Know your gear
The Pegasus 17" Laptop Backpack is equipped with features like air-flow back padding, shock-absorbing shoulder straps and a Triple Protect padded laptop compartment, ensuring you stay comfortable and your gear stays protected in any situation.
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Wenger PEGASUS 17" Laptop Backpack notebook carrying backpack is rated
4.50 out of
5 by
35.
Rated 5 out of
5 by
reviewer1794948 from
Reliable, scalable, and simple implementation
What is our primary use case?
I use Microsoft Windows Server Update Services to facilitate updates.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using Microsoft Windows Server Update Services for approximately two years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
Microsoft Windows Server Update Services is stable.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
The scalability of Microsoft Windows Server Update Services is good.
I am the only one that uses its solution in my company.
How are customer service and support?
The support from Microsoft should be faster.
How was the initial setup?
Microsoft Windows Server Update Services is a simple implementation.
What about the implementation team?
I did the implementation of the solution myself.
What other advice do I have?
I rate Microsoft Windows Server Update Services an eight out of ten.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
On-premises
Disclaimer: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
Date published: 2022-03-03T00:00:00-05:00
Rated 5 out of
5 by
Pastor Rick from
Great Laptop Backpack!
This is a comfortable and sturdy backpack with a good amount of protection and ample storage room. I'm also able to put my 15" laptop in a sleeve, and then slide that comfortably into the slot for the laptop.
Date published: 2020-02-10T00:00:00-05:00
Rated 5 out of
5 by
Dillan99 from
Swiss finesse
I bought this bag a month ago for college, and I have a feeling it's going to last me at least a decade. This thing is built like a tank.
Date published: 2018-07-18T00:00:00-04:00
Rated 5 out of
5 by
Pete from
SwissGear PEGASUS 17-inch Laptop Backpack
Case is working as expected so far. Haven't had any issues. Need more time with it to fully give a 5-star rating.
Date published: 2020-01-23T00:00:00-05:00
Rated 5 out of
5 by
Shaun Bell from
Stable patch management that is included with Windows, but the reporting flexibility should be improved
What is our primary use case?
We use this product for patch management.
What is most valuable?
The most valuable features are that it is included with Windows, and it can be driven by Group Policy Objects (GPOs).
What needs improvement?
Reporting flexibility is something that can be improved.
Job management and control is an area that is in need of improvement.
For how long have I used the solution?
We have been using Windows Server Update Services for probably four years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
This service is generally very stable.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
This is a very scalable product.
How are customer service and technical support?
This solution does not really come with specific technical support. It is all covered by the Microsoft support that is available online.
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup is relatively straightforward. It took maybe an hour to set up and deploy.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
This product comes included with Windows and can be used free of charge.
What other advice do I have?
My advice for anybody who is looking into Windows Server Update Services is that if you want something with more control then you need to look into getting an alternative product.
I would rate this solution a seven out of ten.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
On-premises
Disclaimer: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
Date published: 2020-10-15T00:00:00-04:00
Rated 5 out of
5 by
STEVE A. from
It outlasts anything else I have tried.
This is this go to backpack that I buy for my team. It outlasts anything else I have tried. Carries a large laptop and stands up to the rigours of travel.
Date published: 2020-09-03T08:26:14-04:00
Rated 5 out of
5 by
reviewer1678521 from
Stable and straightforward solution that allows complete network visibility
What is our primary use case?
My primary use case is general patch management, to make sure that when Microsoft releases patches, we test and deploy them within the timelines. The solution also ensures that we are compliant and protected against vulnerabilities.
What is most valuable?
The most valuable feature is the ability to check whether users working from home are on the domain or not, allowing us complete visibility of the endpoints that are connecting to our network.
What needs improvement?
One area for improvement is that WSUS does not give 100% accuracy, so you cannot be completely certain that all of your systems are fully patched. There are always 5-10% of your systems that have not been updated with the correct patches, which is an open gate for security threats. I also think that the product needs a better utility and report mechanism. In the next release, I would like to see better compatibility for non-Windows servers and tools.
For how long have I used the solution?
I've been working with this solution for a year.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
Functionality-wise, WSUS meets our requirements.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
There are some issues with scalability in larger organizations, as WSUS may not cover 100% of their endpoints.
How was the initial setup?
Setup is very simple and straightforward.
What other advice do I have?
Currently, I'm looking at other solutions because the enrolment we have is not boundary-defined, so we require a product with total remote infrastructure management, vulnerability assessment, and complete control of the system built in. For best results with WSUS, you need to keep close track of things with regular function checklists. I would rate this product as eight out of ten.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
On-premises
Disclaimer: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
Date published: 2021-11-30T00:00:00-05:00
Rated 5 out of
5 by
reviewer1396728 from
Scalable and useful for implementing patches
What is our primary use case?
My primary use case of Microsoft Windows Server Update Services is to enforce patching for applications. I act as the client, not the server admin. If, let's say, my laptop has not restarted frequently, this solution will force me to take a couple of minutes to restart. This solution is deployed on cloud, so I'm always using the latest version.
What is most valuable?
A valuable feature about this solution is that it enforces an updating and patching process for my applications.
What needs improvement?
This solution's deployment could be improved. When I was the admin, there were some problems when deploying to clients. Sometimes the policy is not effective. I guess, more on the reliability side, more reliable means working more often with the clients. It could be easier to deploy.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using this solution for the duration of time I've been in my company.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
This solution is stable.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
This product is scalable. In my organization, there are about 600,000 people using Microsoft Windows Server.
How are customer service and support?
I have never contacted Microsoft support.
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
I didn't use another patch management solution before Microsoft Windows Server.
How was the initial setup?
We had a lot of issues during deployment. I remember when we first deployed this solution, it didn't work, so we had to retry, we had to troubleshoot, and then after we finally got it, we could only partially use it. It would be great if the process were more simple so that we could deploy it on the first try to hundreds and thousands of clients. I don't remember the time duration of the installation or how big our deployment team was.
What about the implementation team?
We implemented through an in-house team.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
For licensing, I think it's on a framework contract. I'd guess my CIO would know, but I didn't buy my license—it's by default on my PC.
Which other solutions did I evaluate?
I evaluated BigFix as part of my research, but I haven't used it.
What other advice do I have?
As an end user, I rate this solution a 10 out of 10. I've had no issues so far.
I'm not sure if I can recommend this solution because I don't know what the alternatives are, so I have no experience in an alternative solution. It could be the case that BigFix is better.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
Private Cloud
Disclaimer: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
Date published: 2021-12-01T00:00:00-05:00
Rated 5 out of
5 by
JasonV from
Great Bag
This bag is both good looking and well built. There are plenty of compartments and storage for laptop and other items.
Date published: 2018-06-07T00:00:00-04:00
Rated 5 out of
5 by
GMan from
This practical backpack has exceptional value
1. Comfortable - The light weight and paddled shoulder straps add to the comfort level of carrying supplies.
2. Functional - Numerous and various sized compartments make it handy to organize your supplies.
3. Stylish - Sharp and attractive design give a sense of pride.
4. Durable - Reinforced handles and heavy-duty zippers are able to take the abuse backpacks often get.
Date published: 2018-11-27T00:00:00-05:00
Rated 5 out of
5 by
Codytx74 from
The Pegasus is a must buy if you have a 17" laptop
Before i did any research pertaining to laptop bags I had already decided to buy a backpack as opposed to other types of laptop bags. The week before Christmas I read a ton of reviews pertaining to 17" backpacks and it became clear that SwissGear made the most reliable backpacks. I chose to wait until after Christmas to buy the Pegasus. Ironically, I was given a very nice HP 17" backpack for Christmas. The backpack had some good features and seemed to be what I was looking for, that was until I put my laptop in the bag. When HP listed the backpack as a 17" bag they were being literal... My laptop didn't really fit, the zippers on the backpack rubbed against both corners of my computer. I returned the HP ($50 model) backpack and ordered the Pegasuss. The bag arrived in 2 days and has tons of features,compartments, looks great, and is of impecable quality. The last concern I had was if my laptop would actually fit and it does. The zippers don't rub the laptop & there is tons of padding. Even though it is a little bit more than other bags it is worth ever cent.. This is a must buy!!!
