Updates and Patches, Benefits and Errors Using
Updates and Patches
Critical updates are updates that focus on security issues in the Operating System. The updates focus on what one desires. Focus will be laid on Adobe and Microsoft critical updates. These updates have several updates with consideration being given to the type of update needed. For example for Adobe there is the flash or reader, while in the Microsoft windows, there is the windows XP or windows 7. Both updates are done automatically as well as manually. The Adobe and Microsoft windows updates may be recommended with regard to how important they are. However Microsoft windows update undertakes the check for updates at an interval of five minutes which is not so in Adobe. Moreover, the failure to update the Microsoft windows will lead to the whole machine not to work hence also the adobe, even if well updated, will shut down. While the lack of update for Adobe will only affect its affiliates and not the whole computer.
In Microsoft windows critical update after being installed in a computer using windows 98, it automatically looks for updates when connected to the internet after five minutes. It first looks for connection, if the updates are there one gets a message (Microsoft, 2012). The Microsoft highly recommends for installation of these updates. One is able to postpone the installation for a whole day, using the “Notify Me Later” this is however not recommended. Successful installation will lead to no check for internet for approximately 24 hours. With the availability of an error, the Microsoft looks again for internet connection and begins the process again. Normally, when a computer gets connected to the internet, the software update immediately starts looking for the latest update available. This may go on till it acquires the latest update, which may be for hours, for instance antivirus updates. These updates know what is important and acquires it.
Benefits and Errors Using the Server Cleanup Wizard
The Server Cleanup Wizard is useful in solving issues with the server. The operation of the process is manual and may be a long, going to the extents of hours as well as days. This calls for it to be done regularly. The Server Cleanup Wizard is beneficial in cleaning up updates and update revisions which are not approved. This does away with the possibility of machines crashing due to application of updates that are faulty or recognized (Microsoft, 2012). Some updates are similarly prone to getting virus and worms if they are acquired. This method is quite reliable as it guides against any possible threats that may be posed by updates that the machine has acquired from the updates. This will similarly free up space for the computer.
While using the Cleanup Wizard so as to do away with unused updates and update revisions, there may come about errors in the database in the period of two minutes. An error resulted in database working. This can take place if the database is in use, if it is topped or if there is no connection to the database.
The performance of the Server is bound to decline as time goes by considering if the database is not well maintained. This can be solved by running the T-SQL script which may only be possible using the SQL Server so as to re-index and defragment the databases in the version 3.0 and not for databases like WSUS 2.0. For internal databases for windows, this command is applied: sqlcmd -S np:\\.\pipe\MSSQL$MICROSOFT##SSEE\sql\query –i <scriptLocation>\WsusDBMaintenance.sql
When calling the SQL command, there has to be an (–I) element that informs the SQL to apply the script using QUOTED_IDENTIFERS when working.
Group Policy Management
There are two filtering methods; there is the security filtering and WMI filtering. In security filtering the clients and PCs get and use settings in Group Policy. One is able to state some security aspects. The security group governs if the group policy will be applicable to groups, clients or PCs; it is not choosy on the settings of the group policy.
For the group policy to be applicable to a user or computer, they have to be in possession of the Read and Apply Group Policy consent. These policies are accessible to authenticated users of a group. They hence acquire settings of a new group policy when applied. These consents may be altered to restrict the extent of users.
On the other hand, the Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI) makes it possible to acquire the length of the group policy with regard to aspects of the intended computer. When the group policy connected to the filter is used on the intended computer, the filter is assesses on computer. If the WMI is assesses to negative, the policy is not applied, where hence if positive it is applied. Moreover, the WMI makes use of queries. Authentication is similarly needed in WMI.
The Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI) is more preferable to the security filtering. This filtering makes information from a wide range of sources to be accessible for administrative purposes (Microsoft, 2012). This may involve hardware and software data, settings and configuration data. For instance, the WMI reveals the hardware configurations information like memory and software information from the registry among other sources. The client support for WMI filters is present for windows 2003 and above OS. As for windows 2000, the users will do without the WMI filter and use the GPO.
Filters in Group Policy
The group policy makes it possible for the WMI filter to manage application with regard to the WMI outcome. For instance, one may desire to install an application only if the intended computer has 1GB or more of space. For this to be met, one forms the WMI filter and uses it to the group policy. The name and the filter are applied for the WMI filter. Ultimately with the creation of the WMI filter, it may be allocated to a group policy. It will be used if WMI is positive. The group policy outcome facility may be used to look for reasons as to why the group policy was not used.
The WMI filters may also be applied to restrict group policies. Cases may arise that one desires to send a section of an organization unit (Microsoft, 2012). The WMI is useful in this case with the help of the administrative tools and available as well as appropriate queries. However, it may be hard to know the class of that one desires if one does not know WMI, for instance, when looking at the operating systems, the data that one need may be acquired by looking at instances of information for the computer. It is from the computer that one is able to view the caption property to acquire the information that one desires.
Reference
Microsoft (2012). Windows Servers. Retrieved from: http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/windowsserver/
