Synchronize software updates

Applies to: Configuration Manager (current branch)

Software update synchronization in Configuration Manager is the process of retrieving the software update metadata that meets the criteria that you configure. This includes specific products, classifications, and languages. Typically, the software update point on the central administration site, or on a stand-alone primary site, retrieves the metadata from Microsoft Update. Then, the top-level site will send a synchronization request to other sites. When a site receives the synchronization request from the parent site, the software update point for the site retrieves software updates metadata from its upstream synchronization source. For more information about software update synchronization process, see Software updates synchronization.

You configure software update synchronization to run on a schedule in the properties for the software update point at the top-level site. Once you configure the synchronization schedule, you'll typically not change the schedule as part of normal operations. However, you can manually initiate software update synchronization when it's necessary.

Schedule software updates synchronization

When you configure a schedule for software updates synchronization, the top-level software update point starts synchronization with Microsoft Update at the scheduled date and time. The custom schedule allows you to synchronize software updates on a date and time when the demands of the Windows Server Update Services (WSUS) server, site server, and network are low. For example, you can set the schedule so that software updates are synchronized every week at 2:00 AM. During the scheduled synchronization, all changes to the software updates metadata since the last scheduled synchronization are inserted into the site database. This includes new software updates metadata or metadata that has been modified, removed, or is now expired.

Use the following procedures on the top-level site to schedule software updates synchronization.

To schedule software updates synchronization

1. In the Configuration Manager console, click Administration.

2. In the Administration workspace, expand Site Configuration, and then click Sites.

3. In the results pane, click the central administration site or stand-alone primary site.

4. On the Home tab, in the Settings group, expand Configure Site Components, and then click Software Update Point.

5. In the Software Update Point Component Properties dialog box, select Enable synchronization on a schedule, and then specify the synchronization schedule.

Manually start software updates synchronization

You can manually initiate software updates synchronization on the top-level site in the Configuration Manager console from the All Software Updates node in the Software Library workspace.

Use the following procedures on the top-level site to manually initiate software updates synchronization.

To manually start software updates synchronization

1. In the Configuration Manager console that is connected to the central administration site or stand-alone primary site, click Software Library.

2. In the Software Library workspace, expand Software Updates and click All Software Updates or Software Update Groups.

3. On the Home tab, in the All Software Updates group, click Synchronize Software Updates. Click Yes in the dialog box to confirm that you want to initiate the synchronization process.

   After you initiate the synchronization process on the software update point, you can monitor the synchronization process from the Configuration Manager console for all software update points in your hierarchy. Use the following procedure to monitor the software updates synchronization process.

Monitor software updates synchronization

After you initiate the synchronization process, you can use the Configuration Manager console to monitor the process for all software update points in your hierarchy. Use the following procedure to monitor the software update synchronization process. For more information about monitoring software updates, including the synchronization process, see Monitor software updates.

To monitor the software updates synchronization process

1. In the Configuration Manager console, click Monitoring.

2. In the Monitoring workspace, click Software Update Point Synchronization Status.

   The software update points in your Configuration Manager hierarchy are displayed in the results pane. From this view, you can monitor the synchronization status for all software update points. When you want more detailed information about the synchronization process, you can review the wsyncmgr.log file that is located in <ConfigMgrInstallationPath>\Logs on each site server.

Import updates from the Microsoft Update Catalog

The top-level Software Update Point uses WSUS to get information about software updates from Microsoft into Configuration Manager. Occasionally, you might need an update that doesn't automatically synchronize into WSUS for your selected products and classifications but is available in the Microsoft Update Catalog. Updates that don't automatically synchronize into WSUS are typically meant to resolve highly specific issues. Usually if an update is available in the catalog, you can import it into WSUS. You can then synchronize it into Configuration Manager and deploy it like any other update.

To import an update from the Microsoft Update Catalog

The Import Updates action in WSUS was built using ActiveX, which is now deprecated. This import functionality within WSUS has been replaced with a PowerShell script. The script allows you to import a single update, or multiple updates, from the catalog site into WSUS.

1. Use the instructions and PowerShell script from the WSUS and the Microsoft Update Catalog site article to import updates into WSUS for your top-level software update point. There isn't a need to import into WSUS for child sites. The top-level software update point will synchronize the updates to the child sites.
2. Once the import is completed, in the Configuration Manager console, go to the Software Library workspace, expand Software Updates, and select the All Software Updates node.
3. Select Synchronize Software Updates to synchronize the newly imported updates into Configuration Manager.

Next steps

After you synchronize software updates for the first time, or after there are new classifications or products available, you must configure the new classifications and products to synchronize software updates with the new criteria.

After you synchronize software updates with the criteria that you need, manage settings for software updates.