s cool is that the same headset works
with your cell phone. The headset will automatically switch
back and forth between phones depending on which one you’re
closer to and which one is ringing. Even cooler: headset conferences.
If you’ve got someone on the office phone, you can invite
another employee over to your desk to join the call. They just
tap their headset against your receiver and they’re in
the call, automagically. |
|
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More Resources:
- Get the latest on SUS/WUS/MUS (whatever they’re calling it these days)
here.
- Microsoft has a fun whitepaper
on SUS deployment techniques.
- Using SMS? Integrate SUS with the feature pack. Read more.
About the Author
Don Jones is a multiple-year recipient of Microsoft’s MVP Award, and is Curriculum Director for IT Pro Content for video training company Pluralsight. Don is also a co-founder and President of PowerShell.org, a community dedicated to Microsoft’s Windows PowerShell technology. Don has more than two decades of experience in the IT industry, and specializes in the Microsoft business technology platform. He’s the author of more than 50 technology books, an accomplished IT journalist, and a sought-after speaker and instructor at conferences worldwide. Reach Don on Twitter at @concentratedDon, or on Facebook at Facebook.com/ConcentratedDon.