When there are SMS 2003 clients in the Configuration Manager 2007 hierarchy, the Configuration Manager version of the Inventory Tool for Microsoft Updates must be installed on the highest site in the hierarchy where software updates will be deployed, most likely the central site. Without the Configuration Manager version of the inventory tool, the option to deploy software updates to SMS 2003 clients is not available from the Configuration Manager console.

During the SMS 2003 site upgrade to Configuration Manager 2007, Setup detects whether a previous version of the Inventory Tool for Microsoft Updates is installed on the site and verifies that another installation of the tool is not installed on a site higher in the hierarchy. If both are true, Setup initiates an upgrade for the inventory tool on the site server. After a site has been installed or upgraded, the inventory tool downloads the Microsoft Updates catalog from the download location, synchronizes the software updates in the catalog, and stores the software update information in the site database. When the Inventory Tool for Microsoft Updates upgrade fails or for a new installation of the inventory tool, Setup can be manually initiated from the Configuration Manager 2007 CD

Before distributing the Inventory Tool for Microsoft Updates to all clients that meet the minimum requirements, it is highly recommended that the distribution first be tested on the test client that is specified during installation. The following procedures provide the steps to manually install the Inventory Tool for Microsoft Updates, verify that the inventory scan tool and synchronization components are installed, and verify that the test client scanned for software updates and sent the data to the site server.

Install the Inventory Tool for Microsoft Updates

The following procedure provides the steps to install the Inventory Tool for Microsoft Update, monitor the synchronization process for the Microsoft Updates catalog, and verify that the installation completed successfully.

Important
When the Inventory Tool for Microsoft Updates is upgraded as part of the site upgrade, skip to the next section to verify that the Inventory Tool for Microsoft objects has been created. For more information, see Planning the SMS 2003 Software Updates Upgrade.

To install the Inventory Tool for Microsoft Updates

  1. Navigate to the Inventory Tool for Microsoft Updates source file, SMSITMU.MSI, located on the Configuration Manager 2007 CD in \<cd root>\SMSSETUP\SUMSCANTOOLS\I386.

    Important
    The Inventory Tool for Microsoft Updates should be installed on the site server highest in the hierarchy. Do not install the inventory scan tool on more than one site in the hierarchy. Doing so might result in inaccurate scanning results.

  2. Run the inventory scan tool executable from the central site server. The Welcome screen appears. Click Next.

  3. Select I accept the license agreement, and click Next. The inventory tool installation cannot be completed if the license agreement is not accepted.

  4. Use the default destination folder or specify a new location for the inventory tool program files, and click Next.

  5. Specify a Configuration Manager Client computer as the synchronization host, which will obtain the updated catalog files on a recurring schedule.

    Note
    The updated catalog information is downloaded to the synchronization host and then inserted into the Configuration Manager site server database. Therefore, it is recommended that the synchronization host have a fast (LAN) connection to the site server database and, if possible, to the updated catalog files.

  6. Specify whether to download the catalog from the Internet or from a folder on the local network.

    • If the site server has Internet access, select The synchronization host will automatically download the catalog from the Web to have the synchronization host connect to Microsoft Updates and download the catalog.

    • If the central site does not have Internet access, select I will download the catalog and the synchronization host will copy it from a folder to have the synchronization host retrieve the catalog from the specified location. The catalog will need to be downloaded from a computer with Internet access and stored in the specified location.

      Note
      The URL location of the most recent catalog is listed on this page.

    Click Next.

  7. The Distribution Settings for Inventory Tools page allows you to specify the name of the objects that are created by the installation program. These objects include packages, programs, collections, and advertisements that are needed to distribute the inventory tool to the SMS 2003 client computers. Either provide a new name for the objects or keep the default name that is provided.

    Caution
    Renaming these objects after they are created might cause some parts of the software update inventory process to fail.

  8. In the Distribution Options section of the Distribution Settings for Inventory Tools page, do the following:

    • Specify whether the inventory tool package should be sent to all the distribution points in the site hierarchy. This selection is enabled by default. If this option is not selected, the package is not assigned to any distribution points and it must be assigned to distribution points later by using standard package management in the Configuration Manager console.

