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We're introducing WSUS inside our network in one bigger location but our company have mutliple small offices. Our people move a lot so I would like them to use WSUS when inside main location and in other places where WSUS will be available and Windows Updates from Microsoft directly when they are roaming in our small satellite sites.

I found out that if I would like clients to use WSUS based on location they are in you have to use more or less following steps:

  1. Enable Round Robin and Netmask Ordering in the properties of your DNS server.
  2. Choose a DNS name for WSUS. For instance, wsus.example.com
  3. Create an A record in DNS for each WSUS server. Call them all wsus.example.com or whatever you have chosen as the DNS name. Give each new A record an IP address of each WSUS server.
  4. Use the DNS name you have created, wsus.example.com or equivalent, to configure group policy or otherwise distribute the WSUS server setting to the clients.
  5. Clients will now use the round robin in DNS to resolve the nearest WSUS server.

Could I use this methodology and add a new DNS record (wsus.example.com) in our small offices where WSUS is not available and point it to http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com? Will clients wanting WSUS server recognize it as Remote WSUS and get updates from Microsoft thinking it's their WSUS server? Or will it simple fail? (hope that's not too confusing).

Is there any other solution I could use for this?

Edit. We came up with another idea. If we point updates.microsoft.com in our DNS to WSUS will clients use WSUS when being locally or clients will not treat wsus as Windows Updates from Microsoft? This would actually be nice solution if it works..

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    can't you set up GPO based on the location ?
    – Steve B
    Jan 19, 2012 at 10:58
  • Is there a way other then having GPO per OU ?
    – MadBoy
    Jan 19, 2012 at 11:04
  • 1
    Certainly; in his case, using Sites and Services would be most suited.
    – adaptr
    Jan 20, 2012 at 11:32

1 Answer 1

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Why such convoluted circumventions ?

Just create a group policy that sets a WSUS server and apply it only to the computers in the subnet/site that you want to use WSUS for.

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  • We have OU's called by cities lets say Katowice, Warsaw. What if user from Katowice visits Warsaw where there's no WSUS around (but VPN tunnel works). It will download everything thru VPN link won't it? I don't think there's a way to apply GPO to only 10.10.14.0 subnet, and different gpo for 10.10.15.0? If there is I will gladly get to know about it?
    – MadBoy
    Jan 19, 2012 at 11:38
  • Hrrms. I've just read that I could assign GPO using Sites and Services which would be the good way to go. Say if I specify subnets in Sites and Services and apply GPO there will it work so that when users move around between locations it will take users IP and use correct WSUS server or WU?
    – MadBoy
    Jan 19, 2012 at 11:43
  • Take care that this GPO needs to apply to the computer!
    – adaptr
    Jan 20, 2012 at 11:32
  • Thanks. I asked another question based on this one serverfault.com/questions/351829/…
    – MadBoy
    Jan 20, 2012 at 11:40

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