How to solve problems with Windows Server Update Services (WSUS)

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To make IT administrators’ work easier, Microsoft has developed a program called Windows Server Update Services (WSUS) that helps administrators manage the updates and patches the company releases for its products. WSUS is an important part of a Windows server. Once Microsoft publishes updates on its website, WSUS downloads and distributes them over the network.

Windows Server Update Services Troubleshooting

Prerequisites

1] Users using WSUS 3.0 SP2 on Windows Server 2008 R2 must have KB4039929 update or later installed on the system.

2] For those using WSUS on Windows Server 2012 or later, the following updates or later must be installed on the system:

• Windows Server 2012 – KB 4039873
• Windows Server 2012 R2 – KB 4039871
• Windows Server 2016 – KB 4039396

Troubleshooting connection errors with WSUS

Check the following causes for troubleshooting connection errors with WSUS:

1] The WWW publishing and update service should work on the WSUS server.

2] The WSUS website or default website should run on the WSUS server.

3] Check the log at C:windowssystem32logfileshttperr for errors (where C : is the system drive).

Troubleshooting High CPU usage on the WSUS server

Press CTRL+ALT+DEL and open the Task Manager from the options. It would show the CPU usage. If the CPU load on the WSUS server is high, the system slows down.

Causes of high CPU usage on the WSUS server

Causes of high CPU usage can be :

1] SUSDB is not clean. This could confuse the client systems and they scan continuously in a loop.

2] Too many pending updates for the WSUS server to forward to clients. This usually occurs after prolonged use.

In both cases, we must clean the WSUS server as a solution. Ideally, it should be cleaned at regular intervals, whether or not we face the problem. Proceed step by step as follows:

1] Backup of WSUS database

Backup of WSUS database is assumed to improve server performance. This is a prerequisite for running the Cleaning Wizard.

2] Run the WSUS Server Cleanup Wizard

The procedure for using the Server Cleanup Wizard is explained here on Microsoft.com. However, client systems already scan.it files to add the load. If this is the case, we can reindex the WSUS database and reject outdated updates, as explained in the following steps:

3] Reindexing the WSUS database

Reindexing the WSUS database can help, especially if the database is fragmented.

You must execute the following commands.

First, use the FULLSCAN option to update the statistics:

Use . Run sp_msforeachtable 'update statistics ? with fullscan'. Go

Then the indices can be reconstructed:

Use . Run sp_msforeachtable 'DBCC DBREINDEX ('?')'. Go

4] Reject replaced updates

As in the case above client systems scan the WSUS database and this has led to high CPU usage, immediate bypass should take the form of obsolete updates, since this helps to relieve the system.

1] Change port for WSUS website : Choose WSUS Web Site Administration > Edit Bindings and edit WSUS console to connect to new port. Run the script and synchronize it with USS.

2] Decline the updates : You can use the Powershell script using the -skipdecline parameters to determine the net number of rejected updates. Then run the same -skipdecline again to reject these updates.

For more information, see Microsoft Support.

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