Windows Update Modules
Windows Update modules are used to deploy specific windows updates that are in .cab or .msu format. Specific windows updates can be downloaded from https://www.catalog.update.microsoft.com/ Modules are then assigned to policies to control how they are deployed to the target computers. They can also be deployed to a single computer without the need of creating a policy by using the Instant Module runner.
Search
The search page allows you to view, delete, and archive existing modules. When a module is no longer needed, best practice is to archive the module.
Archiving a module keeps all historical data about the module and if the module is needed again at a later date, it can easily be restored.
Windows Update modules can be filtered by the module name and category
Actions
| Action | Description |
|---|---|
| Archive Selected | Archives all of the selected modules |
| Delete Selected | Permanently deletes all of the selected modules |
New
The new page allows you to create a new Windows Update module.
| Field | Description |
|---|---|
| Display Name | The name of the module, module names must be unique and contain only alphanumeric characters, space, underscore, or dash. |
| Description | The description field is optional for you to give a short description for what the module does. |
| Timeout | A timeout value where the installation should give up, specified in minutes. The default value is 0 or unlimited. |
| Log Standard Output | If this is enabled, any output from the installation will try to be written to the log file on the client. |
| Log Standard Error | If this is enabled, any errors from the installation will try to be written to the log file on the client. |
| Success Codes | Success codes are very important. The only way Theopenem can recognize if an installation was successful is by the exit code that is returned to it. If this exit code matches any number in this field, it is marked as successful. The default value is 0,1641,3010 which covers most applications. You should modify this field only if you know that application uses a different exit code success value. Each value must be separated by only a single comma. |
Archived
The archived page allows you view, restore, and permanently delete archived modules.
Archived software modules can be filtered by the module name.
Actions
| Action | Description |
|---|---|
| Delete Selected | Permanently deletes all of the selected modules |
Note
The following additional pages are available after a module is added or when selecting the view button on a specific module from the search page.
General
The General page allows you to update the general options for the module. It shows the same options as the New page, with the exception of the following additional fields.
| Field | Description |
|---|---|
| GUID | Each module is automatically assigned a guid for an id. This is read only and only for reference. |
| Additional Arguments | Additional Arguments are where the user can define any extra parameters the update should run with. |
Actions
| Action | Description |
|---|---|
| Update Module | Updates the module with any changes you have made |
| Archive Module | Archives the current module |
| Delete Module | Permanently deletes the current module |
Upload Files
The upload files page is where you add or remove your .msu or .cab files. Uploading Windows Update module files will only accept extensions of .msu or .cab. Only 2 files can be uploaded and they must both be .msu or .cab, not 1 of each.
Finally, if you are using multiple Client Communication Servers, you will be prompted to replicate the files to all servers when uploading is complete.
You must stay on the upload files page while files are uploading, navigating to a different page will stop the upload.
Files can be select from the Select Files button or by drag and drop into the file box. Click Upload when you are ready to upload all of the selected files. There is no Actions drop down button to upload the files.
Actions
| Action | Description |
|---|---|
| Archive Module | Archives the current module |
| Delete Module | Permanently deletes the current module |
Usages
The usages page allows you quickly see which Polices, Computers, or Groups currently have the module assigned to them. Use the Usage Type drop down list to switch b/w Policies, Groups, or Computers.
Actions
| Action | Description |
|---|---|
| Archive Module | Archives the current module |
| Delete Module | Permanently deletes the current module |
Categories
Categories operate like tags and allow you to organize your modules and filter by them on the search page. Categories can be defined in Global Properties->Categories
Actions
| Action | Description |
|---|---|
| Update Module | Updates the module with any of the selected categories |
| Archive Module | Archives the current module |
| Delete Module | Permanently deletes the current module |
External Files
External files provide an additional way to add files to the module. Instead of uploading an existing file from your computer, you can download directly from a URL. External files were mainly created to share policies.
Policies can be exported and imported by other users. If external files are used, once the policy is imported it will also automatically download any required files.
To download external files:
- Enter a file name
- Provide the url
- Optionally provide a sha256 checksum, if the checksum doesn't match after the file is downloaded, it will be deleted.
- Click Add
- Once all files are added, click Actions, then Download Files
File Downloads run async, you can navigate away from the page once the download starts Finally there is button to sync servers when downloads are complete, this should be enabled before starting the download if you want to replicate all Client Communication Servers when complete.
Actions
| Action | Description |
|---|---|
| Download Files | Downloads all files that have been specified in the grid |
| Archive Module | Archives the current module |
| Delete Module | Permanently deletes the current module |