Date published: 2011-01-06T00:00:00-05:00
Rated 5 out of
5 by
InternationalFlyer from
Highly Recommended for the Traveler
I have been traveling internationally for business and replaced a traditional briefcase with this backpack. It easily accommodates my 15.6" laptop computer with the extended battery pack and a mini nano sticking out of a USB port on the side. It is easier than a briefcase to navigate through international airports due to the extra handle that fits nicely onto a wheeled suitcase and I have had no problem storing it in overhead bins or under seats on airplanes. Folders and notebooks store easily and are readily accessible. It does have a readily accessible internal pocket for a passport and electronic devices (i.e., GPS, ipod, etc.) also store easily into this backpack and all are well protected. The only minor negative is that I would have liked more zippered internal compartments and a better accommodation of pens, pencils, business cards, and common business supplies. Regarding durability, I have not had the backpack long enough to comment but I have Vitronox/Swiss made luggage that has held up very well even with having to check it with the airlines so I expect nothing less from this back pack.
Date published: 2011-12-18T00:00:00-05:00
Rated 5 out of
5 by
crose from
Tough and Protection
This backpack is the best ever. Your computer is well protected, and safe in this comfortable backpack. You will not have to worry about the handle breaking as the steel cable that is built into the handle will take the weight that you stuff into this backpack. There is plenty of storage space that is padded which you will cherish. Buy this backpack as you will not be disappointed.
Date published: 2011-03-19T00:00:00-04:00
Rated 5 out of
5 by
tmac3931 from
Excellent computer backpack.
I often carry two notebooks. The Wenger Pegasus has sufficient capacity to allow this. There's enough room for my two machines and all the other stuff I carry- external drives, flash drives, switch, cables, phone charger, portfolio, etc. Build quility is such that I don't worry about the bag being overloaded or carrying more weight that it can handle. Very pleased with the bag itself, the price paid, and order handling at the HP online store.
Date published: 2011-12-26T00:00:00-05:00
Rated 5 out of
5 by
blazinasian0420 from
Great product
I just bought this backpack for the dv7t se that I bought. It fit the 17.3" laptop perfectly in the bag. Its not as heavy as I thought it would be and is fairly light with just the laptop and accessories. It can fit alot of stuff inside all of its compartments. If you have a 17 inch laptop, buy this backpack. It is stylish and tough, built to last. I would recommend this backpack to anyone who is looking for a laptop bag for school. It is high priced, but don't let that scare you away, its WELL WORTH THE PRICE!!
Date published: 2010-08-03T00:00:00-04:00
Rated 5 out of
5 by
Bradley01 from
Great Backpack
I've had this backpack for over 3 years, and it's one of the best I've ever owned. It's built well, and it fits a 17 in laptop. I use it for carrying my laptop, and for everything else. It holds a lot of stuff. I take it camping, and it holds up to any abuse I throw at it. If you want a high quality bag, buy this bag!
Date published: 2010-08-30T00:00:00-04:00
Rated 5 out of
5 by
emoney84218421 from
Everything
This backpack has a place for everything. My 16.9" laptop, my homework, cameras, iPods, even my Swiss Army pocket knive.
If you are looking for a laptop backpack, this is the one. I am very impressed with Swiss Army's Quality.
Date published: 2010-01-15T00:00:00-05:00
Rated 5 out of
5 by
Grids from
Quality Bag
If you have need a quality pack, do yourself a favor and get a Swiss Gear pack. This bag fits my 17.3 monitor nicely.
I am rough on bags and I have gone through a few different brands prior to this one and this bag is still holding up like new.
Made with quality, I highly recommend it!
Date published: 2010-04-06T00:00:00-04:00
Rated 5 out of
5 by
Zeeshan from
Excellent BackPack for Graduate Student
I am a PhD Student and this back pack is packed with all features I need for my work. It is a dream bag for me. It cost a little more but I think it worth it.
Date published: 2011-12-15T00:00:00-05:00
Rated 5 out of
5 by
DougsBro from
Great Backpack
I normally wear a backpack and carry a laptop bag. Now, I carry my laptop and my other stuff in my backpack! It's a little heavy, when fully loaded, but the "shock absorbing" shoulder straps minimize the effort of the load- and my hands are free to do something else! There are enough pockets to separate and protect your stuff in many places. Why else get this. Plus it was about half the price of a local chain store.
