Can I automatically cache Windows Update on my local network

[Guest]

I have recently kicked the tyres on ubuntu linux and am immediately impressed
by the ease with which apt-cacher was setup to locally cache the many and
varied optional software packages and package updates.

This is a huge bandwidth saving on my broadband connection which is also
utilized for VOIP telephony. My monopolistic Australian ISP is infamous for
metering downloaded data and imposing speed shaping after a certain monthly
threshold is reached, so locally caching these packages for reuse on
subsequent reinstalls or for reuse by other hosts on the local network is a
further benefit. As I type this I am enduring a shaped 'broadband' connection
of 64kbps !

So this begs the questions:
1) Is the similar caching function possible for Windows Updates?
2) If so are there any cautions or filters that are best applied. (e.g. I'm
thinking that the mandated WGA authentication may pose special requirements
on the proxy.)
3) Is there free software to implement this?

There are three WinXP machines on my local network as well as the occasional
laptop visitor. I currently make use of the 'Administrators Options' link at
the Windows Update page to locate and download offline/redistributable
versions of the BIGGER update files - SP2, dotNET (1,2&3), IE, WMplayer,
MSN/Live Messenger and DirectX. This is a manual caching technique that would
be better if it were automated.

I am still reading about Squid (another local cache solution that runs on
linux) and it seems there have been mixed results using Squid to cache
Windows Update traffic.

Any advice or pointers will be welcome!
- - -
microsoft.public.windowsxp.network_web,
microsoft.public.windowsxp.help_and_support,
microsoft.public.windowsxp.general

 

[Guest]

There is a free system called autopatcher.

There is also my updater script - http://mylogon.net/sus/ - which requires
you to download manually but simplifies redistributing the patches.

 

[Guest]

Thank you. AutoPatcher ( http://www.autopatcher.com/faq/ ) should 'fit the
bill' very nicely.

 

[thomson]

Is the similar caching function possible for Windows Updates?

you might have a look on http://wuinstall, it is a command line tool, which has several more options/features compaired to the "normal" windows update. for example it has also a caching features, which you are looking for. with the command

wuinstall /install_cache c:\folder

a machine firstly searches for a needed update in the specified folder (which should be normally a shared folder on the local network). if the update isnt available there, the machine dowloads it from the windows updates server and publishes it in the shared folder for further installations.