W2K SP3 - Good or Bad?

To update, or not to update, that is the question.

[Brontojoris]

According to an article on the register, a clause in the EULA of the Windows 2000 Service Pack 3, states:

"You acknowledge and agree that Microsoft may automatically check the version of the OS Product and/or its components that you are utilizing and may provide upgrades or fixes to the OS Product that will be automatically downloaded to your computer,"

Microsoft EULA asks for root rights - again
[theregister.co.uk]

My question is whether those of you running and administering IIS webservers will install SP3. I have concerns about the quality of Microsoft patches, and am worried about turning up to work on a Monday, only to find out that my webserver went down on Friday night, because some new automagic IIS patch broke something. I much prefer to download a patch a server myself, often waiting a week to make sure the patch is solid. I don't wan't to be guinea pig for Microsoft.

[korkus2000]

Welcome to WebmasterWorld Brontojoris,

I won't upgrade. I remember the sp problems with nt 4. If a service pack works then I stick with it. I had a real bad time moving from sp4 to 5 on nt. I had to rev down which was not fun. SP2 works well and I am sticking with it.

[richlowe]

I manage over one thousands NT and 2000 systems. we are in the process of upgrading all of the NT to 2000 and XP. We keep reasonably (within a quarter) up-to-date on all service packs and very up-to-date (within a week) on hot fixes.

We've installed SP3 on a number of machines and besides being a HUGE release, it seems pretty stable. If it remains stable, we will begin upgrading our 2K systems in Sept.

Richard Lowe

[Brontojoris]

The bit about

"that will be automatically downloaded to your computer"

is the bit that has me worried. Does it mean that after SP3, patches will be installed remotely by Microsoft, without my intervention?

What is the possiblity of this feature being hacked and abused?

[richlowe]

I have Windows 2K pro installed at home with SP3 and what seems to happen is hotfixes are indeed downloaded but not installed unless you ask them to be. They are just pre-downloaded and you get a msg saying you can install them now.

At least that's what's happening to me.

Richard Lowe

[Brontojoris]

That doesn't sound too bad. I guess they're just trying to prevent their boxes from getting pummeled everytime they release a new patch.

[richlowe]

There is a new control panel which gives you the option of turning it off, just downloading or installing. I just found it myself.

Richard Lowe

[dcheney]

I've been running SP3 on my primary machine for about a week now - so far so good.

[JuniorHarris]

Automatic updates are a feature of win2k, which can be customized using the Automatic Updates applet in the control panel. It can be turned completely off, or download new pages, and/or install the new patches.

SP3 - No problemo!