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The Microsoft Update Catalog is a website created by Microsoft that provides a list of patches, drivers and software for corporations to distribute over a network.

Scope

Security updates are released once a month on the website, except in special circumstances; for instance, in the event of a widespread computer virus or worm, Microsoft releases a corresponding update as soon as possible.[1]

Gordon Mangione, Microsoft's Security Business & Technology Unit vice president (from 2004-03 to 2005-11[2]), remarked:

"Because the new services and technologies draw information and updates from a single source—the Microsoft Update catalog—and use a common polling engine (provided by the new Windows Update Agent), our customers will have a much more integrated and reliable update management process."[3]

Usage

The latest iteration of the site was launched in August 2007, and at the time, only worked in the web browser Internet Explorer, version 6 and version 7. Before using the catalog, the user must install an ActiveX control so that they can search the updates available on the website. Searches can be saved as an RSS feed so that it can be monitored for new updates. On the Microsoft Update Catalog, downloads are accelerated with Microsoft's Background Intelligent Transfer Service, which downloads updates from the website asynchronously while attempting to use as little bandwidth as possible.[4]

In addition, the service integrates with Windows Server Update Services and System Center Configuration Manager 2007 so that network administrators can deploy updates downloaded from the website remotely across a network.[5][6]

A third-party tool named Legacy Update allows previously-released updates for Windows 2000 and Windows XP to be installed from the Update Catalog.[7][8]

Resurgence

As of late 2015, and the release of Windows 10, Microsoft has been making updates available exclusively through Microsoft Update Catalog.[9] The website no longer requires an ActiveX control and can be used from any modern browser rather than being exclusive to Internet Explorer. This allows users on other platforms to download updates for archive or distribution.

See also

References

  1. ^ "Frequently Asked Questions". Microsoft. Archived from the original on 2020-09-26. Retrieved 2017-01-07.
  2. ^ Mangione, Gordon (2015). Gordon Mangione. LinkedIn. Retrieved on 2015-03-12 from https://www.linkedin.com/in/gordonmangione.
  3. ^ Dunn, John E. (2005-06-08). "Microsoft overhauls updates". Techworld. IDG. Archived from the original on 2007-08-15. Retrieved 2009-03-24.
  4. ^ Mondok, Matt (2007-05-11). "Malware piggybacks on Windows' Background Intelligent Transfer Service". Ars Technica. Archived from the original on 2010-08-04. Retrieved 2009-03-24.
  5. ^ Reimer, Jeremy (2007-08-20). "New Microsoft Update Catalog makes managing updates easier". Ars Technica. Archived from the original on 2011-06-07. Retrieved 2009-03-24.
  6. ^ Budd, Christopher (2007-08-14). "Inside MSRC: Microsoft releases searchable update database". Search Security. TechTarget. Archived from the original on 2008-10-02. Retrieved 2009-03-24.
  7. ^ Cunningham, Andrew (2023-07-10). "Windows 95, 98, and other decrepit versions can grab online updates again". Ars Technica. Archived from the original on 2024-08-05. Retrieved 2024-08-05.
  8. ^ Proven, Liam (24 July 2023). "Want to live dangerously? Try running Windows XP in 2023". The Register. Archived from the original on July 13, 2024. Retrieved 24 July 2024.
  9. ^ "Description of Update Rollup 9 for Microsoft System Center 2012 Operations Manager SP1". Example update article providing download links to Microsoft Update Catalog only. Microsoft. 2015-03-24. Retrieved 2016-01-28.
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