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:

cscript scregedit.wsf / AU / v

cscript scregedit.wsf / AU 4

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

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.

Type 'a' and press Enter.

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

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

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.

Click the "Windows Update" icon .

Click the "Search for updates" button.

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

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.

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

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

Click the "Control Panel" button.

Click the "Windows Updates" button.

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

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

You can now choose which upgrade you want to install.