Microsoft Security Patches

[phxcoyotes097]

Need help with this one.

I keep hearing people say not to install all of Microsoft's patches. I can understand why you wouldn't update when you have completely customized your windows environment, but what if the computer has just basic Windows XP pro? I wouldn't think the patches would hurt that system.?

Can a Windows XP/Server be built to automatically download the patches for 98/2000/ME/XP/NT and allow a user to test the patches. Based to those results, send those patches to machines which may need them. Or am I going overboard with this?

Let me what what your are doing, so I can get some ideas.

Thanks,
Ken

 

[linney]

These might help you.

http://www.nwfusion.com/supp/security2/patch.html

http://www.nwfusion.com/news/2003/0901mspatch.html

 

[bcastner]

Microsoft offers two facilities, the most common I would guess is the SUS server, a free tool that does what you are asking.

It does not do the testing. You test the patches yourself, and when happy, you point through Group Policy towards the SUS server to manage the distribution and installation chores.

A good site for anythhing SUS:

http://www.faqshop.com/sus/default.htm