Changes - keeping your Drew computer up-to-date

Computing and Network Services is in the process of deploying a new patch management solution that will allow us to distribute patches to Windows XP and other products in a more comprehensive manner. We acquired the new product, Patchlink, through our licensing agreement with Novell. This will change what you see on your computer when patches
or updates are distributed.

When patches are distributed and a computer reboot is required, you will usually get a "Patchlink" window. It will ask you if you want to reboot immediately or have Patchlink "snooze" for an hour so you can complete what you are working on. Most actual patch installations will be "silent" - they won't interrupt you until that final window asking about a reboot, but may cause computers to run more slowly while the update is applied.

One major advantage to Patchlink is that patches are automatically installed in an order that minimizes the number of reboots required. In many cases, four or five Windows patches can be applied and a single reboot can be performed at the end. There are cases (Internet Explorer service packs, for example) which cannot be installed with other patches, so additional reboots would be needed.

Microsoft has released a number of critical patches recently, and we expect to start distributing these via Patchlink before the start of semester. This first round of updates will be more extensive as we attempt to bring individual campus workstations up to date.
Thank you for your patience.