As promised earlier at the time of Windows Server Update Services (WSUS) release, more & more products will be added to WSUS and very recently 2 new Products are added for WSUS Synchronization in Add/Remove Products list; Microsoft Codname Max Windows Small Business Server Way to go! UPDATE As also seen on WSUS Product Team Blog. Nice to see them blogging 🙂
I was troubleshooting one of the Automatic Update Client which was not updating from the Software Update Services Server. Scanning thru WindowsUpdate.log file, it reported a warning as below; 11/29/2005 12:48:42 Agent * WARNING: Failed to obtain SusClientId So, Immediately I checked the registry for SusClientId value from HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\WindowsUpdate and I found it missing as rightly reported in WindowsUpdate.log file. Now, the question is how to re-generate SusClientId value. There might be some other useful tricks but the best I found is hitting http://windowsupdate.com and scan for the patches and when it was complete, I again checked in the registry and wow SusClientId … Continue reading *WARNING: Failed to obtain SusClientId
Whilst troubleshooting Automatic Update Client for Critical Security Updates, the best troubleshooting starts from WindowsUpdate.log file (%systemroot%\WindowsUpdate.log). Here is how you read the WindowsUpdate.log file How to read the WindowsUpdate.log file; http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;902093
ERROR Timeout expired. The timeout period elapsed prior to completion of the operation or the server is not responding. DESCRIPTION The text of the message is: “Windows Server Update Services error — Web Page Dialog Windows Server Update Services encountered an error. Timeout expired. The timeout period elapsed prior to completion of the operation or the server is not responding. [Show Details] [Close]” You see the following information in “Show Details”, : “System.Data.SqlClient.SqlException: Timeout expired. The timeout period elapsed prior to completion of the operation or the server is not responding. at Microsoft.UpdateServices.DatabaseAccess.DBConnection.DrainObsoleteConnections(SqlException e) <snip> updateId, Int32 revisionNumber, Int32 … Continue reading Timeout Approving Updates in WSUS/ Approving updates takes long time in WSUS
Scripting guru Torgeir Bakken’s response; Torgeir Bakken (MVP): It is easy to create this command line utility yourself. WSUS expose .NET API’s that can be called from VB.NET, C#.NET, or other .NET languages. The easiest way to develop .NET programs is to use Visual Studio, but VS is not required. The .NET Framework ships with all the basic tools necessary for building .NET programs. To get a tool that starts a WSUS synchronization, do the following on the WSUS server: 1) Copy the code below and save it to a text file named “StartSynchronization.vb” 2) Open a command prompt, and … Continue reading Synchronize WSUS Replica (slave) Server from the Command Line
There are many known scripts which use WMI class Win32_QuickFixEngineering to enumerate hotfixes installed on a computer. These scripts can give you a list of installed updates like; 1. This Script reports installed updates that are installed with Windows Update (v5) technology and the result will be written to %temp%\UpdateHistory.txt and then launched in Notepad. USAGE: Cscript //nologo WUhistory.vbs The output will look like; Report run at 4/23/2006 2:42:14 PM——————————————————————Title: Security Update for Windows XP (KB908531)Description: A security issue has been identified in Windows Explorer that could allow an attacker to compromise your Windows-based system and gain control over it. You can … Continue reading Scripts to query installed Service Packs, Patches/updates and Hotfixes
For those who are reading this blog, I have added some new Windows Server Update Services (WSUS) Articles @ http://msmvps.com/athif/category/1337.aspx?Show=All
SYMPTOMS You may see the following error and the download of packages you have set to install may fail, with the following error written to the Application log: Event Type: ErrorEvent Source: Windows Server Update Services Event Category: Synchronization Event ID: 364Description:Content file download failed. Reason: Access is deniedSource File: /msdownload/update/v3-19990518/cabpool/vbs55nen_a76b47d34e497bb2c14ba3cbed923cc042406c8b.exeDestination File: e:\WSUS\WsusContent\C7\6F81BBB0BBEE67DF83295942FAF0BBD8E724BCC7.exe. WORKAROUND This is due to lack of permissions for ‘NT AUTHORITY\NetworkService’ account. Check the file permissions on the root and the folder where update content is downloaded. With the WSUS RC1 release, NETWORK SERVICE needs Read access to the root of the drive, and also needs Modify … Continue reading Content File Download Failed: Access Denied
DESCRIPTION You see the following error while you see the computer reports within Windows Server Update Services (WSUS) – like computers, status of update, reports with computers: Windows Server Update Services encountered an error. The specified string is invalid. Parameter name: FullDomainName SYMPTOMS Windows Server Update Services encountered an error. The specified string is invalid. Parameter name: FullDomainName Details: Microsoft.UpdateServices.Administration.WsusInvalidDataException: The specified string is invalid. Parameter name: FullDomainName —> System.ArgumentException: The specified string is invalid. Parameter name: FullDomainName at Microsoft.UpdateServices.Internal.StringValidation.ValidateDomainNameString(String paramName, String value) at <snip> at Administration.Computers.List.Page_Load(Object sender, EventArgs e) CAUSE This is due to the apostrophe in the Computer Name … Continue reading WSUS: The specified string is invalid. Parameter name: FullDomainName
Sometimes or very often you notice that you are prompted for login credentials aka Username & Password when you browse http://Your-WSUS-Server/WSUSAdmin. You might wonder why it repeatedly prompts for the login. This is by design & to remedy this, you might want to add http://Your-WSUS-Server/WSUSAdmin to “Local Intranet” Zone from Internet Explorer – Tools – Options – Security – Local Intranet – Sites – Advanced – Add this website to the Local Intranet Zone.
