WSUS and Server Reboots

[mitchell1981]

I've set up a WSUS server and all is working ok except for the reboots!

 

Basically I want the servers to update from the WSUS server, but not the reboot at all, until I manually do it myself. Is this possible?

 

I've set the group policy to:

 

No auto-restart for scheduled Automatic Updates installation - Enabled

 

Now, I don't know if I'm being stupid, but that sounds like it should stop the machines from rebooting automatically.

 

I set this up today, and then disaster struck when all the servers ignored this setting and all rebooted within 5 minute of each other! Caused a bit of chaos and I've turned off the automatic updates again.

 

Anyone know how to do this? Surely nobody wants servers to reboot automatically?

[sharkster]

i have the same problem.

 

all ive done is to download the updataes on friday then on saturday morning the servers reboot and no 1 is in to be bothered

 

but any help would be appretiated for me also

[mitchell1981]

Ideally I want to avoid any automatic reboot as a couple of our servers have issues where services do not always restart correctly after a reboot, but a weekend reboot would be preferable to a reboot during the school day so I might configure this.

 

Thanks.

[sharkster]

just looked at this again,

 

it says "will not reboot IF USER IS LOGED ON"

 

but since no one is logged on the server this might be why it restarts

[greatone]

In the 'Configure Update Properties' you should be able to set option 4 'Auto download and schedule the install'

 

You can then schedule the install for a weekend

[mitchell1981]

Yes, I think the scheduled install is probably the only option.

 

It would be nice to have the choice of manual reboot though.

 

Thanks.

[greatone]

How about option 3 then 'Auto download and notify for install'

 

It just means that you will have to log on to each server to install the updates and the server will then prompt you for a reboot each time you log on

[sharkster]

only one problem with that for me,

 

if i select the saturday the classroom machines wont be tunred on.

 

only other way i can think to solve this is to create another GPO and set that for class machines each day as they will be logged on (so they will not restart) and another for servers (just for saturdays), is this how others do it?

[FN-GM]

Myself i would manually isntall the updates on the servers. You dont know what problems they can cause

[ZeroHour]

I manually install to a few select servers then schedule install at weekends along with reboot for the main servers once testing is fine on other boxes. Its pretty easy usually to remove an update using system restore or add/remove programs and if it borks you all surely have backups

[Stuart_C]

I dont bother assigning my servers to WSUS. If I want updates on them I'll put them on, when I want.

 

With regard to workstations I have them configured to download and install as a certain time. Don't restart, wait for the next scheduled re-start. This is fine however some things seem to totally ignore this and re-start the machine anyway.

 

I'm just in the process of getting round my machines enabling WOL. Now I've got some free software that I can get to work I'll soon be waking all my machines up at 6, letting the updates apply and everything's fine and dandy for the working day.

[sahmeepee]

I'm just in the process of getting round my machines enabling WOL. Now I've got some free software that I can get to work I'll soon be waking all my machines up at 6, letting the updates apply and everything's fine and dandy for the working day.

 

Not sure if you have Dell PCs, but if you do there is an executable which will do this from within Windows. I set up a batch to run it on PCs remotely so now everywhere is wakeupable and I didn't have to leave my chair !

 

Linky: http://www.smsexpert.com/_downloads/DellWakeonLAN.zip

 

It deletes itself after it runs, so keep a backup copy!

[User3204]

We split the clients into groups on the WSUS server.

Workstations are set to auto install and reboot at 1pm if no one is logged on - which is a good bet, as this is about lunchtime.

Servers are all set to download and manually install, which means we have to go through them all installing, and then rebooting, but this is better than when I accidently put the Domain controllers in the workstations group.

[Stuart_C]

Not sure if you have Dell PCs, but if you do there is an executable which will do this from within Windows. I set up a batch to run it on PCs remotely so now everywhere is wakeupable and I didn't have to leave my chair !

 

Linky: http://www.smsexpert.com/_downloads/DellWakeonLAN.zip

 

It deletes itself after it runs, so keep a backup copy!

 

Thanks but unfortunately they are not. We're not a massive site and it gives my technicain something do and he's new so it also gives him chance to learn where all the computers are hidden. Might have a look at it though just to see what it does.

 

Oh and it means that we're more likely to get told about the "earth shatteringly critical problem that needs to be fixed before next lesson (in 5 minutes) that's been broken for the last week that's just being mentioned"™