Date published: 2012-10-08T00:00:00-04:00
Rated 5 out of
5 by
IslamElsherpieny from
Easy to expand with good filtering and helpful support
What is our primary use case?
The solution is used for Microsoft updates and you can file the updates that you want to use.
How has it helped my organization?
Every time we need to install our security updates and critical updates, we use this software so that we don't load the bandwidth.
What is most valuable?
I like that I can filter for critical and security updates.
The dashboard is okay.
The initial setup is easy.
It is a scalable solution.
I have found the product to be stable.
Support is helpful.
What needs improvement?
The customization capabilities could be improved.
The product must integrate with third-party applications. I'd like to use the product to verify third-party updates as well as Microsoft updates.
For how long have I used the solution?
I've used the solution for about three years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
My understanding is that it is a stable product. We didn't have any issues with it overall. I don't recall coming across bugs or glitches and I don't recall it crashing or freezing.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
The solution scales very well. If a company wants to expand, it can do so.
About 100 people in our organization use the solution currently.
How are customer service and support?
Technical support is very helpful and responsive. We have been satisfied with their help.
How would you rate customer service and support?
Positive
How was the initial setup?
We have found the implementation to be pretty straightforward and simple. It is not a difficult or ultimately complex process. I'd rate the experience a three out of five in terms of ease of deployment. I can't remember exactly how long it took to deploy.
You only need about two to three people to handle deployment and maintenance. They handle planning and infrastructure.
What about the implementation team?
I'm working in a personal service company, so I asked my team to handle the implementation process. It was done in-house.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
I can't speak to how much the solution costs.
What other advice do I have?
We're Microsoft partners.
I'm using the solution via a third-party application.
We are a professional service company. Our field is information technology. We use a third-party application to make updates.
I'd recommend the solution to others.
I would rate the solution eight out of ten.
Disclaimer: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer:
Date published: 2022-09-08T00:00:00-04:00
Rated 5 out of
5 by
JASON T. DIL D. from
Great bag for my laptop and accessories. The bag seems very durable and well made.
Date published: 2021-01-27T15:42:39-05:00
Rated 5 out of
5 by
Julio Orihuela from
Stable with good patching and good internal updating
What is our primary use case?
We primarily use the solution for internal updates. What happened is that one of our equipment items had a problem with a new Windows update and so we have to uninstall this update. We were looking for ways to do it centrally. There were some Lenovo boxes that were restarting automatically and we had to take out these updates.
What is most valuable?
The most important aspect is that we can centrally deploy the updates that are necessary for the organization. It's important. The solution is great for internal updates.
The solution has very good patches. They recently released one for Chrome, which was quite helpful.
We've found the stability to be pretty good.
What needs improvement?
It's not always easy to set up.
Their Local Group Policy works well for the Microsoft environment, however, we need it or other software as well. We've realized that we have to pay. We have to buy extra items in order to access this catalog of different updates.
The reporting is not as practical as I would like it to be. It's something that I would like them to improve in future releases.
It would be nice if there were more alerts to let us know what is missing. It would be nice if there was an integration with the main server and with the active directory so that I can receive the necessary alerts. It would be good to know which equipment is connected to the directory and which are behind schedule with updates.
For how long have I used the solution?
I just started using the solution this year, and therefore I've only used it for the last couple of months. However, in this office, they have been using it thing for a couple of years, at least.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
The solution is quite stable. It's reliable. There are no bugs or glitches. It doesn't crash or freeze. As long as it can help us manage the data, it's good.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
I cannot speak to the scalability. I have never tried to scale the solution.
How are customer service and technical support?
I've never been in touch with technical support. I cannot speak to how helpful or responsive they are.
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup isn't easy to set up. However, it's not necessarily always hard, either. It has a moderate amount of difficulty.
In our case, we had remote offices to set up in different cities. We have not yet implemented interconnection between these offices. Each office has its own server, its own Windows environment. We have this implemented in our central office, and I would like it across all of our remote offices as well. I'm not sure how long that will take. I'm just beginning to dive into that.
What other advice do I have?
We are just a customer and an end-user.
I'm not sure of which version of the solution we're using.
I'd advise new potential users to implement the product and to regularly check on it. We have some equipment that is not being updated. That's on us. It's necessary, however, to implement constant evaluations for which equipment is actually connected to the solution.
