Microsoft has released a public preview of Unified Update Platform on premises, a new integration with Windows Server Update Services and Microsoft Configuration Manager that simplifies Windows content management and upgrading to Windows 11.
According to Microsoft, the feature streamlines the process for upgrading to Windows 11 for organizations that manage Windows devices with Windows Server Update Services and Configuration Manager. In a blog, the company calls Unified Update Platform (UUP) “the next iteration of our system for delivering Windows OS quality and feature updates.”
The company says UUP offers improved delivery technologies and is a response to IT admin requests for more seamless updates, better control over installation time, more battery life and lighter download size.
“After five productive years, UUP is becoming even better through seamless integration with Configuration Manager and WSUS,” Microsoft says in a blog. “UUP on premises is stepping up to the growing demand for Windows 11 security and productivity standard across leading enterprises.”
Starting in early 2023, all new releases of Windows will be serviced with UUP updates, the company says. With UUP, admins don’t need to create custom images or complicated task sequences to retain installed optional features or language packs, the company says. New capabilities include simplified content management via servicing, upgrading to the latest security compliance level with one reboot, installed optional features on demand and language packs retention during upgrades and the ability to implement well known task sequences for other custom actions needed in the IT environment.
Organizations that have already moved to the Software Updates model for feature updates with automatically get UUP updates, but admins should remove feature update steps they are performing today to work around previous gaps.
According to Microsoft, quality updates with the UUP continue to be cumulative and include all released Windows quality and security fixes. New capabilities include the ability for end users to acquire FODs and LPs in WSUS or Configuration Manager environments, automatic corruption repair and minimized quality update client download sizes.
Read the company’s blog for more information, including on how to sign up for the public preview.
Leave a Reply