You can set up a hierarchy of Windows Server Update Services (WSUS) servers to deploy updates to offices in different departments, organizational units, or geographical regions. The top-level WSUS server communicates directly with Microsoft Update, and the downstream WSUS servers communicate with the upstream server.
Designing WSUS server hierarchies
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Decide how to link the WSUS servers. You can link WSUS servers in two ways: Autonomous mode: An upstream WSUS server shares updates with its downstream server or servers during synchronization, however it does not share update approval status or computer group information. Downstream WSUS servers must be administered separately. Autonomous servers can also synchronize updates for a set of languages that is a subset of the set synchronized by their upstream server. Replica mode: An upstream WSUS server shares updates, approval status, and computer groups with its downstream server or servers. Downstream replica servers inherit update approvals and cannot be administered apart from their upstream WSUS server. |
WSUS Deployment Guide |
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If you have multiple downstream servers, do not configure them to synchronize updates and roll up results at the same time of day. Downstream servers roll up information to their upstream server immediately after they synchronize. This can cause a high load on the upstream server and result in rollup failures. To prevent this problem, configure different downstream servers to synchronize at different times of day. |
WSUS Deployment Guide |
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When you configure a downstream server, verify that the update languages it supports are the same languages or a subset of the languages supported on its upstream server. If you choose a language on a downstream server that is not supported on an upstream server, you cannot obtain updates in that language. |
WSUS Deployment Guide |
Additional references
For WSUS installation instructions, refer to the WSUS Step by Step Guide at
For information about managing WSUS, refer to the WSUS Operations Guide at