Microsoft WUSes out
Ever laugh so hard your sides ache?
Microsoft is changing the name of its WindowsTM update tool.
Let’s see if we can follow along:
- MS has a tool called Software Update Services (SUS)
- MS decides to change the name to Windows Update Services (WUS)
- WUS just sounds bad so they change the name to Windows Server Update Services (WSUS)
And here’s the FAQs with the FUQs (Frequently Unanswered Questions) interspersed
General Information
Q. What is Windows Server Update Services (WSUS)?
A. WSUS (previously called Windows Update Services) is the new name for the next version of Software Update Services (SUS). WSUS is a patch and update component of Windows Server and offers an effective and quick way to help you get secure and stay secure. WSUS represents an important step toward delivering a core software distribution and update management infrastructure in Windows. WSUS has both a server and client component.
UA (UnAnswered): Of course if you run anything other than MS software you are on your own
Q. On which platforms does the WSUS client run?
A. • Windows 2000 Service Pack 3 (SP3) and later
• Windows XP and later
• Windows Server 2003
UA: If you haven’t paid us money recently for your Operating System fugetabout using this protective service. I mean we would sincerely hate that something should happen to your computer because you didn’t pay for protection if you get our drift
Q.On which platforms does the WSUS server run?
A. • Windows 2000 Service Pack 4 (SP4) and later
• Windows Server 2003
UA: We would really hate that something should happen to that old computer. Have some respect for your elders and retire that old thing so’s you can have up to date protection. I mean if we wasn’t coming by to make sure that none of the neighborhood thugs was busting out your windows (snort) who know’s how bad it could be?
Q. Why is the name changing again after it was just changed from SUS to Windows Update Services?
A. Based on customer and partner feedback, the name Windows Update Services and the associated abbreviation (WUS) did not accurately describe the functionality and value of the product. Windows Server Update Services more appropriately positions the product as a component of Windows Server and reflects the fact that it can be used for updates beyond Windows itself.
UA: That and everyone called us WUSes. It didn’t garner respect, and Guido needs his respect. While the service is still a WUS we wanted to make it very clear that you should make sure to purchase a Windows Server product so that you have paid your protection money. As far as the updates beyond Windows itself, well it better be our software you want to update or you are on your own. We haven’t figured out how to charge you for other companies’ updates yet, so we won’t update anything else on your computer for you.
Q. Will WSUS update only Windows operating systems?
A. No. WSUS will support updating Windows operating systems and, over time, all Microsoft corporate software. When initially released, WSUS will support updating Windows XP Professional, Windows 2000, Windows Server 2003, Microsoft Office XP, Office 2003, Microsoft SQL Server 2000, Microsoft SQL Server 2000 Desktop Engine (MSDE) 2000, and Microsoft Exchange Server 2003. Support for additional Microsoft products will be added over time, without the need to upgrade or redeploy WSUS.
UA: And just as soon as we can figure out how to charge you for software that we didn’t write/buy/steal we will add those to the service as well. Of course we never steal, but sometimes you know stuff just falls of the truck.
Q.How can I get WSUS?
A. WSUS is available as a download at no cost. To download the software, see the Download WSUS page.
Q. Is WSUS free?
A. Yes. Windows Server Update Services is free and is available to download at no cost. Each managed client requires a Windows Server CAL. To download the software, see the Download WSUS page.
UA: Except for the CAL (Client Access License), more commonly known as the “yes we know you paid for the software, now you have to pay for the right to use the software” license, and the license for the database that we require that you maintain so that you know which machines are up to date… and don’t forget the CALs so you can access the database to see if your machine is up to date.
Q. Are there other ways to protect my computer and keep my software up to date?
UA: YUM, apt-get, up2date are all very good tools. In order to use them, format your hard drive, throw away that CD that came with your computer - with Windows Operating System borg 12.0 - and have someone help you install Linux
While you do raise an excellent point re: CALs (you paid for it, now pay to use it) you completely ignore that this is a distinct step forward for microsoft. WSUS isn’t perfect, but it’s a hell of alot better than SUS that it replaced–and it’s also a free tool that competes fairly well with their SMS Server. As for why WSUS doesn’t support, say, Win9x, or NT, what would be the point? MS doesn’t release patches for them anymore.
