The Microsoft System Center Configuration Manager 2007 Inventory Tool for Microsoft Updates is installed on the Configuration Manager 2007 site server to support Systems Management Server (SMS) 2003 client computers in the hierarchy. The tool uses the Windows Update Agent (WUA) to scan for required updates based on the Microsoft Update catalog used by Windows Server Update Services. To use the WUA, clients must be running the Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional SP3 or later operating system.

Although Configuration Manager 2007 includes a feature, installed by default, to deploy software updates by using the Deploy Software Updates Wizard, the Configuration Manager 2007 Inventory Tool for Microsoft Updates must be installed separately. The Setup wizard creates objects (packages, programs, collections, and advertisements) to deploy the Inventory Tool for Microsoft Updates to clients.

If your clients do not have a version of Windows Update Agent that is supported by the Inventory Tool for Microsoft Updates, you can choose to have the Inventory Tool for Microsoft Updates Setup create additional objects to distribute the Windows Update Agent to your clients. After SMS 2003 clients have run the advertisement for this inventory tool and after hardware inventory is received for the clients at the site server, you can use the Deploy Software Updates Wizard to create additional objects to deploy software updates to SMS 2003 clients. You can also view reports relating to the required software updates.

After you complete the procedures in this guide, create packages to deploy software updates by using the Deploy Software Updates Wizard in the Configuration Manager console. For more information about deploying software updates in Configuration Manager, see the Software Updates Web site (http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=66754)

Important
The Windows Update Agent can only detect updates installed for all users by an administrator. Because it cannot detect updates for products that have been installed for a single user, the SMS 2003 Inventory Tool for Microsoft Updates cannot apply updates for such installations.

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