How to Install a WSUS Server for VMM

Updated: May 13, 2016

Applies To: System Center 2012 SP1 - Virtual Machine Manager, System Center 2012 R2 Virtual Machine Manager, System Center 2012 - Virtual Machine Manager

To manage updates in Virtual Machine Manager (VMM), you must either set up a dedicated Windows Server Update Services (WSUS) server or use an existing WSUS server.

You can set up the WSUS server on the VMM management server. However, we recommend setting up the WSUS server on separate system, especially if the VMM management server is managing a large number of computers. If you set up WSUS on a remote server, you must install a WSUS Administration Console on the VMM management server and then restart the VMM service.

If you are using a highly available VMM management server, we recommend that you use a remote WSUS server. With a highly available VMM management server, you must install a WSUS Administration Console on each node of the cluster to enable the VMM service to continue to support update management. Update management in VMM requires a WSUS Administration Console, which includes the respective WSUS Class Library Reference.

This topic covers either a local or remote WSUS server without Secure Sockets Layer (SSL).

To set up WSUS on Windows Server 2012 or Windows Server 2012 R2, you need to install the WSUS server role that is integrated with the operating system. When you select the WSUS server role to be installed, Windows automatically selects any other server roles that are required such as Internet Information Services (IIS).

To install the WSUS server role for VMM

1. Review the system requirements for the WSUS server:

   • For VMM in System Center 2012 or System Center 2012 SP1: System Requirements: Update Management in System Center 2012 and in System Center 2012 SP1.

   • For VMM in System Center 2012 R2: Preparing your environment for System Center 2012 R2 Virtual Machine Manager.

2. Decide whether to install WSUS on the VMM management server or on a remote server.

3. Install the WSUS server role on that server. For more information, see Install the WSUS Server Role.

Before you install a WSUS 3.0 SP2 server, ensure that the server meets all necessary prerequisites as described on the Windows Server Update Services 3.0 SP2 download page.

You must install the Web Server (IIS) role in Windows Server. In addition to the roles services that are added by default, WSUS requires the role services in the following table.

To install a WSUS 3.0 SP2 for VMM

1. Install Windows Server Update Services (WSUS) 3.0 64 Bit with Service Pack 2 (SP2), either on the VMM management server or on a remote server. Download WSUS 3.0 SP2 from the Windows Server Update Services 3.0 SP2 download page.

   In the Windows Server Update Services 3.0 SP2 Setup Wizard, make the following selections:

   • Full server installation including Administration Console

   • Create a Windows Server Update Services SP2 Web site

   In the Windows Server Update Services Configuration Wizard, VMM requires the settings in the following table.

   Option	Entry
   Microsoft Report View 2008	This option is not needed if you install the WSUS server on your VMM management server.
   Choose Upstream Server	Synchronize with Microsoft Update
   Choose Languages  Choose Products  Choose Classifications	To limit WSUS synchronization time, you can limit languages, products, and classifications.  Products: Limit products to the supported range for Hyper-V hosts, library servers, and the VMM management server in VMM.  Classifications: You can limit classifications as desired, but consider keeping at least Critical Updates and Security Updates.
   Configure Sync Schedule	Synchronize manually
   Use a proxy server when synchronizing	To be used when synchronizing updates.

2. If you installed the WSUS server on a remote server:

   1. For System Center 2012 – Virtual Machine Manager only: Install a WSUS Administration Console on the VMM management server.

   2. Restart the VMM service on the VMM management server.

   Important

   If you are using a highly available VMM management server with a remote WSUS server, you must install a WSUS Administration Console on each node of the cluster. To avoid an interruption in service while you perform the WSUS Administration Console installation, move the VMM service to another cluster node before you begin installing the console on a cluster node. You can then install the console and restart the computer without any temporary loss of service.

3. For System Center 2012 SP1 only: If the WSUS server is running Windows Server 2008 R2, then to allow management of VMM servers that are running Windows Server 2012, install the update for Windows Server Update Services 3.0 Service pack 2 (KB2734608).

4. To verify that the WSUS server was installed successfully:

   1. On the WSUS server, click Start, click Administrative Tools, and then click Windows Server Update Services.

   2. In the navigation pane, click the server name to expand it, and then click Synchronizations. You can verify that the initial synchronization succeeded.

How to Add an Update Server to VMM
Managing Fabric Updates in VMM