Software Update Point

As discussed in  “Installation and Site Role Configuration,” the software update point is a site system role that is required for managing software updates in Configuration Manager. Each Configuration Manager site must have at least one software update point that is able to synchronize with a source like Microsoft Update before it can deploy software updates to Configuration Manager clients. The software update point role can only be configured on a server that already has Windows Server Update Services (WSUS) 3.0 SP2 installed. The software update point software provides the bridge between the WSUS components and Configuration Manager. It allows synchronization with the WSUS database to download the latest software update information from Microsoft Update and locally published updates.

When the software update point site system role is created and configured as the software update point that synchronizes with a synchronization source, the software update point components are installed and enabled. The WSUS Control Manager component configures the associated WSUS server with the settings that were chosen when you set up the software update point site system role.

When you are deploying a Central Administration Site (CAS), you need to install the software update point in the CAS first.

The software update point settings can be changed from the Software Update Component Properties window via the Configuration Manager console:

1. Choose the System Center 2012 Configuration Manager console ➢ Administration ➢ Overview ➢ Site Configuration ➢ Sites.
2. Select the site for which you want to change properties.
3. Choose Configure Site Components ➢ software update point.

The software update point settings can modify the software update point site system server, the synchronization source, the schedule, and the products, classifications, and languages for which software updates will be synced with the database.

The first time the software update point completes its synchronization; the Software Updates client agent components are activated from a dormant state and will connect on a schedule to WSUS on the software update point server to start a scan for update scan compliance, as described earlier.