To your suggestion “find someone to help you install linux” all I can say is that WSUS isn’t exactly directed at grandma–it’s targetted at corporate IT administrators. Some of us are locked into MS no matter what we personally want–when my engineers can run AutoCAD, Microstation, CAESAR, etc, then maybe we can move as a company. Until then, nope, we’re a windows shop.
Overall, if this were a slashdot post I’d mod it -1, troll.
By the way, lest you think I’m some MS shill or apologist, I’ve been dorking with linux since the mid-90s, and using it professionally for six or seven years. People like you make my job considerably harder–my credibility while pushing open source software is significantly harmed by fanboys who seem to contribute nothing more than “MS is teh sux0r” rants.
Comment by Zak — 7/7/2005 @ 8:37 am
Zak,
Thanks for your comments. First let me apologize if this appeared in any way to be a “fair and balanced” review of WSUS. It is not and was not intended to be. In fact, it is based only on the humerous name and the FAQ page. My post was meant to be funny and sarcastic, not informative. I’m not sure how you see people “like me” making your job more difficult. Do I rise too highly in a google search of WSUS? Are you concerned your boss would read my web page as more than it is? Based upon your post here (with the exception of your use of the term “dorking” to describe your Linux experience) you appear to be intelligent enough to make your own search for case studies and evidence supporting whichever solution you choose.
My use of MS software is as yours is purported to be: required due to installed software. My use of Linux (or GNU/Linux) is based upon my bad experiences with MS software and excellent experiences with Linux based OSs.
MS technologically cripples their OSs to support their licensing structure. Activation - if you don’t have an enterprise license - multiple versions of their server OSs some which fight with each other in an obsessed Highlander, “there can be only one,” fashion based upon what you thought you needed and originally purchased. If you figured wrong - or worse your boss bought what someone else convinced him he needed - then you get to fight with servers in a convoluted dance to replace one Highlander server with another equally Highlanderish machine while trying to preserve your data. I could go on, but you already know most of what I would write.
Finally, I challenge you to find anywhere that I have ever written “MS is teh sux0r”.
Comment by site admin — 7/7/2005 @ 10:40 am
Patrick, (err, I assume this is Patrick, given the title of the page)
I actually did find your page while googling for some WSUS tidbit (currently migrating from SUS), but no, I’m not concerned my boss will come across this and come to uncomfortable conclusions.
Forgive me if I came across as an ass–I didn’t quite realize that you were being humorous for the sake of humor (though I should have, given the title of your blog) rather than seriously ranting about WSUS. In our line of work, I come across too many people who do things for religious reasons, instead of simply using the best tool for the job (whatever it may be.) Seeing people acting smugly superior about their choice of OS without looking at all the angles (and in alot of cases, without even understanding WHY other than “all the cool kids are doing it”) is a pet peeve of mine. Again, sorry for stomping on your blog and acting like a dick.
To your response, I’d say you’re dead on–particularly in relation to MS’s licensing. Whenever I have to implement another MS product, I tend to shudder because I know I’m in for a few hours research just to figure out how to legally deploy it.
By the way, I didn’t mean you’d litterally said “MS is teh sux0r,” I was just referring to that particular type of rant.
Comment by Zak — 7/7/2005 @ 11:28 am
Stomp away,
I don’t censor (too much)
Thanks for playing.
Comment by site admin — 7/7/2005 @ 11:38 am
As someone that did the migration from SUS to WSUS and heard from MS while they were making cracks about WUS during some of their seminars, I can tell you that WSUS is much much better overall. The licensing part is a pain in the butt, I’ll definitely agree to that. I still can’t get any answers from anyone including MS as to whether or not the company I work for is eligible for charitly licensing or not.
It does amuse me to no end some of the issues that I always run across with the stuff from MS that is meant for the masses and doesn’t garner any profit for them directly. Already I have a recurring event log from WSUS that MS doesn’t have a solution to other than “yeah, we know. It’s going to be patched.” Oh the delicious irony of having to patch their patch distributor.
And I too am locked in to a Windows environment due to our software which requires an IE frontend and installed components to interact with a… UNIX proprietary database on the back end. Many many many suggestions and comments to the software company have been made to allow for other browsers to work with it and to allow for the web frontend server to run on something other than Windows Server.
Comment by steve — 7/7/2005 @ 11:48 am
Oh and MS is teh sux0r
I just had to type that once.
W00T!
Comment by steve — 7/7/2005 @ 11:51 am