setup of a test environment for windows 2003 server

September 6, 2007

Hi all. I have setup a windows 2003 server for testing purpose for

installing of updates and patches by microsoft before releasing them to

my live servers. I would like to know what is the industry practise of

patching the servers. Do you all do it everytime the patches are

released or do it like once a month everytime? If i were to setup a

test server for testing updates for my dc, other than setting up the

test server as a dc, do i have to install every single 3rd party

program that can be found on my actual DC, like backup software, ups

software? Thks in advance.

September 6, 2007

Re: setup of a test environment for windows 2003 server

MS releases their patches once a month so that gives you the time frame

to do it in. I usually wait a few days to see if there are any issues

with patches. If they work I do them manually (but I don't have a lot

of servers right now) and I hide the patches I never want to see again.

For real testing you are going to have to have some simulation of your

production environment with apps and some simulation of the load and

usage you have in the production environment. You can patch the test

server but if it doesn't run the apps you use in Production in the same

manner how do you know if the patches are good or bad. If you try and

duplicate everything you have in Production you'll have an impossible

job! For third party apps many vendors issue lists of patches that they

have tested and have said it's okay to install. I use that as a guide

to what patches I put in.

inenewbl wrote:

> Hi all. I have setup a windows 2003 server for testing purpose for

> installing of updates and patches by microsoft before releasing them to

> my live servers. I would like to know what is the industry practise of

> patching the servers. Do you all do it everytime the patches are

> released or do it like once a month everytime? If i were to setup a

> test server for testing updates for my dc, other than setting up the

> test server as a dc, do i have to install every single 3rd party

> program that can be found on my actual DC, like backup software, ups

> software? Thks in advance.

>

September 6, 2007

RE: setup of a test environment for windows 2003 server

Depends on how rigorous you're planning on testing the updates & patches. I'm

fortunate in that I have an engineering group who test updates on base 2003

servers. As I support a complex app enviroment I have to apply patches to

test servers first and look for any obvious problems, then patch UAT systems

after which the I and the app guys ensure the applications haven't broken,

then patch the production gear. Pain in the backside but it has saved us on

several occassions.

For it to be any benefit, test systems shoud replicate production as close

as possible. I would bother with power/ups software, but any other app

(backup/antivirus, in house etc) should be installed.

"inenewbl" wrote: