What is WSUS Offline Update?
WSUS Offline Update is a free, open-source utility that enables administrators to download Microsoft Windows updates and service packs, and install them to computers without needing to connect to Windows Server Update Services (WSUS). It works by downloading CAB and MSU packages directly from Microsoft Update catalogs, organizing them into an intuitive folder structure, and scripting the process to install updates silently.
Some key benefits of WSUS Offline Update include:
- Avoids bandwidth limitations of on-premise WSUS servers
- Useful for air-gapped networks with no internet connectivity
- Great for laptops that connect intermittently to the corporate network
- Fast download speeds by pulling updates directly from Microsoft
- Easy to configure and automate with the included scripts
Overall, WSUS Offline Update serves as a lightweight, portable method for keeping Windows machines up-to-date offline. It removes the dependency on WSUS infrastructure while leveraging the Background Intelligent Transfer Service (BITS) to efficiently deliver updates.