I'd rate the solution at an eight out of ten overall. We're mostly quite happy with the product.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
On-premises
Disclaimer: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
Date published: 2021-05-04T00:00:00-04:00
Rated 5 out of
5 by
HemantJoshi from
A solution that is stable and high in performance, generating a significant return on investment for its users
What is our primary use case?
Our company currently uses Microsoft Windows Server Update Services to install updates on the Windows systems that have been provisioned in the cloud.
The primary use case for the solution is for managing and monitoring a distributed database system in a production environment.
What is most valuable?
We were specifically looking for cloud-native solutions, and this particular solution perfectly aligns with our roadmap to transition to the cloud and leverage as many cloud-native tools as possible.
It is a tool that helps our organization meet our work requirements. I haven't exploited it to an extent where I can't comment extensively on what features I like in the tool. So, it may take me a year to do so.
What needs improvement?
The only complex part was the solution’s tricky setup phase. It should be made easier. The person working in our company faced challenges initially while trying to enter the solution's setup phase. However, going through the documentation for the solution might be helpful.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using the solution for about two months. Also, I am using the solution's latest version.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
Considering the two months that I have used the product, I am absolutely happy with its stability and performance. It is a stable product.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
Our company started using the solution recently. We have a limited number of users and administrators within the Azure cloud team who currently utilize the available cloud solution. To be more specific, there are only about three to five users currently using the solution.
Since it can handle a much larger workload than it claims, it is a scalable tool.
Our company plans to increase the usage of the tool extensively when there is a need to move the workload to the cloud platform.
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
Our company has previously used Microsoft System Center's on-premise version. Since it was a native cloud tool, we moved to Microsoft Windows Server Update Services.
How was the initial setup?
Even though the initial setup was tricky, it was easy since ample documentation was available.
The solution is deployed on the cloud. Regarding the time taken for the deployment process, after experimenting with the tool for a couple of weeks, we were able to get it up and running in our company.
Our company had only one engineer who experimented with the solution and deployed it on the cloud.
What was our ROI?
An ROI is there using the solution since, with the cloud-native products, one has to put less effort into using and managing it.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
Microsoft's operating model determines the solution's pricing, and we use it based on our enterprise agreement, which incurs an annual cost.
Managing the additional cost beyond the standard license fee can be tricky when deploying a solution on the cloud, as you may also incur charges for data transfer and other related expenses. It is important to be aware of these costs and include them in your total cost considerations so that they don't come as a surprise later on.
What other advice do I have?
I suggest that those planning to use the solution consider whether a cloud-native solution works for them from a cost perspective. If it does, then they should definitely consider it. Since the solution meets my company's requirements, I rate the overall solution a seven to eight out of ten.
Disclaimer: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
Date published: 2023-04-17T00:00:00-04:00
Rated 5 out of
5 by
Nikos Ellinas from
Faithfully delivers updates to endpoints; offers the option to create multiple downstream servers
What is our primary use case?
We use WSUS on a host in our main data center so that all the Windows and the endpoint updates are downloaded to a central location before being distributed to the endpoints through our local network. The aim is to avoid the endpoint downloading the update directly from the internet and killing the office bandwidth.
What is most valuable?
This product provides the option to create multiple downstream servers. If the infrastructure is distributed to different sites or different countries, you can create a structure where the upstream server downloads all the updates using the specific internal connection, and then distributes those updates to the downstream servers at a scheduled time when the workload is minimal.
What needs improvement?
The interface is not user-friendly. It looks like Windows 98 and it needs a different format, maybe something web-based, or perhaps it's time to rebuild from scratch. It needs to be something that provides clear options and should include an FAQ section to help provide some answers without having to search Google or contact technical support.
For how long have I used the solution?
I've been using this solution for about three years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
This solution delivers updates to the endpoint. We worry about server stability but not the endpoints. If there are any issues we can manage without it functioning at peak level.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
The solution is very scalable. You can add servers as needed and add batches of endpoints to it.
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup is difficult. It's easier if you don't need downstream servers but if you want to do it properly and securely and have the packages distributed without any interference, it's a little bit complex. To configure it from scratch for 1,000 endpoints, can take up to three days.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
When purchasing the operating system, WSUS is included in the price of the product.
What other advice do I have?
It's important to monitor bandwidth usage and traffic that might be blocked on the firewalls.
This is a good product and it does its job but it's quite complex to configure, implement, and maintain, and the interface is terrible, so I rate it eight out of 10.
Disclaimer: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
Date published: 2022-06-14T00:00:00-04:00
Rated 5 out of
5 by
HUNT, D. from
GREAT PRODUCT FOR A GOOD PRICE
THIS IS ONE OF THE BEST AND MOST DURABLE BACK PACKS IVE EVER OWNED AND NOW I HAVE ORDERED ONE FOR EVERYONE OF MY GUYS THAT WORK FOR ME - HAS LOTS OF ROOM FOR LAPTOP, ACCESORIES, PLUS PLENTY OF ROOM FOR MISC. STUFF AND THE BACK PACK IS WELL BUILT AND DURABLE GREAT DEAL FOR THE PRICE
Date published: 2022-01-13T07:15:59-05:00
Rated 5 out of
5 by
SANDRA G. from
The Backpack that Holds Up for Years
If you are looking for a great laptop backpack the Wenger Pegasus 17" is the way to go I have had one for 12+ years and it still in great condition. Shoulder straps, handled and all the zipper intact.Item I carry daily in my backpack are my laptop, 8x5 planner, ipad, both personal and work cell phone, chargers for laptop and phones and other miscellance item
Date published: 2021-08-18T16:15:54-04:00
Rated 5 out of
5 by
Alejandro Bartolomeo from
Efficient, reliable, but configuration difficult
What is our primary use case?
I am using Microsoft Windows Server Update Services for patch management.
What is most valuable?
The most valuable feature of Microsoft Windows Server Update Services is the efficiency once configured.
What needs improvement?
Microsoft Windows Server Update Services could improve the ease of use.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using Microsoft Windows Server Update Services for approximately 12 years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
Microsoft Windows Server Update Services is stable.
How are customer service and support?
The support could improve because we needed to do a lot of research to use the Microsoft Windows Server Update Services and hardware. It was a time-consuming process.
How was the initial setup?
The setup and configuration of Microsoft Windows Server Update Services are difficult. It could be made easier.
What about the implementation team?
I used two people for the implementation and maintenance of Microsoft Windows Server Update Services.
What other advice do I have?
I would advise others that this is a good solution but it takes some time to configure. It is important to do it right.
I rate Microsoft Windows Server Update Services a seven out of ten.
Disclaimer: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer:Partner
Date published: 2022-04-03T00:00:00-04:00
Rated 5 out of
5 by
Carlo Du Plessis from
Stable and easy to set up
What is our primary use case?
I use Update Services to ensure our server estate remains adequately patched.
What is most valuable?
The most valuable feature is Server Update's stability.
What needs improvement?
More integration with different platforms would be an improvement. In the next release, Microsoft should expand on automation.
For how long have I used the solution?
I've been using this solution for more than ten years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
Server Update is stable.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
This solution is scalable.
How are customer service and support?
Microsoft's technical support is fine.
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup was straightforward.
What other advice do I have?
I would recommend Server Update for anyone looking into it and rate it as eight out of ten.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
Public Cloud
Disclaimer: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
Date published: 2022-05-12T00:00:00-04:00
Rated 5 out of
5 by
Yves Jeanty from
Highly stable, low maintenance, and helpful support
What is our primary use case?
The most valuable feature of Microsoft Windows Server Update Services is the fact that we can deploy patches from Microsoft security patches and deploy software.
What needs improvement?
Microsoft Windows Server Update Services could improve by being less cumbersome to use. It's somewhat difficult to use, but we manage to get through it.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have used Microsoft Windows Server Update Services within the last 12 months.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
Microsoft Windows Server Update Services is highly stable. It is one of the most stable solutions from Microsoft.
How are customer service and support?
The support was great from Microsoft Windows Server Update Services. When we were implementing it or upgrading it to the version we have now, the representative was able to do a Teams meeting with us and help configure it and create deployment shares. They helped us with everything.
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup of Microsoft Windows Server Update Services is complex.
What about the implementation team?
There is not a lot of maintenance required for the solution. The only thing we do is apply patches and approve patches to deploy. It's fairly easy, we do have a whole team that takes care of it, but the majority is hands-off.
What other advice do I have?
My advice to others is if you are thinking about implementing the solution, I will highly suggest they use the support from Microsoft for the implementation. It requires SQL and needs to run SQL local to the server.
I rate Microsoft Windows Server Update Services an eight out of ten.
Disclaimer: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
Date published: 2022-05-06T00:00:00-04:00
Rated 5 out of
5 by
Soroush-Enayati from
A a computer program and network service with a useful evaluation feature, but connectivity could be better
What is our primary use case?
I often use Microsoft Windows Server Update Services for updates and loyalty patch management.
What is most valuable?
I like that we could evaluate every client and compare some weaknesses and vulnerability exploits in Microsoft Windows Server Update Services. This is a useful way to test applications against an attacker attempting to exploit the operating system.
What needs improvement?
In the next release, I would like them to provide better connectivity. They must improve the connectivity between the WSS with Microsoft or the client.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using Microsoft Windows Server Update Services for a couple of years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
Microsoft Windows Server Update Services is a stable solution. However, there have been some problems with the Microsoft update. We had to do some maintenance before restarting the WSS service or checking the connection between the OS and Microsoft accounts.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
Microsoft Windows Server Update Services is very scalable. It could be deployed on the network with even 1,000 clients. At present, we have about 10,000 users.
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup wasn't complex. It's easy. I think that it could be run in one day. It needs weekly or sometimes daily maintenance to check and update the signature or to check and get the update via Microsoft.
What about the implementation team?
We implemented this solution.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
It doesn't need a license. It's offered for free with Microsoft.
What other advice do I have?
I would recommend this solution to potential users as it's a vital service in every network.
On a scale from one to ten, I would give Microsoft Windows Server Update Services a seven.
Disclaimer: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
Date published: 2022-11-24T00:00:00-05:00
Rated 5 out of
5 by
Mahendra Reddy from
Good centralized management and merging capabilities with helpful technical support
What is our primary use case?
It is being used both in my company as well as in my client's companies. We work on the basis of customer demand and whether they go for Windows or Linux. 60% of users use Microsoft since it's user-friendly and if they want the capability of maintaining the servers over the CLI then they tend to prefer Windows.
What is most valuable?
The centralized management and merging capabilities are useful. Windows users can switch from open access to data from the Linux servers.
The various security updates are good for the users as well as the organizations it helps keep the solution safe.
The performance has been okay.
Technical support is responsive.
It can scale.
What needs improvement?
A few bugs need to be figured out for the security side. A few of the bugs are not even fixed completely on a full scale, and sometimes that will be tough. If a client is not maintaining proper network security, their data will be breached. The security updates need to be released regularly from Microsoft so that there won't be any loopholes in the OS.
The initial setup may be a bit difficult for beginners.
The solution is costly.
When we shift onto the graphical user interface, there'll be a bit of a lack of processing speed as there are a number of graphics included in the OS when we shift to the GUI. We'd like CLI and GUI to be equally responsive. Many users prefer the GUI, yet then they suffer from less performance due to the graphics.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
The performance is okay. I would rate it seven out of ten in terms of stability. There sometimes are bugs in the product.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
The solution can scale.
We have medium-sized to enterprise-level organizations. We also use the solution for smaller organizations that would like the cloud to save costs on IT infrastructure.
We work with 250 or more companies that use this solution.
How are customer service and support?
Technical support responds spontaneously if you raise any tickets or queries regarding to the products. I raise a fewer number of queries to technical support since we are the engineers. We tend to go to the client and fix issues. In the case of major issues, we'd reach out to technical support, and they respond spontaneously within 24 hours.
How would you rate customer service and support?
Positive
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
We previously used Linux servers. We switched based on client requirements as they wanted a user-friendly service even with engineers assisting them.
How was the initial setup?
For beginners, it might be a bit complex to set up the solution. However, with well-experienced guides like engineers, it would be easy for them to fix the infrastructure and deploy these Windows servers.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
It is a bit expensive.
The cost would be taken care of by my accounts team, so I'm not that involved in licensing. That said, to my knowledge, it's a bit expensive. If any clients want to implement their infrastructure to be run on Microsoft, then they need to purchase every license for each service. If the client wants to go for a Windows server, they need a license for the client machines and a license if they want to operate a Mail Exchange server. If all this could become bundled into one thing where small-scale industries and medium-scale industries can buy it as one item, that would be ideal.
