RSSSecurity Rollup Planned for Windows XP
By Nate Mook and David Worthington | Published September 13, 2003, 12:00 AM
Microsoft is hurrying to produce a post Service Pack 1 security rollup package for Windows XP, reversing its August decision to rely solely on Windows Update to deliver individual patches.
Since it came to light that Windows XP SP2 was delayed until at least mid-2004, pressure has mounted for Redmond to tend to customers without broadband connections.
BetaNews has learned that in response, Microsoft has tasked beta testers with evaluating the detection and installation of a package that installs multiple patches simultaneously, collectively called a "rollup."
The pre-SP2 rollup, which incorporates 22 previously released updates, is due to be released to manufacturing on September 24. It will be available for both pre-SP1 and post-SP1 installations of Windows XP -- effectively superseding SP1b.
Microsoft would not confirm the rollup beta test, but acknowledged the company was considering its options. "In an effort to make updating easier and more convenient for all of our customers, we are investigating multiple options for distributing updates," a Microsoft spokesperson told BetaNews. "We will have more details at a later date."
Although Microsoft was sending mixed signals regarding its intentions to update Windows XP prior to the date outlined on its product lifecycle Web site, this impending rollup release marks a reversal of course.
In an August chat session regarding the Blaster Internet worm, Microsoft product manager John Hazen said, "We do not currently have plans to create a Security Rollup Package for Windows XP, but are exploring ways to make these fixes more readily available and easier to install together."
The company dignified its decision by stating that Windows Update has worked out so well that more and more customers are retrieving updates "real time," rather than waiting it out for the release of a full-fledged service pack.
In addition, the unexpected delay of Service Pack 2 has led many Microsoft insiders to speculate that new features are in store for Windows aside from the usual assortment of updates.
These critical and security fixes are required for all new PCs which currently ship out of the box with SP1b installed. All in all, the updates weight in at a hefty 30 megabytes. Microsoft would not say whether or not the rollup would ship to OEMs.
Rumor and speculation has pointed to the ongoing PC Satisfaction trial as a likely candidate for inclusion into the operating system; although nothing concrete has emerged to confirm suspicions.
PC Satisfaction includes services that dwell beyond the customary boundaries of Microsoft's usual product offerings. Anti-virus scanning, a self updating firewall, and programmatic backups are all features of the trial.
"I don't really care how Microsoft go about it I just want all the updates (as there has been so many!) in one package."
You should use my security pack then (I also go under the name of Keyser Soze). I'll leave it for you to find yourself if you're that interested.
I think MS will release something in the nature of a cumaltive security update package in a similair way to which they do for IE6. And this has probably only been prompted by the recent wormblaster fiasco. MS doesn't concentrate at making it's customers aware of the need to apply security updates, which was why they were in such a panic - as this time MS were the intended target and it affected them personally. Do you really think MS would issue a security update package unless it was of benefit to them? C'mon.
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|This was a rather strange comment... No one has EVER accused Microsoft of being "idiots" when it came to doing business... obviously they are geniuses at doing business and making money. No argument possible.
Where people call them "idiots", or more accurately simply complain, is when it comes to putting quality and security first, and doing right by the customer. If people are "moaning" about the SP2 delay, who is to say they are not justified? You? No, some people want--for a legitimate reason--an integrated security roll-up, prior to one year from now.
And if Microsoft is delaying it so that they can add some fancy new technology (rather than, as stated before, doing right by the customer), they YES, they are wrong. Not "idiots" in the sense of helping themselves to make money, but "idiots" in the sense that they aren't putting customers and security first--AGAIN.
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|Calisse de sacramant, quessé tu dis là tabarnak?!?!! Tu capote man ou quoi? Microsoft sont les plus gros et les plus hacké c'est certain. Ehh... je délire moi-aussi crisse!! hahaaa!!
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|Who the hell is running Microsoft?
This sounds like mismanagement!
I hope someone will make up there mind and stick to it.
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|Can security rollups be added into a slipstream image?
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|"This sounds like mismanagement!
I hope someone will make up there mind and stick to it."
It's wonderful being Microsoft. If they change their mind
they're being capricious and unpredictable. If they stay
the course they're being inflexible and unresponsive.
The DataRat
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|Depends on who you ask, of course you are going to get a multitude of opinions in a forum. The world is not black and white and everyone's opinion is different. Sorry if that bothers you. :-P
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|"Depends on who you ask, of course you are going to get
a multitude of opinions in a forum. The world is not black
and white and everyone's opinion is different."
Yeah, truth is relative. Everything a matter of mere opinion.
Microsoft is 'mismanaged' if we ~think~ it's mismanaged.
Nice post-modern subjectivism, but totally devoid of credibility.
The DataRat
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