The Distribute Software Updates Wizard cannot automatically download service packs (838435)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Systems Management Server 2003
  • Microsoft Systems Management Server 2.0

SYMPTOMS

When you use the Distribute Software Updates Wizard in Microsoft Systems Management Server (SMS) 2.0 with the Software Update Services (SUS) Feature Pack installed, you may be able to authorize service packs.

However, if you select a service pack and then click Information to obtain more information about the service pack, you receive the following error message:
Error occurred opening Not Applicable.
Additionally, if you view the properties of the service pack, the Binary Path box does not contain a valid URL. SMS cannot automatically download the service pack without a valid URL. You may also experience these symptoms with other updates and hotfixes.

CAUSE

This problem occurs because some service packs and some updates do not have a valid URL installation path in the XML catalog file (Mssecure.xml). Without a URL installation path, the Distribute Software Updates Wizard cannot download the service pack or the update, and this prevents automatic installation.

WORKAROUND

To work around this problem, manually download the service pack or the update files, and then use the Import feature in the Distribute Software Updates Wizard. To do this, follow these steps:
  1. In the SMS Administrator console, double-click Collections, and then click All Systems.

    Note You can substitute any collection for the All Systems collection.
  2. Right-click a computer, point to All Tasks, and then click Distribute Software Updates.
  3. Click Next six times to view the Add and Remove Updates list.
  4. Click to select the check box for the service pack or for the update that you want, and then click Next.
  5. Click I will download the source files myself, and then click Next.
  6. Click the service pack or the update in the list, and then click Properties.
  7. Click Import, and then locate the setup file for the service pack or for the update.
  8. Click Next six times to complete the wizard process.
These steps permit you to bundle the service pack or the patches with any patches that are automatically downloaded.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed in the "Applies to" section of this article.

MORE INFORMATION

The SMS Security Update Inventory Tool detects patches that are required on each named instance on a computer that is running Microsoft SQL Server. When you select patches for Microsoft SQL Server in the Distribute Software Updates Wizard, you must specify in the command-line the instance or the instances where you want to install the update. If you do not specify the SQL instance, the update is applied to all applicable instances. In the wizard, the instance name is appended to required service packs that are detected, and therefore, each instance appears separately.

Because each instance appears separately, you must authorize each instance that requires the service pack. You must also make sure that the correct command-line parameters are used to limit the installation of the service pack to the correct named instance or instances.
Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:6/13/2005
Keywords:kbCollections kbsmsUtil kbsmsAdmin kberrmsg kbUpgrade kbSoftwareDist kbMiscTools kbnofix kbBug KB838435 kbAudITPRO
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