    • Specify whether to advertise the inventory tool to the default collection, Microsoft Updates Tool (pre-production), that is created by the installation. Initially, the specified test computer is the only member of this collection. This selection is enabled by default.

    • Specify the name of the computer to use for testing the inventory tool distribution. By default, the synchronization host computer is specified, but any client can be selected.

    Click Next.

  9. The Distribution Settings for Windows Update Agent page allows you to specify whether to create the objects to distribute the Windows Update Agent to client computers. This selection is enabled by default, and the Windows Update Agent will be installed as a dependent component of the Inventory Tool for Microsoft Updates.

    Important
    The Inventory Tool for Microsoft Updates requires the Windows Update Agent to function. It is strongly recommended that the defaults are selected on this page.

    If the objects are created to distribute the Windows Update Agent to client computers, either provide a new name for them or keep the default name provided.

  10. In the Distribution Options section of the Distribution Settings for Windows Update Agent page, do the following:

    • Specify whether the Windows Update Agent package should be sent to all the distribution points in the site. This selection is enabled by default. If this option is not selected, the package is not assigned to any distribution points and it must be assigned to distribution points later by using standard package management in the Configuration Manager console.

    • Specify whether to create a package and program for the Windows Update Agent. This creates a package and program independent of the Inventory Tool for Microsoft Updates package. Because the agent will be installed on clients as a dependency of the inventory tool, it is unlikely that this package would need to be explicitly deployed to clients unless the agent becomes missing or is downgraded. In that case, the Windows Update Agent can be distributed using this package and program.

    Click Next to open the Installation page, and then click Next to proceed with the installation.

  11. The Setup Complete page provides information about the installation and where additional information is available. Click Finish to close the Inventory Tool for Microsoft Updates installation and start the synchronization process for the tool.

Verify the Inventory Tool for Microsoft Updates Objects

The advertisements, package, programs, and collections for the Inventory Tool for Microsoft Updates are created as part of the installation process. Use the following procedure to verify that these objects have been created successfully.

Note
If the objects do not appear, you can try to rerun SMSITMU.MSI to repair the installation. If the repair is not successful, you will have to uninstall and reinstall SMSITMU.MSI. However, uninstalling SMSITMU.MSI removes all existing deployments and all collections created by the Inventory Tool for Microsoft Updates.

To verify that Inventory Tool for Microsoft Updates objects are created

  1. In the Configuration Manager console, navigate to System Center Configuration Manager / Site Database / Computer Management / Software Distribution / Advertisements.

  2. Verify that the Microsoft Updates Tool and Microsoft Updates Tool Sync advertisements were created.

  3. In the Configuration Manager console, navigate to System Center Configuration Manager / Site Database / Computer Management / Software Distribution / Packages.

  4. Verify that the Microsoft Corporation Microsoft Updates Tool 2.0 ALL was created.

  5. In the console tree, expand the package and click Programs. Verify that the following programs have been created:

    • Microsoft Updates Tool

    • Microsoft Updates Tool (expedited)

    • Microsoft Updates Tool IA64

    • Microsoft Updates Tool IA64 (expedited)

    • Microsoft Updates Tool Sync

    • Microsoft Updates Tool x64

    • Microsoft Updates Tool x64 (expedited)

  6. In the Configuration Manager console, navigate to Configuration Manager / Site Database / Computer Management / Collections.

  7. Verify that the following collections have been created:

    • Microsoft Updates Tool

    • Microsoft Updates Tool (pre-production)

    • Microsoft Updates Tool IA64

    • Microsoft Updates Tool Sync

    • Microsoft Updates Tool x64

Verify the Synchronization Components

The synchronization host uses the Microsoft Updates Tool Sync advertisement to retrieve the latest software updates catalog and update the site server database. Use the following procedure to verify that the advertisement has completed successfully.

