PatchAholic...The WSUS Blog!

We have been hearing a lot on Windows Server 2003 R2 Beta 2. What is this??

To answer your questions, see What’s New in Windows Server 2003 R2 Beta 2

Happy Reading!
Mohammed Athif Khaleel
MVP - SUS / WSUS
Windows Server Update Services Wiki
http://www.wsuswiki.com/Athifs
"Save the Internet. Keep all Systems Patched"

Want to know about a particular File Extension which is new to you.?

FILExt is a detailed database of file extensions and programs that use them. FILExt is not a general support site. A search on the database here might very well result in multiple possibilities; it will be up to you to determine which, if any, of these are the program/format you require information about.

FILExt has a discussion forum where you can ask questions and perhaps provide answers.

Check out all the file extensions on your machine and help FILExt by sending the same thru the .BAT file which you will find here.

Happy Reading!
Mohammed Athif Khaleel
MVP - SUS / WSUS
Windows Server Update Services Wiki
http://www.wsuswiki.com/Athifs
"Save the Internet. Keep all Systems Patched"

Free Guides / e-Books from Realtimepublishers; you will have to register on the site for access and answer some questions to download the guides.

http://cc.realtimepublishers.com/portal.aspx?pubid=338

Happy Reading!
Mohammed Athif Khaleel
MVP - SUS / WSUS
Windows Server Update Services Wiki
http://www.wsuswiki.com/Athifs
"Save the Internet. Keep all Systems Patched"

This site explains how to send effective email replies. It discusses why email etiquette is necessary, lists email etiquette rules, and explains how to enforce these rules by creating a company email policy.

Below is a list of 31 most important email etiquette rules that apply to nearly all companies.

32 most important email etiquette tips: http://www.emailreplies.com/index.html

Happy Reading!
Mohammed Athif Khaleel
MVP - SUS / WSUS
Windows Server Update Services Wiki
http://www.wsuswiki.com/Athifs
"Save the Internet. Keep all Systems Patched"

Eric Schultze is to patching what J.K. Rowling is to fantasy fiction: the Big Kahuna. Shavlik's Eric Schultze sounds off on WSUS, hackers and more.

Full story on http://www.redmondmag.com/reports/article.asp?editorialsID=149#comment

Happy Reading!
Mohammed Athif Khaleel
MVP - SUS / WSUS
Windows Server Update Services Wiki
http://www.wsuswiki.com/Athifs
"Save the Internet. Keep all Systems Patched"

Hello Folks,

I want to pass this information; Actually, I have been interviewed by searchwindowssecurity on "The value of security advisories" and a BUG which we added on WSUS WIKI, WSUS print status problem.

Check it out here; http://searchwindowssecurity.techtarget.com/originalContent/0,289142,sid45_gci1092196,00.html?track=NL-118&ad=514406

Happy Reading!
Mohammed Athif Khaleel
MVP - SUS / WSUS
Windows Server Update Services Wiki
http://www.wsuswiki.com/Athifs
"Save the Internet. Keep all Systems Patched"

In continuation to my Post on WSUS OEP news group is not working!, I got a confirmation from WSUS Team as follows;

“They did a newsgroup migration to a new server and require all external users to do the following:

If you are using the betanews internal server MSBETANEWS; you have to delete and re-create your account on Outlook Express to use “betanews.microsoft.com”.  External testers will also have to delete and re-create their accounts on Outlook Express.  Use the following steps:

·         Launch Outlook Express.

·         From top navigation bar, select Tools, then Accounts.

·         Select the Add button. Click News, and then follow the instructions in the Internet Connection Wizard.

·         Enter your name and e-mail address when prompted and choose Next after each entry.

·         On the Internet News Server Name Page, enter betanews.microsoft.com and check the box My news server requires me to log on. Click Next.

·         For account name, enter either your BetaID (external users) or internal account name (product group team account). Do NOT use “\betanews” in front of account name.

·         Enter your password, then click Next.

·         Click Finish.

·         Select Close and begin downloading your newsgroup(s)”

NOTE: Instead of the old user name "betanews\wusoepnews", use "wusoepnews" (password is still "Update").

Happy Reading!
Mohammed Athif Khaleel
MVP - SUS / WSUS
Windows Server Update Services Wiki
http://www.wsuswiki.com/Athifs
"Save the Internet. Keep all Systems Patched"

WSUS OEP News Group  is not working! ...again checking with the WSUS Team.

Torgeir Bakken (MVP) suggests, Instead of the old user name "betanews\wusoepnews", use "wusoepnews" (password is still "Update") But that doesn't work either, you get a message “News Group Not Available“.

This is For Your Information.

Happy Reading!
Mohammed Athif Khaleel
MVP - SUS / WSUS
Windows Server Update Services Wiki
http://www.wsuswiki.com/Athifs
"Save the Internet. Keep all Systems Patched"

Interesting blog entry - Windows Genuine Advantage Circumvented on Security Biz Blog

Happy Reading!
Mohammed Athif Khaleel
MVP - SUS / WSUS
Windows Server Update Services Wiki
http://www.wsuswiki.com/Athifs
"Save the Internet. Keep all Systems Patched"

Contribute your Ideas, Join the team;

Your ideas can impact Windows Server in many ways, and might even be incorporated into new Service Packs, Feature Packs, or the next Windows Server release.

