5 ways to install updates on Windows Server 2008 R2 Core

Network Administration - In Windows Server 2008, Server Core installation provides a minimal environment just to run the necessary server roles, which can reduce maintenance requirements as well as management or administration. Another key is reducing the attack surface on server roles.

However, one of the difficulties in using Server Core is the management aspect. Luckily for us, most management difficulties can be solved using hand-crafted scripts and third-party and recent graphical user interface tools. is SCONFIG tool.

After properly configuring Server Core and ready to deploy it to the server system, you must definitely download and install the latest Windows Server 2008 R2 updates from Microsoft's Windows Update page. . So how do you do this task?

There are many ways to help you accomplish this task, here are 5 methods that we want to introduce to you.

Method 1: Install the updates yourself

To install updates, you need to configure the Server Core machine so that it can automatically download and install updates:
At the command prompt:

  • To verify the current settings, type:
  • cscript scregedit.wsf / AU / v

    Picture 1 of 5 ways to install updates on Windows Server 2008 R2 Core

  • To enable automatic upgrades, type:
  • cscript scregedit.wsf / AU 4

    Picture 2 of 5 ways to install updates on Windows Server 2008 R2 Core

  • To disable automatic upgrade, type:
  • cscript scregedit.wsf / AU 1

    The problem with this setting is that you cannot control which updates are being downloaded and being installed. So if you don't want to enable automatic updates, you can manually download each upgrade from Microsoft's Windows Update page, transfer them to the Core machine, and install them using msiexec.exe or wusa.exe :

    Msiexec (command line options)

    http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc759262(WS.10).aspx

    Description of the Windows Update Stand-alone installer (Wusa.exe) and of .msu files in Windows Vista and in Windows Server 2008

    http://support.microsoft.com/kb/934307/en-us

    Method 2: Install from script

    You can also use the following script from MSDN:

    Search, download and install updates: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa387102(VS.85).aspx

    Set updateSession = CreateObject ("Microsoft.Update.Session")
    Set updateSearcher = updateSession.CreateupdateSearcher ()
    WScript.Echo "Searching for updates ." & vbCRLF
    Set searchResult = _
    updateSearcher.Search ("IsInstalled = 0 and Type = 'Software'")
    WScript.Echo "List of applicable items on the machine:"
    For I = 0 To searchResult.Updates.Count-1
    Set update = searchResult.Updates.Item (I)
    WScript.Echo I + 1 & ">" & update.Title
    next
    If searchResult.Updates.Count = 0 Then
    WScript.E for "There are no applicable updates."
    WScript.Quit
    End If
    WScript.E for vbCRLF & "Creating collection of updates to download:"
    Set updatesToDownload = CreateObject ("Microsoft.Update.UpdateColl")
    For I = 0 to searchResult.Updates.Count-1
    Set update = searchResult.Updates.Item (I)
    WScript.Echo I + 1 & "> adding:" & update.Title
    updatesToDownload.Add (update)
    next
    WScript.Echo vbCRLF & "Downloading updates ."
    Set downloader = updateSession.CreateUpdateDownloader ()
    downloader.Updates = updatesToDownload
    downloader.Download ()
    WScript.Echo vbCRLF & "List of downloaded updates:"
    For I = 0 To searchResult.Updates.Count-1
    Set update = searchResult.Updates.Item (I)
    If update.IsDownloaded Then
    WScript.Echo I + 1 & ">" & update.Title
    End If
    next
    Set updatesToInstall = CreateObject ("Microsoft.Update.UpdateColl")
    WScript.E for vbCRLF & _
    "Creating collections download updates to install:"
    For I = 0 To searchResult.Updates.Count-1
    set update = searchResult.Updates.Item (I)
    If update.IsDownloaded = true Then
    WScript.Echo I + 1 & "> adding:" & update.Title
    updatesToInstall.Add (update)
    End If
    next
    WScript.Echo vbCRLF & "Would you like to install updates now? (Y / N)"
    strInput = WScript.StdIn.Readline
    WScript.Echo
    If (strInput = "N" or strInput = "n") Then
    WScript.Quit
    ElseIf (strInput = "Y" or strInput = "y") Then
    WScript.E for "Installing updates ."
    Set installer = updateSession.CreateUpdateInstaller ()
    installer.Updates = updatesToInstall
    Set installationResult = installer.Install ()
    'Output results of install
    WScript.Echo "Installation Result:" & _
    installationResult.ResultCode
    WScript.Echo "Reboot Required:" & _
    installationResult.RebootRequired & vbCRLF
    WScript.Echo "Listing of updates installed" & _
    "and individual installation results:"
    For I = 0 to updatesToInstall.Count - 1
    WScript.Echo I + 1 & ">" & _
    updatesToInstall.Item (i) .Title & _
    ":" & installationResult.GetUpdateResult (i) .ResultCode
    next
    End If

