Alternative to WSUS?

[holtmichael09]

I'm starting my own On-Site Computer Repair Business and i was looking at WSUS and it sounds great, I was just wondering if anyone has suggestions for alternatives so I can have all the updates with me on-site, especially for people without internet or with slow internet.

Any Recommendations?

 

[cyabro]

Have a look at www.wsusoffline.net.

 

[FoolishTech]

I'm starting my own On-Site Computer Repair Business and i was looking at WSUS and it sounds great, I was just wondering if anyone has suggestions for alternatives so I can have all the updates with me on-site, especially for people without internet or with slow internet.

Any Recommendations?

I use a WSUS server in shop, but never thought about having the option onsite...

While I've never used it myself, I can tell you that I see a lot of ppl refer to "WSUS Offline" but I have no idea what that's about. I'm sure Google does!

 

[Slaters Kustum Machines]

I use WSUS offline and it allows you to select which OS or Office you would like updates for and then allows you to burn them to CD/DVD's. I use DVD-RW's and update them once a month.

 

[Knightsman]

It also allows you to save it to your external HD, uses about 12GB total for all of the updates if you dont clean up the folders.

I run WSUS and save the files to the same external drive. I just run an update and let it update all of the files and then install anything new. That way it stays up to date

A whole lot faster than using DVD's and having to download the files.

 

[holtmichael09]

I've been looking at WSUS Offline, but from what I understand, it has to download every update every time i run it which doesn't work to well considering i only get about 400KB/s download when nobody else is online

 

[Slaters Kustum Machines]

I've been looking at WSUS Offline, but from what I understand, it has to download every update every time i run it which doesn't work to well considering i only get about 400KB/s download when nobody else is online

Seems to me the last time I ran it I watched the CMD window and I thought it said something about skipping some of the updates that were already dl'ed. I ran it twice that day so maybe it has something to do with the time frame of the downloads, not 100% sure though.

 

[Knightsman]

I've been looking at WSUS Offline, but from what I understand, it has to download every update every time i run it which doesn't work to well considering i only get about 400KB/s download when nobody else is online

No you have the option to just install the updates you have on your drive, or do an update and then run the install.

There are two separate folders. You can update the database from any computer, so only do it on fast connections. For the most part you have the main updates on the drive the first time you update it. so the service packs and bigger files are there when you need it from the get go.

 

[Knightsman]

To add, if you update 1 every week or so, you will be fine.

 

[holtmichael09]

Thanks for the Info Knightsman! That sounds much better than what I was reading in other threads and on the website... wasn't looking forward to redownloading every file each time i run the update.

 

[Knightsman]

Thanks for the Info Knightsman! That sounds much better than what I was reading in other threads and on the website... wasn't looking forward to redownloading every file each time i run the update.

No problem, i have saved so much time not having to download a service pack.

 

[Benchtech]

Noob questions:

Is there a "good" guide to follow somewhere on the net. I will google it but figured I'd come to the people who know first!

Looking to set this up at my shop and need a start to finish guide. Thanks

 

[Knightsman]

Noob questions:

Is there a "good" guide to follow somewhere on the net. I will google it but figured I'd come to the people who know first!

Looking to set this up at my shop and need a start to finish guide. Thanks

Honestly I couldn't find one. If you have any questions ill be glad to answer them for you.

If you have the "files couldn't not be verified" error, then go back to the update installer, and uncheck verify updates and start again. Typically goes away on its own after that.

 

[cyabro]

We've given up on wsusoffline as we've recently upgraded to a 50mbps up and down fibre Internet connection so can download all updates from Microsoft at pretty much the same speed to install them from our budget NAS device.

 

[atlanticjim]

I am a huge fan of WSUSoffline. It does a great job of scouring the target computer for exisiting updates and only installing the ones that are required. It also has the built in ability to reboot and continue the installation for those updates that require rebooting. To avoid UAC under vista and 7, it will automatically create an admin account without UAC and reboot to that for the updates and then remove that account at the end for cleanup. Also option for installing Windows defender with definitions and MSE with definitions.

All you have to do is either start it from your external drive or DVD within windows and sit back and watch it do its magic. You will see it load, answer all the annoying MS questions and then shut down and reboot and continue. I could not survive without it.

 

[glricht]

I am a huge fan of WSUSoffline. It does a great job of scouring the target computer for exisiting updates and only installing the ones that are required. It also has the built in ability to reboot and continue the installation for those updates that require rebooting. To avoid UAC under vista and 7, it will automatically create an admin account without UAC and reboot to that for the updates and then remove that account at the end for cleanup. Also option for installing Windows defender with definitions and MSE with definitions.

All you have to do is either start it from your external drive or DVD within windows and sit back and watch it do its magic. You will see it load, answer all the annoying MS questions and then shut down and reboot and continue. I could not survive without it.

A big +1 for WSUSOffline. It's speeded up applying fixes & updates (including service packs) to the point that I can't imagine doing my job without it.

To the OP: a couple of comments regarding its use

1. Depending on what software updates you want to maintain, the initial download of updates will take a LONG time. I have mine set for all non-server OSes and MS Office 2003, 2007 & 2010 and the initial download ran overnight. Now I run it about once a week and it takes about an hour or so since it only has to download any changes.
2. I copy the WSUSOffline folder (approx 8GB) to an external USB drive which I use either within the shop or when onsite.
3. Simply plug the ext drive into the target computer, invoke the updater (...\wsusoffline-folder\client\UpdateInstaller.exe), select any items that you also want to install/update, check "Automatic Reboot and Recall", click Start and watch it go - no downloading, just installing
4. You can run WSUSOffline directly from a network drive (I do this fairly often when in the shop), but in this case, the "Automatic Reboot and Recall" feature is disabled.

HTH

 

[holtmichael09]

A big +1 for WSUSOffline. It's speeded up applying fixes & updates (including service packs) to the point that I can't imagine doing my job without it.

To the OP: a couple of comments regarding its use

1. Depending on what software updates you want to maintain, the initial download of updates will take a LONG time. I have mine set for all non-server OSes and MS Office 2003, 2007 & 2010 and the initial download ran overnight. Now I run it about once a week and it takes about an hour or so since it only has to download any changes.
2. I copy the WSUSOffline folder (approx 8GB) to an external USB drive which I use either within the shop or when onsite.
3. Simply plug the ext drive into the target computer, invoke the updater (...\wsusoffline-folder\client\UpdateInstaller.exe), select any items that you also want to install/update, check "Automatic Reboot and Recall", click Start and watch it go - no downloading, just installing
4. You can run WSUSOffline directly from a network drive (I do this fairly often when in the shop), but in this case, the "Automatic Reboot and Recall" feature is disabled.

HTH

Thanks for the Tips! Haven't run the download yet (will probably run it tonight) but deffinatly looking forward to saving all that download time for running updates during my tune-ups for clients on-site

 

[parker.casey]

I use a WSUS server in shop, but never thought about having the option onsite...

While I've never used it myself, I can tell you that I see a lot of ppl refer to "WSUS Offline" but I have no idea what that's about. I'm sure Google does!

I actually have the entirety of all the updates for all the MS products under WSUS Offline as a custom app in D7!