I need to reset the 'download this' status of all files

[SuperGumby [SBS MVP]]

Windows Server 2003 (I'll point out that it's not SBS) had WSUS 2 installed.
Automatic approval was set to detect only and due to limited space on the
server only updates detected as required were approved. WSUS2 was also set
to only download approved updates. Server + 7 XP Pro ws's.

WSUS3 has been installed and _I think due to the autoapproval rule_ the
server suddenly wants to download 14GB of files I don't need. There is not
only no space for this (about 5 of 20GB free) but the data transfer will
result in the ISP connection being saturated for a significant time and
slowed to 64Kbps for the rest of the month once 10GB transfer is reached.

SO. I've gone in and set _all_ updates to 'not approved' except those
previously declined. I've then removed the auto-approve rule, cancelled the
downloads and restarted the server. A soon as WSUS syncs it wants to
download 14GB of files again.

any thoughts appreciated.

[Lawrence Garvin (MVP)]

Post by SuperGumby [SBS MVP]
Windows Server 2003 (I'll point out that it's not SBS) had WSUS 2
installed. Automatic approval was set to detect only and due to limited
space on the server only updates detected as required were approved. WSUS2
was also set to only download approved updates. Server + 7 XP Pro ws's.
WSUS3 has been installed and _I think due to the autoapproval rule_ the
server suddenly wants to download 14GB of files I don't need. There is not
only no space for this (about 5 of 20GB free) but the data transfer will
result in the ISP connection being saturated for a significant time and
slowed to 64Kbps for the rest of the month once 10GB transfer is reached.
SO. I've gone in and set _all_ updates to 'not approved' except those
previously declined. I've then removed the auto-approve rule, cancelled
the downloads and restarted the server. A soon as WSUS syncs it wants to
download 14GB of files again.
any thoughts appreciated.

You need to cancel the already pending download queue requests using
BITSADMIN v2.0.

As an interim step, while finding the BITSADMIN utility, you can STOP the
BITS service and set it to DISABLED.
--
Lawrence Garvin, M.S., MCTS, MCP
Independent WSUS Evangelist
MVP-Software Distribution (2005-2007)
https://mvp.support.microsoft.com/profile=30E00990-8F1D-4774-BD62-D095EB07B36E

Everything you need for WSUS is at
http://technet2.microsoft.com/windowsserver/en/technologies/featured/wsus/default.mspx

And, almost everything else is at
http://wsusinfo.onsitechsolutions.com
....

[SuperGumby [SBS MVP]]

tks Lawrence,

meanwhile I've got fed up with it and told WSUS to allow all PC's to
download direct from MS and also run the 'cleanup wiz', so now all updates
are gone from local storage. Having 8 PC's download only what they need was
preferable to what WSUS wanted to do.

SO, I use BITSADMIN to reset the BITS status to download nothing. I then
set WSUS to only download 'approved for install' and auto-approve to 'detect
only', also setting all existing updates (except superseded) to 'detect
only'. This way any new updates are detected and I can approve for install,
at which time they get downloaded, and my now empty file repository will
slowly gather required files. Should I add a, say, clean install XPSP2, it
will trigger 'detect only' at which time I can 'approve for install' and
come back some time later to have the files in the repository and ready to
apply to this and any other ws.

Key being that I don't want to download files I don't need, 'coz I'm short
on space (now 9GB free).

Post by Lawrence Garvin (MVP)

Post by SuperGumby [SBS MVP]
Windows Server 2003 (I'll point out that it's not SBS) had WSUS 2
installed. Automatic approval was set to detect only and due to limited
space on the server only updates detected as required were approved.
WSUS2 was also set to only download approved updates. Server + 7 XP Pro
ws's.
WSUS3 has been installed and _I think due to the autoapproval rule_ the
server suddenly wants to download 14GB of files I don't need. There is
not only no space for this (about 5 of 20GB free) but the data transfer
will result in the ISP connection being saturated for a significant time
and slowed to 64Kbps for the rest of the month once 10GB transfer is
reached.
SO. I've gone in and set _all_ updates to 'not approved' except those
previously declined. I've then removed the auto-approve rule, cancelled
the downloads and restarted the server. A soon as WSUS syncs it wants to
download 14GB of files again.
any thoughts appreciated.

You need to cancel the already pending download queue requests using
BITSADMIN v2.0.
As an interim step, while finding the BITSADMIN utility, you can STOP the
BITS service and set it to DISABLED.
--
Lawrence Garvin, M.S., MCTS, MCP
Independent WSUS Evangelist
MVP-Software Distribution (2005-2007)
https://mvp.support.microsoft.com/profile=30E00990-8F1D-4774-BD62-D095EB07B36E
Everything you need for WSUS is at
http://technet2.microsoft.com/windowsserver/en/technologies/featured/wsus/default.mspx
And, almost everything else is at
http://wsusinfo.onsitechsolutions.com
....

[SuperGumby [SBS MVP]]

if I do a 'bitsadmin /list' on the server currently it lists 0 jobs

Post by Lawrence Garvin (MVP)

Post by SuperGumby [SBS MVP]
Windows Server 2003 (I'll point out that it's not SBS) had WSUS 2
installed. Automatic approval was set to detect only and due to limited
space on the server only updates detected as required were approved.
WSUS2 was also set to only download approved updates. Server + 7 XP Pro
ws's.
WSUS3 has been installed and _I think due to the autoapproval rule_ the
server suddenly wants to download 14GB of files I don't need. There is
not only no space for this (about 5 of 20GB free) but the data transfer
will result in the ISP connection being saturated for a significant time
and slowed to 64Kbps for the rest of the month once 10GB transfer is
reached.
SO. I've gone in and set _all_ updates to 'not approved' except those
previously declined. I've then removed the auto-approve rule, cancelled
the downloads and restarted the server. A soon as WSUS syncs it wants to
download 14GB of files again.
any thoughts appreciated.

You need to cancel the already pending download queue requests using
BITSADMIN v2.0.
As an interim step, while finding the BITSADMIN utility, you can STOP the
BITS service and set it to DISABLED.
--
Lawrence Garvin, M.S., MCTS, MCP
Independent WSUS Evangelist
MVP-Software Distribution (2005-2007)
https://mvp.support.microsoft.com/profile=30E00990-8F1D-4774-BD62-D095EB07B36E
Everything you need for WSUS is at
http://technet2.microsoft.com/windowsserver/en/technologies/featured/wsus/default.mspx
And, almost everything else is at
http://wsusinfo.onsitechsolutions.com
....

[Lawrence Garvin (MVP)]

Post by SuperGumby [SBS MVP]
if I do a 'bitsadmin /list' on the server currently it lists 0 jobs

[a] You must be logged in as local admin.
[b] You must use the /ALLUSERS switch, because the BITS jobs are queued
under the "NTAUTHORITY\Network Service" account context. Not using this
switch will give you only the jobs for the currently logged in user.
--
Lawrence Garvin, M.S., MCTS, MCP
Independent WSUS Evangelist
MVP-Software Distribution (2005-2007)
https://mvp.support.microsoft.com/profile=30E00990-8F1D-4774-BD62-D095EB07B36E

Everything you need for WSUS is at
http://technet2.microsoft.com/windowsserver/en/technologies/featured/wsus/default.mspx

And, almost everything else is at
http://wsusinfo.onsitechsolutions.com
....