WSUS Package Publisher

[Duke5A]

WSUS Package Publisher, anyone use it? I've been using Local Update Publisher to deploy Java, Flash and Chrome through WSUS with success, but I'm moving to Server 2012R2 and LUP no longer works. WSUS Package Publisher looks to do the exact same thing, but was hoping to get some feedback on it.

 

@AngryTechnician

Use it yet? I learned of LUP through your blog.

 

https://wsuspackagepublisher.codeplex.com/

[computer_expert]

I've been trialling it using the adobe scup catalogs and from my testing it seems to work well.

 

One of the things I haven't tried yet is creating my own packages so I can't comment on that bit.

Edited November 14, 2014 by computer_expert

[pete]

I'm using WPP in production here, initially with the Adobe Flash catalogue as a "can't break too much" test on a demo WSUS group and now with my own packages & installers in production.

 

I've got .msi and .exe installers and a few custom uninstaller packages (command line script that looks for specific GUIDs and runs msiexec /x /norestart /qn against them).

 

It's nice to be able to remotely trigger an install that's been downloaded or ensure mobile clients have downloaded updates before leaving the site.

[Duke5A]

Awesome, this is exactly what I was hoping to hear. Thanks guys...

[Michael]

You have to wonder why Microsoft don't offer this themselves? WSUS is a brilliant reporting tool, yet deploying Flash as an MSI via a GPO, you've absolutely no idea (as a percentage), how many devices have installed it.

[plexer]

So can this be used to install everything via WSUS rather than using GPO and then being able to report on the installs instead of needing a full blown sccm install?

 

Ben

[Michael]

Yes by the looks of things

[pete]

I'm migrating the handful of legacy GPO stuff to WPP. I haven't found any deal-breakers yet and I've spent a fair amount of time trying to break it by testing install/uninstall/reinstall cycles and supersedence.

 

The honking big caveat (which applies to SCCM too) is "oh dear FSM test the command-line switches" and have two test groups, one for "I think it works" (my windows VMs) and the second for "OK, I've fixed that, now it works" (colleague's desktop, two staff laptops).

 

Windows update log output below after installing an older Java version to see what would happen.

 

 

I think I'm going to have to expand my WSUS groups to match my Workstation OU structure a bit more though. Currently it's just:

 

Staff Desktops

Student Desktops

Laptops

Servers

TestGroup01

TestGroup02

NicheGroup01

NicheGroup02

 

Which isn't as granular as I'd like, especially for stuff that isn't site-licensed.

Edited November 17, 2014 by pete

[john]

I use it to push Flash updates on chained WSUS servers around the world so its got about 10 sub WSUS boxes to talk to on top of the main one we have here so its a busy tool but works reasonably well so well worth looking into

[benwong]

I have some experience to use Wsus Package Publisher. You do not need to install this application, just open the shortcut of application from unzip file.

Wsus Package Publisher is easy to control and use. I use Wsus Package Publisher

to deploy the non-microsoft such as adobe reader, adobe flash player, adobe reader font package, java, chrome and firefox browser for my organization. It work perfectly.

I also write some guideline for deploying firefox and java, Adobe Flash Player ActiveX with step by step with screenshots. I hope it can help you.

http://www.sthshare.com/wordpress/how-to-deploy-java-to-clients-using-wsus-package-publisher.html

http://www.sthshare.com/wordpress/how-to-deploy-adobe-flash-player-using-third-party-tools-wsus-package-publisher.html

http://www.sthshare.com/wordpress/wsus-package-publisher-deploy-firefox.html

[mavhc]

Thread resurrection!

 

I just found WPP, trying to get Python 3.5.2 installed with it. It's installed fine, but I don't see Python 3.5 in Add/Remove programs, is that normal? There is, however, Python Launcher, which is installed along with Python.

[pete]

^ what happens if you open a command prompt and type:

 

where python.exe

 

and (if it finds it)

 

python --version

 

I haven't tested 3.5.2 yet but I spotted your other thread. If what you've done so far isn't successful I'd be tempted to use @Arthur's method in a custom update, do a full install for allusers and base my "can it be installed/is it installed" detection on the file version of python.exe (greater than or equal to, so it doesn't clash with newer versions of python you push out).

[mavhc]

Oh, it's installed, just not showing up in Programs and Features.

 

My command line is /quiet TargetDir=C:\Python35 InstallAllUsers=1 Include_pip=1 AssociateFiles=1 CompileAll=1 PrependPath=1

 

Install check is

 

That's the main msi.

 

It's listed as installed in WU history, but surely it should be in Programs and Features too.

[pete]

That's odd - after quick test here, a manual install (allusers, Win10, 64bit version) does show up in a Programs & Features.

 

Ignore the CVE entry - it's a test Win10 vm.

 

Edited July 6, 2016 by pete

[kazenohito]

Hello Guys,

 

Does anyone have experience doing reports with this tools? I need some very specific fields that Wsus is not providing me,as Microsoft remove the api for custom reports had many problems looking for an alternative and I'm not versed in powershell so my options are very few.

 

Thanks for the help!

[achsooistdas]

I encounter the exact same - Python got installed but there is no entry in / it does not show up in "Programs and Features".

@mavhc: did you find a solution for this?

Edited April 16, 2020 by achsooistdas