New alpha Catalog site available with WSUS 3.0 RC

Want another cool reason to check out the WSUS 3.0 Release Candidate now in public beta, (available after registration from https://connect.microsoft.com)? Well here's one:)

The Microsoft Update Catalog Site Alpha is now ready and integrated wtih the WSUS RC server release! The Catalog site integration will allow you to import optional, and other types of updates (such as drivers), into your WSUS 3.0 RC server, without modifying your on-going subscription options.

This can be useful when importing MS updates, which you'd like to deploy within your environment occassionally but not synch down or manage all the time. For example, a widely distributed QFE, previously available just from the MS Download Center, will be something you will see on the catalog site later this summer. Or what about that one-time optional driver that you really need for a number of your systems. Best of all, soon the catalog will enable you to get that special hotfix, made just for your environment, which only you can import with PSS-issued credentials. Distributing QFEs and hotfixes with the same ease used to distribute publically published updates is a soon-to-be supported feature we're all excited to deliver to you in this Catalog capability!

To try the Catalog Site import feature from the WSUS 3.0 RC admin console, select the udpates node and then choose the 'import updates' context menu.  

From there, you can search for updates that are not in your default synch options and add them to your 'basket'. When you have selected all the updates you want to import, click on the 'basket' link to import the updates into your WSUS 3.0 RC server.

Please give us your thoughts and feedback via the Connect WSUS beta site in the feedback page or just come talk to us in the WSUS 3.0 beta newsgoups (available first time from the WSUS Connect site. 

Thanks and happy testing!