Anyone who manages large numbers of virtual machines share the challenge of keeping the virtual machine client operating system up to date. Virtual machines that are left offline for extended periods of time do not automatically receive operating system, antivirus, or application updates that would keep them compliant with current IT policy. The Offline Virtual Machine Servicing Tool 2.0 provides a way to automate the process of updating virtual machines with the latest operating system updates.

You can read more about the Solution Accelerator at: http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc501231.aspx

Download the Offline Virtual Machine Servicing Tool  2.0.1.

See a demo video here:

Just a quick heads up on a new KB article (946202) that we recently published.  If you use WSUS to manages updates in your organization then depending on how you have it configured, you may need to take some action to ensure you end up with the version of Internet Explorer you really want:

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Overview

On February 12, 2008 Microsoft will release the Windows Internet Explorer 7 Installation and Availability update to Windows Server Update Services (WSUS) marked as an Update Rollup package. Windows Internet Explorer 7 Installation and Availability Update is a complete installation package that will upgrade machines running Internet Explorer 6 to Windows Internet Explorer 7. Microsoft Knowledge Base article 940767 contains more information on the Windows Internet Explorer 7 Installation and Availability Update. For more information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

940767 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/940767/) Description of the Windows Internet Explorer 7 Installation and Availability update

Since the download center and Microsoft Update describe the Windows Internet Explorer 7 Installation and Availability Update as Windows Internet Explorer 7, the remainder of this article will simply use Windows Internet Explorer 7.
If you want to install Windows Internet Explorer 7 using WSUS today, you can import this package from the Microsoft Update catalog site by following the instructions in the section titled "Deploying Windows Internet Explorer 7 using WSUS."
If you have configured WSUS to "auto-approve" Update Rollup packages (this is not the default configuration), Windows Internet Explorer 7 will be automatically approved for installation after February 12, 2008 and consequently, you may want to take the actions below to manage how and when this update is installed. You will need to take action if:

• You use WSUS 3.0 to manage updates in your organization.
• You have Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2)-based computers or Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 1 (SP1)-based computers that have Internet Explorer 6 installed.
• You do not want to upgrade Internet Explorer 6 machines to Windows Internet Explorer 7 at this time.
• You have configured WSUS to auto-approve Update Rollups for installation.

Note This does not apply to Windows Vista because Windows Internet Explorer 7 is a component of Windows Vista.

To continue reading click here.

The Windows Server Update Services (WSUS) 3.0 RC delivers new features that enable admins to more easily manage and deploy updates across the organization. New features in WSUS 3.0 include a new MMC -based UI with advanced filtering and reporting, improved performance and operational reliability, flexible deployment options to improve branch office support, and more content access throught the Microsoft Update Catalog site. Key areas and features investments in the new WSUS 3.0 include:

Straightforward Installment
· In place upgrade over 2.0
· New configuration wizard to guide setup and configuration

Improved Administrative Experience
· New MMC based powerful UI (can also be installed as a remote console on clients (e.g. XP) & host multiple WSUS servers in one console
· Custom views and results filtering
· Report Viewer only admin group
· Integrated “in-context” reporting
· Clean up wizard for management of stale clients/content & built in email notifications
· Reporting rollup support
· Multiple, granular auto-approval rule options
· Enhanced Target group concepts including hierarchies for approval inheritance or block, and overlapping target group membership support

Flexible Deployment Options to improve Branch Office support
· Support for language sub-setting on downstream replica servers
· Independent replica content source options (MU or Upstream Server)
· Optional Peer-cashing capability
· Synchronization up to every hour (vs. 1xday)

Performance Enhancements and Operational Reliability
· 50% improvement in reporting performance – report viewers only admin group
· Native support for x64 platform
· Network Load Balancing & SQL cluster support
· MOM management Pack for proactive alerts on server health

More Content Access and On-demand client synch:
· Easy access to drivers and hot fixes
· Personalization to make the MU Catalog customized to your downloading needs
· Client ‘synch me now’ quick check-in/download support of pending approved updates from WSUS or needed updates from Microsoft Update

Download: WSUS 3.0 Release Candidate