To verify that the synchronization component advertisement completed

  1. In the Configuration Manager console, navigate to System Center Configuration Manager / Site Database / Computer Management / System Status / Advertisement Status / Microsoft Updates Tool Sync.

  2. One primary site should be listed in the results pane. Right-click the site name, highlight Show Messages, and click All to open the Status Message Viewer for the site.

  3. Review the status messages for the advertisement to determine its success. When finished, exit the viewer.

  4. Navigate to <InstallationPath>\Microsoft Updates Inventory Tool\PkgSource using Windows Explorer to check that the synchronization files are in the package source directory on the site server. Verify that the Wsusscn2.cab file is present and that it has a recent time stamp.

    Note
    The folder listed in this step assumes that the default folder was selected during the Inventory Tool for Microsoft Updates installation and that you are browsing to it from the local system.

  5. In the Configuration Manager console, navigate to System Center Configuration Manager / Site Database / Computer Management / Software Distribution / Packages.

  6. Identify the package ID for the Microsoft Updates Sync advertisement by looking at the last column.

  7. Verify that the synchronization files are in the package folder on the distribution point by navigating to <distribution point server name>\SMSPKG<driveletter>$\<packageID>, where package ID is the one identified in the previous step. Verify that the inventory scan tool files are in this folder. Close Windows Explorer.

Monitor the Synchronization Process

After the Inventory Tool for Microsoft Updates installation has completed, the synchronization process starts. Use the following procedure to monitor the synchronization process.

To monitor the synchronization process

  • To monitor the synchronization process, view the wsyncmgr.log file. When the synchronization process completes successfully, status message 6710 - SMS Legacy Update Synchronization done is created and recorded in the log file and is available by looking at the status messages for SMS_WSUS_SYNC_MANAGER under the Component Status node for the site.

    Note
    The synchronization process might take in excess of one hour to complete. When the software updates display in the Configuration Manager console and the Deployable to SMS 2003 column for the update has a value of Yes, you can deploy the software update to SMS 2003 clients.

Verify the Test Client Sent Software Updates Scan Results

During the initial installation of the Inventory Tool for Microsoft Updates, the test client computer that was configured during the installation receives the inventory scan tool advertisement, scans for required software updates, and sends the information back to the site server. Use the following procedure to verify that the test client completed this process.

To verify that the test client sent software updates scan results

  1. In the Configuration Manager console, navigate to System Center Configuration Manager / Site Database / Computer Management / Reporting / Reports.

  2. Right-click Compliance for software updates on a specific computer, and then click Run.

  3. Specify the name for the test client computer, and then click Display.

  4. The report should show the results of the software updates scan on the client.

Distribute the Inventory Tool for Microsoft Updates to Clients

The Inventory Tool for Microsoft Updates can be installed more broadly by removing the collection-limiting query from the Microsoft Updates Tool collection. The Inventory Tool for Microsoft Update advertisement should target only SMS 2003 client computers.

Important
When the Inventory Tool for Microsoft Updates is upgraded, the advertisement that was previously used to install the tool on clients continues to be used. It is highly recommended that this advertisement be modified to target a collection of computers with only the SMS 2003 client.

Configuration Manager client computers should scan for software update compliance by using the software updates feature in Configuration Manager 2007. These client computers will use the Windows Update Agent to connect directly to the Windows Server Update Services server, and then send state messages with software update compliance. For more information, see About the Software Updates Process. Use the following procedure to remove the collection-limiting query and make the inventory scan tool available to all clients that meet the minimum requirements.

To remove collection-limiting query from the Microsoft Updates Tool collection

  1. In the Configuration Manager console, navigate to System Center Configuration Manager / Site Database / Computer Management / Collections.

  2. Right-click the Microsoft Updates Tool collection, and then click Properties.

  3. Click the Membership Rules tab, right-click the Collection Query rule, and then click Properties.

  4. In the Collection limiting section, select Not collection limited, click OK, and then click OK. The clients targeted for Inventory Tool for Microsoft Updates installation receive the inventory scan tool advertisement, scan for applicable software updates, and send the information back to the site server.

See Also