The Deploy Software Updates Wizard in Configuration Manager 2007 allows you to create a software update deployment, which deploys software updates to clients in the target collection. Software updates can be deployed to Systems Management Server (SMS) 2003 clients in the hierarchy as long as the updates are compatible with the clients. Each software update contains the Deployable to SMS 2003 property, and when the Configuration Manager Inventory Tool for Microsoft Updates has synchronized, the setting is set to Yes for synchronized updates. Only the software updates that have a value of Yes for this property can be deployed to SMS 2003 clients. When software updates are selected for deployment and at least one update is not deployable to SMS 2003 clients, the option to deploy software updates to SMS 2003 clients is not available.

The software updates that can be deployed to SMS 2003 clients can be selected from several different locations in the Configuration Manager console and the wizard can be initiated in different ways. You can also create a new advertisement from the SMS 2003 Programs console tree node under the package that contains the software update. For more information about deploying software updates to SMS 2003 clients, see the "Planning for SMS 2003 Deployments" section in Planning for a Software Update Deployment

When a software update deployment is created or modified that targets SMS 2003 clients, clients will receive the policy on their next machine policy cycle and the updates will be available for installation after the configured start time.

The following procedure provides the steps necessary to deploy software updates to SMS 2003 clients.

Procedure

To deploy software updates to SMS 2003 clients

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

  2. Specify the software updates to be deployed to SMS 2003 clients. For more information about finding software updates, see How to Find Software Updates in Configuration Manager.

    Note
    To select multiple software updates, press and hold CTRL and click each update to deploy.

  3. Start the Deploy Software Updates Wizard using one of the following methods:

    1. Right-click the highlighted software updates, or the update list, and then click Deploy Software Updates.

    2. Drag-and-drop the highlighted software updates, or the update list, to a deployment template that has Deploy to SMS 2003 clients enabled. The deployment is configured with the settings from the template, and the wizard requests information only about the collection (if not specified in the template), deployment package (if the update is not in an existing package), download location (if the update is not in an existing package), deployment schedule, and NAP effective date (not applicable to SMS 2003 clients).

    3. Drag-and-drop the highlighted software updates, or the update list, to a deployment. The configured settings for the deployment are maintained, and the wizard requests information only about the deployment package (if the update is not in an existing package), download location (if the update is not in an existing package), deployment schedule, and NAP effective date (not applicable to SMS 2003 clients).

  4. Follow the steps in the wizard to create or modify the deployment. If a deployment template was not used to initiate the deployment, enable Deploy software updates to SMS 2003 clients and configure the SMS 2003 specific settings on the SMS 2003 Settings page.

    Important
    When this setting is disabled in an active deployment that includes SMS 2003 clients, this setting cannot be enabled again. The corresponding program and advertisement created for SMS 2003 clients are disabled. Before permanently disabling this deployment for SMS 2003 clients, make sure this is the intended action.

  5. When the Deploy Software Updates Wizard completes, the deployment displays in the Deployment Management node. The advertisement used to deploy updates to SMS 2003 clients is displayed in SMS2003 Advertisements. If a deployment template definition was saved, it displays in the Deployment Templates node. If a deployment package was created, it displays in the Deployment Packages node. The Refresh action might be needed on each node for the objects to display.

    Note
    To modify the properties for a deployment, right-click the deployment in the Deployment Management console tree node, and then click Properties.

See Also