Windows patch deployment

[pagjsp]

We're not running a Windows domain, we are a Novell house, with workgroup connectivity when we need it. Therefore, Microsoft doesn't offer a lot in the way of scanning and deployment tools for their monthly patches. I've been using VNC at to go out to each of the workstations, then running Windows Update, which is very time consuming. I won't enable automatic updates, since I've learned from sad experience what that leads to in a corporate environment.

Recently, while looking for automated tools for patch scanning/deployment, I came across something called Shavlik HFNetChkPro. I downloaded the demo, which of course has somewhat limited functionality, but it looks like it might do for my purposes. My question is, does anyone know of other software packages I could try?

Thanks,
James S. Pagitt
Network Admin.

 

[lgarner]

Depending on how much of a Novell shop you are, you could look at Zenworks.

 

[RMGBELGIUM]

microsoft SMS server, or some programming in vbs

 

[pagjsp]

We do run an older version of Zenworks, but are not interested in upgrading right now. This sort of thing is possible, as I've pushed simple applications and even Snapshot apps out before, but workgroup or peer-to-peer apps like Shavlik seem to be a lot easier and less time consuming to work with.