Can I automatically cache Windows Update on my local network

[Guest najevi]

I have recently kicked the tyres on ubuntu linux and am immediately impressed

by the ease with which apt-cacher was setup to locally cache the many and

varied optional software packages and package updates.

 

This is a huge bandwidth saving on my broadband connection which is also

utilized for VOIP telephony. My monopolistic Australian ISP is infamous for

metering downloaded data and imposing speed shaping after a certain monthly

threshold is reached, so locally caching these packages for reuse on

subsequent reinstalls or for reuse by other hosts on the local network is a

further benefit. As I type this I am enduring a shaped 'broadband' connection

of 64kbps !

 

So this begs the questions:

1) Is the similar caching function possible for Windows Updates?

2) If so are there any cautions or filters that are best applied. (e.g. I'm

thinking that the mandated WGA authentication may pose special requirements

on the proxy.)

3) Is there free software to implement this?

 

There are three WinXP machines on my local network as well as the occasional

laptop visitor. I currently make use of the 'Administrators Options' link at

the Windows Update page to locate and download offline/redistributable

versions of the BIGGER update files - SP2, dotNET (1,2&3), IE, WMplayer,

MSN/Live Messenger and DirectX. This is a manual caching technique that would

be better if it were automated.

 

I am still reading about Squid (another local cache solution that runs on

linux) and it seems there have been mixed results using Squid to cache

Windows Update traffic.

 

Any advice or pointers will be welcome!

- - -

microsoft.public.windowsxp.network_web,

microsoft.public.windowsxp.help_and_support,

microsoft.public.windowsxp.general

[Guest Lucvdv]

On Thu, 12 Jul 2007 00:24:02 -0700, najevi <najevi AT hotmail DOT com>

wrote:

> So this begs the questions:

> 1) Is the similar caching function possible for Windows Updates?

 

There's SUS --> free, but it requires Server 2003 or SBS 2003 on the

machine where it's installed on.

 

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=E4A868D7-A820-46A0-B4DB-ED6AA4A336D9

[Guest Ian]

There is a free system called autopatcher.

 

There is also my updater script - http://mylogon.net/sus/ - which requires

you to download manually but simplifies redistributing the patches.

[Guest najevi]

Thank you. AutoPatcher ( http://www.autopatcher.com/faq/ ) should 'fit the

bill' very nicely.

 

"Ian" wrote:

> There is a free system called autopatcher.

>

> There is also my updater script - http://mylogon.net/sus/ - which requires

> you to download manually but simplifies redistributing the patches.

>

>