    Copy the text in the script, save it under the WUA_SearchDownloadInstall.vbs file in the system32 directory and run:

    cscript WUA_SearchDownloadInstall.vbs Picture 3 of 5 ways to install updates on Windows Server 2008 R2 Core

    Picture 4 of 5 ways to install updates on Windows Server 2008 R2 Core

    Method 3: Use SCONFIG

    SCONFIG is an interesting tool to be included in R2, you can use it to manage many aspects of Server Core computers. One of those features is the ability to control Windows Updates settings, and then use it to download updates and install selectively, or install them all at once.

    To run SCONFIG, enter sconfig.cmd in the command prompt window and press Enter.

    First, activate Automatic Updates by typing "5" and press Enter.

    Picture 5 of 5 ways to install updates on Windows Server 2008 R2 Core

    Type 'a' and press Enter.

    Picture 6 of 5 ways to install updates on Windows Server 2008 R2 Core

    Next, type '6' so SCONFIG will perform a search and download missing updates.

    Picture 7 of 5 ways to install updates on Windows Server 2008 R2 Core

    You can install all missing updates, or only updates are recommended.

    Picture 8 of 5 ways to install updates on Windows Server 2008 R2 Core

    Picture 9 of 5 ways to install updates on Windows Server 2008 R2 Core

    Method 4: Visual Core Configurator 2008

    Visual Core Configurator 2008 is a tool with a graphical user interface, provided by Guillermo Musumeci. This tool is provided free of charge, you can download it from:

    CtxAdmTools - Visual Core Configurator 2008 v1.1

    After downloading this tool, copy the files to the Server Core server, or if it is a virtual machine, you can use the ISO file instead.

    Then run the tool.

    Picture 10 of 5 ways to install updates on Windows Server 2008 R2 Core

    Click the "Windows Update" icon .

    Picture 11 of 5 ways to install updates on Windows Server 2008 R2 Core

    Click the "Search for updates" button.

    Picture 12 of 5 ways to install updates on Windows Server 2008 R2 Core

    Select the updates you want to download and install, click the " Download and Install Updates" button.

    Picture 13 of 5 ways to install updates on Windows Server 2008 R2 Core

    Method 5: Install using Core Configurator 2.0

    In third-party GUI tools for Server Core, this tool is free to use and you can download it from the link below:

    Core Configurator 2.0 (Windows Server 2008 R2)

    Run Start_Coreconfig.wsf to launch the tool.

    Picture 14 of 5 ways to install updates on Windows Server 2008 R2 Core

    The latest version of Core Configurator requires .NET Framework and PowerShell, which are components that will automatically install when the tool is executed.

    Picture 15 of 5 ways to install updates on Windows Server 2008 R2 Core

    You will be reminded to join the customer experience improvement program. Accepting or denying is completely up to you.

    Picture 16 of 5 ways to install updates on Windows Server 2008 R2 Core

    Click the "Control Panel" button.

    Picture 17 of 5 ways to install updates on Windows Server 2008 R2 Core

    Click the "Windows Updates" button.

    Picture 18 of 5 ways to install updates on Windows Server 2008 R2 Core

    First, you can configure auto-update settings (Auto Updates).

    Picture 19 of 5 ways to install updates on Windows Server 2008 R2 Core

    Then press the "Check for updates" link and press the "Download updates" button.

    Picture 20 of 5 ways to install updates on Windows Server 2008 R2 Core

    You can now choose which upgrade you want to install.

    Picture 21 of 5 ways to install updates on Windows Server 2008 R2 Core

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