Understanding the Software Update Chain

Understanding the software update process from clients to servers.

Video Guide

Scenario 1: Configuring Software Update Policy

When you first start off with configuration manager and software updates there are always a lot of questions, what options should l use, how do they work and more.

Software Update Policy

Software Update Scan Schedule

When does this REALLY Happen

• Anytime a NEW software update group is assigned AND machine policy Runs

• Anytime a scheduled instance of Software Update Scan Schedule Hits

• Anytime a Deployment is completed

• Sometimes after a reboot is completed - Depends on assignment configuration

• After a servicing stack update https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/mem/configmgr/sum/plan-design/plan-for-software-updates#bkmk_ssu

Schedule Deployment Re-evaluation

• This does NOT contact WSUS

• Uses the existing locally stored policies in WMI

WMI Explorer is a fantastic tool to review the classes that are involved in all of this

Release WMI Explorer 2.0.0.2 · vinaypamnani/wmie2GitHub

What is It	WMI Path
Software Update Objects	\MACHINENAME\ROOT\ccm\ClientSDK:CCM_SoftwareUpdate
Update Manager	\MACHINENAME\ROOT\ccm\ClientSDK:CCM_SoftwareUpdatesManager
Update CI Assignment	\MACHINENAME\ROOT\ccm\Policy\Machine\ActualConfig:CCM_UpdateCIAssignment
Maintenance Windows	\MACHINENAME\ROOT\ccm\Policy\Machine\ActualConfig:CCM_ServiceWindow
Cient Policy	\MACHINENAME\ROOT\ccm\Policy\Machine\ActualConfig:CCM_SoftwareUpdatesClientConfig

Enable Third Party Updates

Client settings - Configuration ManagerMicrosoftLearn

When you set this option to Yes, it sets the policy for Allow signed updates for an intranet Microsoft update service location and installs the signing certificate to the Trusted Publisher store on the client.

Delta Updates

Explanation from microsoft.com

Client settings - Configuration ManagerMicrosoftLearn

Set this option to Yes to allow clients to use delta content files. This setting allows the Windows Update Agent on the device to determine what content is needed and selectively download it.

• Before enabling this client setting, ensure Delivery Optimization is configured appropriately for your environment. For more information, see Windows Delivery Optimization and the Delivery Optimization client setting.

• This client setting replaces Enable installation of Express installation files on clients. Set this option to Yes to allow clients to use express installation files. For more information, see Manage Express installation files for Windows 10 updates.

• When this option is set, delta download is used for all Windows update installation files, not just express installation files.

  When using a CMG for content storage, the content for third-party updates won't download to clients if the Download delta content when available client setting is enabled.

Deltaldownload.log - is the log file that tracks this behavior

Maintenance Windows

The feature, that used to be a bug - ish.

Client settings - Configuration ManagerMicrosoftLearn

When you set this option to Yes, and the client has at least one "Software Update" maintenance window defined, software updates will install during an "All deployments" maintenance window.

By default, this setting is set to No. This value uses the same behavior as before: if both types exist, it ignores the window.

Scenario 2: Maintenance Windows

Types of Windows

Value	Type
1	All Deployment Service Window
2	Program Service Window
3	Reboot Required Service Window
4	Software Update Service Window
5	Task Sequences Service Window
6	Corresponds to non-working hours

How To Schedule a Maintenance Window

Finding Maintenance Windows in ConfigMgr

SELECT  sw.Name AS [MW Name],
	Sw.CollectionID,
    sw.Description, 
    sw.StartTime, 
    sw.Duration AS 'Duration Minutes',
    sw.IsEnabled AS 'MW Enabled', 
    sys.Name0 AS ServerName,
	sys.Resource_Domain_OR_Workgr0, 
    sys.Operating_System_Name_and0 AS OperatingSystem
FROM  dbo.v_ServiceWindow AS sw INNER JOIN 
      dbo.v_FullCollectionMembership AS fcm ON sw.CollectionID = fcm.CollectionID 
INNER JOIN  dbo.v_R_System sys ON fcm.ResourceID = sys.ResourceID 
WHERE  (sys.Name0 = 'DEMO6') 
ORDER BY [MW Name], sys.Name0

The not really maintenance window

Business hours, and clients.

https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/configuration-manager-archive/business-hours-vs-maintenance-windows-with-system-center-2012/ba-p/273032techcommunity.microsoft.com

Log File on the Client

https://ServiceWindowManager.logservicewindowmanager.log

Introduction to software updates - Configuration ManagerMicrosoftLearn