WSUS Server Clean Up Wizard Crashes - Reset server node?

[abillybob]

Got a problem with trying to clear out the cached updates from WSUS server. I have declined them all but upon running the Server Clean up Wizard I keep getting the below message? It runs for a bit and then as soon as it says deleting unsuded updated, it hangs and then crashes like this.

 

Clicking reset server node makes it all come back up again but this happens every time I run it?

 

[LeMarchand]

Folow these instructions: https://community.spiceworks.com/how_to/2563-clean-your-wsus-server

 

At Step 6 just do one "stage" at a time. Will still probably crash a few times, but eventually will go through. If you keep on top of it, you shouldn't get a reoccurence. Alternatively there is a script, but I believe it's no longer free.

[abillybob]

Cheers mate. I've tried doing that a couple of time hoping it will just go through but it never has. I have tried one by one multiple times but still causes an issue?

 

What's the script is it expensive? Not sure if I've got another option unless someone knows anything else I can try?

[LeMarchand]

This is the one that used to be free: https://www.ajtek.ca/wsus/how-to-setup-manage-and-maintain-wsus-part-8-wsus-server-maintenance/

 

That said, a search for "wsus cleanup script" turns up a lot of scripts! Not used any myself - I nomally just keep plugging on until WSUS sorts itself out - so check 'em first.

[pete]

Don't use the script - it's flaky and a great way to have to rebuild a WSUS server.

 

Have you adjusted IIS settings to make the WSUS console more stable? If not, go here: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/4490414/windows-server-update-services-best-practices

 

scroll down to Disable recycling and configure memory limits

 

...and it should become significantly more stable.

[RobD]

If you copy to clipboard what does the error say?

 

You can re-index the db:

https://gallery.technet.microsoft.com/scriptcenter/6f8cde49-5c52-4abd-9820-f1d270ddea61

 

You could clear off old updates using a script:

https://bohemiangrove.co.uk/wsus-update-services-error-connection-error/

 

Or the error may come from a duff bios from a machine:

https://bohemiangrove.co.uk/wsus-error-unexpected-error/

[RLR]

My WSUS was crashing often and I found that increase the IIS WSUS App Private Memory Pool helped:

 

https://www.404techsupport.com/2016/03/21/iis-wsus-private-memory/

[abillybob]

Cheers all those instructions seemed to help! Once I did the IIS thing I was able to do a server cleanup! I don't understand why these settings aren't the default when you install WSUS since it's even recommended by Microsoft... bit backwards to me!!

 

Thank you all though that was a big help!

[Duke5A]

Cheers all those instructions seemed to help! Once I did the IIS thing I was able to do a server cleanup! I don't understand why these settings aren't the default when you install WSUS since it's even recommended by Microsoft... bit backwards to me!!

 

Thank you all though that was a big help!

 

That's a good question. I had to tweak IIS settings for an out of the box WSUS install on 2019 to keep it from crashing. You'd think that MS would have fixed this stuff by now.

[MartinT]

I've used the WSUS Server Maintenance script by AJTek for a while now, it's excellent for keeping your WSUS server trim and not bloating to use up all your storage space. You get a nice daily report by e-mail, too. No instabilities here.

 

https://www.ajtek.ca/wsus/how-to-setup-manage-and-maintain-wsus-part-8-wsus-server-maintenance/

[fiza]

I've used the WSUS Server Maintenance script by AJTek for a while now, it's excellent for keeping your WSUS server trim and not bloating to use up all your storage space. You get a nice daily report by e-mail, too. No instabilities here.

 

https://www.ajtek.ca/wsus/how-to-setup-manage-and-maintain-wsus-part-8-wsus-server-maintenance/

 

How did you approach this with your Finance Dept? It seems to be set as a recurring payment each year.

[DaveTheTech]

I have had better luck using powershell instead of the GUI.

Keeping on top of updates that were superseded seemed to make a big difference.

[MartinT]

How did you approach this with your Finance Dept? It seems to be set as a recurring payment each year.

 

I have a company credit card and paid with that. There is usually a credit card somewhere in the organisation that you can use.

[RLR]

Can't remember where I found this but it seems to work. Probably not as good as the Adamj one but it still declines old updates and frees up space:

 

https://paste.ofcode.org/8Mue4y9bMaMR5s7nKUVApw

[fiza]

Can't remember where I found this but it seems to work. Probably not as good as the Adamj one but it still declines old updates and frees up space:

 

https://paste.ofcode.org/8Mue4y9bMaMR5s7nKUVApw

 

That link doesn't seem to go anywhere.

[PyROm]

In case it helps anyone, I run WSUS on a really old server so I expect that was causing a lot of issues, the IIS alterations fixed everything except running the server cleanup wizard. To fix this I altered the SQL timeout (this applies to the built in WID database) https://joshuarobbins.tech/wsus-server-cleanup-wizard-crashing-timing-out .

[RLR]

That link doesn't seem to go anywhere.

 

The website automatically expires code after 1 week. Here it is again:

https://paste.ofcode.org/v4NLFiyzEnVPuiZmNEqkTf

 

This only works with the WID version of WSUS.