Endpoint Insights

Determining Software Updates Required within SCCM

Topics: Endpoint Insights

While answering a forum post, I got the idea to write this blog post. Here I’ll show you how to determine within the Configuration Manager console what software updates (SUs) are missing and how to make a Software Update Group for them.

Start by opening the ConfigMgr console, select the Software Library node, and then expand the Software Updates and All Software Updates nodes. Click the Add Criteria link.

How to Determine What Software Updates Are Required within ConfigMgr-Add Criteria

Select Required, Deployed, Expired and Superseded, and then click on the Add button.

How to Determine What Software Updates Are Required within ConfigMgr-Add Button

Back in the console, click on the is less than or equal to link next to AND Required.

How to Determine What Software Updates Are Required within ConfigMgr-Required

 

Select the is greater than or equal to node.

How to Determine What Software Updates Are Required within ConfigMgr-Is Greater Than or Equal To

 

Enter 1 in the text box and then click on Yes next to AND Deployed.
How to Determine What Software Updates Are Required within ConfigMgr-Deployed

 

Select the No node for Deployed and then select Yes next to AND Expired.
How to Determine What Software Updates Are Required within ConfigMgr-Expired

 

Select the No node for Expired and then select Yes next to AND Superseded.
How to Determine What Software Updates Are Required within ConfigMgr-Superseded

 

Select the No node for Superseded.
How to Determine What Software Updates Are Required within ConfigMgr-No Node

 

Once completed, click on the Search button and review the results. Notice that within my search results, I have 460 software updates (purple arrow) that are required by 1 (gold arrow) or more computers.
How to Determine What Software Updates Are Required within ConfigMgr-Search Results

 

In order to re-use this search in the future, click on the Save Current Search button.
How to Determine What Software Updates Are Required within ConfigMgr-Save Current Search

 

Within the text box, enter Find all Required SU that are not deployed as the search name and then click on the OK button.
How to Determine What Software Updates Are Required within ConfigMgr-OK Button

 

When you click OK above, it will reset the search criteria. In order view and re-run the search results, click on the Saved Searches node and then select Manage Searches for Current Node.
How to Determine What Software Updates Are Required within ConfigMgr-Saved Searches

 

Select Find all Required SU that are not deployed and then click on the OK button. This will re-run your search query.
How to Determine What Software Updates Are Required within ConfigMgr-Manage Searches for Current Node

 

Now that you have a list of software updates that need to be deployed to at least one computer, you will need to create a Software Update Group in order to deploy them. Start by selecting the first row and then type Ctrl-a. This function will select all items.
How to Determine What Software Updates Are Required within ConfigMgr-Software Updates

 

Once all items are selected, right-click and then select Create Software Update Group.
How to Determine What Software Updates Are Required within ConfigMgr-Create SUG

 

At this point all of the remaining steps are exactly the same as creating any other Software Update
Group
(SUG). Provide a Name and then click on the Create button.

How to Determine What Software Updates Are Required within ConfigMgr-Create Button

 

With that last step completed, you can now download and deploy the SUG following your normal SU deployment procedures.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me @GarthMJ.

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