Information Technology Reference
In-Depth Information
is within the OU to which the software settings apply. When you log in, you will notice two
changes. First the application is installed on the computer (if it was not installed already).
To access the application, a user needs to click one of the icons within the Program group
of the Start menu. Note also that applications are available to any of the users who log on
to this machine. Second, the settings apply to any computers that are contained within the
OU and to any users who log on to these computers.
If you publish an application to users, the change may not be as evident, but it is equally
useful. When you log on to a Windows 8, Windows 7, or Windows Vista computer that is a
member of the domain, and when you use a user account from the OU where you published
the application, you will be able to install any of the published applications automatically.
On a Windows 8 or Windows 7 computer, you can do this by accessing the Programs icon
in Control Panel. By clicking Add New Programs, you access a display of the applications
available for installation. By clicking the Add button in the Add New Programs section
of the Programs dialog box, you will automatically begin the installation of the published
application.
Configuring Automatic Updates in Group Policy
So far you've seen the advantages of deploying application software in a group policy.
Group policies also provide a way to install operating system updates across the network
for Windows 2000, XP, Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows Server 2003, Windows
Server 2008, Windows Server 2008 R2, Windows Server 2012, and Windows Server 2012
R2 machines using Windows Update in conjunction with Windows Server Update Service.
WSUS is the newer version of SUS, and it is used on a Windows Server 2012 R2 system to
update systems. As you may remember, WSUS and SUS are patch-management tools that
help you deploy updates to your systems in a controlled manner.
Windows Update is available through the Microsoft website, and it is used to provide
the most current files for Windows operating systems. Examples of updates include security
fixes, critical updates, updated help files, and updated drivers. You can access Windows
Update by clicking the Windows Update icon in the system tray.
WSUS is used to leverage the features of Windows Update within a corporate
environment by downloading Windows updates to a corporate server, which in turn
provides the updates to the internal corporate clients. This allows administrators to test
and have full control over what updates are deployed within the corporate environment.
Within an enterprise network that is using Active Directory, you would typically see
automatic updates configured through Group Policy. Group policies are used to manage
configuration and security settings via Active Directory. Group Policy is also used to
specify what server a client will use for automatic updates.
If the WSUS client were part of an enterprise network that is using Active Directory, you
would configure the client via a group policy.
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