Check out https://www.windowsserverfeedback.com

Jim says, Microsoft listens; let them hear you They DO monitor these and the suggestions get routed the product group managers.

For all Microsoft products, use mswish@microsoft.com.

For Exchange Server, exwish@microsoft.com.

If you have ideas for Microsoft products or feature suggestions, please let Microsoft know about them.

Happy Reading!
Mohammed Athif Khaleel
MVP - SUS / WSUS
Windows Server Update Services Wiki
http://www.wsuswiki.com/Athifs
"Save the Internet. Keep all Systems Patched"

I highly recommend these 2 Office links;

Interesting Crabby Office Lady columns from Office Online http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/FX010778051033.aspx

Downloads for Office 2003; Find all Add-ins | Updates | Converters | Samples & Tutorials in one place
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/officeupdate/CD010224941033.aspx

Happy Reading!
Mohammed Athif Khaleel
MVP - SUS / WSUS
Windows Server Update Services Wiki
http://www.wsuswiki.com/Athifs
"Save the Internet. Keep all Systems Patched"

The Microsoft Security Response Center blogs Sasser Worm Anniversary & MSRC Learnings. Take a look @ Microsoft Security Response Center

Happy Reading!
Mohammed Athif Khaleel
MVP - SUS / WSUS
Windows Server Update Services Wiki
http://www.wsuswiki.com/Athifs
"Save the Internet. Keep all Systems Patched"

Hello Folks,

I will be blogging for Security Biz Blog, http://securitybiz.blog.co.uk as a Co-Author aka 'secnotes'. You will find all the security related stuff here.

My first blog entry Hackers Circulate Fake Microsoft Security Update

Happy Reading!
Mohammed Athif Khaleel
MVP - SUS / WSUS
Windows Server Update Services Wiki
http://www.wsuswiki.com/Athifs
"Save the Internet. Keep all Systems Patched"

In continuation to my Blog on Warning: SQL SP# 4 thanks to Kevin's blog, for a series of SQL 2005 webcast series

And, SQL folks should check out SQL Server Health and History Tool (SQLH2)

Happy Reading!
Mohammed Athif Khaleel
MVP - SUS / WSUS
Windows Server Update Services Wiki
http://www.wsuswiki.com/Athifs
"Save the Internet. Keep all Systems Patched"

Warning:

Microsoft has found an issue with the final build of SP4 that impacts customers who run SQL Server with Address Windowing Extensions (AWE) support enabled.

This issue only impacts computers with more than two gigabytes (2 GB) of memory where AWE has been explicitly enabled. If you have this configuration, you should not install SP4. Microsoft is currently working on the problem and will issue an update soon.

http://www.microsoft.com/sql/downloads/2000/sp4.asp

Happy Reading!
Mohammed Athif Khaleel
MVP - SUS / WSUS
Windows Server Update Services Wiki
http://www.wsuswiki.com/Athifs
"Save the Internet. Keep all Systems Patched"

Hello Folks,

I just got an email from Glen Conway about a new community site which he started, Flarepath Patch Database.

Flarepath Patch Database is basically a site which lists patch experience aka patch experience database. Here, you can share your experience in implementing those patches and gotchas if any.

Search a patch with the KB number, select the OS and Bingo.

Check out other peoples' experience with patches before you do yours, http://www.flarepath.com/patchdb/

This site is just started & Contributions are always welcome!

Happy Reading!
Mohammed Athif Khaleel
MVP - SUS / WSUS
Windows Server Update Services Wiki
http://www.wsuswiki.com/Athifs
"Save the Internet. Keep all Systems Patched"

[Just read about this on one of the blogs]

These guides step through the fundamentals of the Windows Server 2003 operating system, with emphasis on features enabled by Active Directory.

Learn about common scenarios, including desktop and server management, the Group Policy Management Console, and using Active Directory to strengthen security.

You will find all the step-by-step guides here

Happy Reading!
Mohammed Athif Khaleel
MVP - SUS / WSUS
Windows Server Update Services Wiki
http://www.wsuswiki.com/Athifs
"Save the Internet. Keep all Systems Patched"

The Security Configuration Wizard documentation set contains deployment, extensibility options and troubleshooting tips to assist you in running SCW.

The SCW Quick Start Guide tells how to begin using SCW right away.

The SCW Deployment Guide tells you what you need to know in order to deploy SCW and SCW security policies to your servers.

Extending the Security Configuration Wizard describes how the server roles database that is included with SCW can be extended with custom server roles.

Troubleshooting the Security Configuration Wizard provides steps to take if you’re having difficulty using SCW, such as if SCW policies are not taking effect.

Happy Reading!
Mohammed Athif Khaleel
MVP - SUS / WSUS
Windows Server Update Services Wiki
http://www.wsuswiki.com/Athifs
"Save the Internet. Keep all Systems Patched"

Learn more about Security with one stop link;

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/securityitpro

Happy Reading!
Mohammed Athif Khaleel
MVP - SUS / WSUS
Windows Server Update Services Wiki
http://www.wsuswiki.com/Athifs
"Save the Internet. Keep all Systems Patched"