What other advice do I have?
I'm a consultant as well as a Microsoft-certified system engineer. We are Microsoft partners.
Most likely, all my clients would prefer an on-premises deployment. They want the data to be secure as they likely have confidential data regarding their users, as well as the company's data, would be on their servers.
That said, a few clients would prefer cloud services like AWS. It totally depends upon the clients and what they would like to go for and whether they be like to invest on the on-premises or if they would like to go for a cloud to cut costs.
Most people are moving onto the Linux side, where they feel more secure, however, compared with the admin agents who are not well-versed at the CLI level, many prefer the Windows server, which is the alternative. People should remember that though there is a graphical user interface for Windows Server, they can still operate in CLI mode, which would be very fast, and very similar to a Linux OS.
I'd rate the solution eight out of ten.
Disclaimer: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer:Partner
Date published: 2022-11-09T00:00:00-05:00
Rated 5 out of
5 by
AANKITGUPTAA from
Easy to download and patch but needs to be a generic patch management solution
What is our primary use case?
We use the solution primarily for patching. It is a very crucial activity in terms of maintaining up-to-date images and safeguarding the operating system from different bugs and avoiding crashes. We keep everything updated, including security patches. We have multiple servers based on different flavors of Windows Server and different versions also from 2008, 2012, 2016, 2019, and 2022.
Based on the policy, we deploy patches on whichever particular Windows Server on the required schedule.
How has it helped my organization?
Patch and security management is a very crucial activity. It is actually periodical and it should be done on a monthly basis or a weekly basis, depending on the requirement. Maintaining the patching to the latest version is a very crucial and difficult task. It's helped us to maintain patch management cycles.
What is most valuable?
We can easily download particular patches, and we can apply them on a group basis and policy basis.
It is stable.
We can scale the product.
What needs improvement?
We have a web-based GUI and can access it from other systems, also. We can always update all the policies and patches with ease if there is a good GUI. They need to continue to offer the GUI interface to make patching easier.
They should offer patch management across platforms.
They should also include application software. Catered options should be included for different applications. They should offer a generic patch management solution for general applications.
For how long have I used the solution?
I've been using the solution for more than ten years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
This is a stable solution. We don't find many bugs or glitches. It doesn't crash or freeze. It is reliable.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
The solution is scalable. We can add multiple Windows Servers in the groups. We handle between 400 and 500 (or more) devices.
We can easily scale up at any time just by adding servers to the updated services.
How are customer service and support?
Technical support has been helpful and responsive.
How would you rate customer service and support?
Positive
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
We tried some different products, including ManageEngine Patch Management and Automox.
How was the initial setup?
The implementation process offers a moderate level of difficulty. It's not easy, nor is it complex.
You need one Windows Server, at least for maintenance.
What was our ROI?
We don't require the purchase of any commercial products for patch management and therefore aren't really investing anything. From the technical side, we can easily manage the patching and keep our system up to date, which is useful.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
In terms of licensing, it's a Windows Server feature, so it will come under the Windows Server. That said, we require some care licenses for that Windows Server.
What other advice do I have?
I'm using the latest version of the solution.
New users need to precisely and carefully define the policies and catalogs at the outset. It's important to have everything aligned before deployment to avoid downtime.
I'd rate the solution seven out of ten.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
On-premises
Disclaimer: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
Date published: 2022-12-05T00:00:00-05:00
Rated 5 out of
5 by
Saad Khoudali from
Lets us manage all our organization's updates from a single management console
What is our primary use case?
As a system administrator at my organization, I use Microsoft WSUS to manage the updates for all the Microsoft products that we are using. Since WSUS is a service that handles the Microsoft updates and their deployments to a group of servers, you could technically call it patch management software.
Just like IIS, it comes built-in with the version of Windows Server that you are using, and we are currently using WSUS on Windows Server 2022 to efficiently manage the updates on all the other servers in our organization.
What is most valuable?
When you're working in the IT department of an organization, you will often have to set policies regarding what users can and cannot download from the internet, especially when it comes to updates. Most updates are binary files and programs, and these are types of files that can sometimes be harmful, so an organization needs a way to prevent the downloading of these files.
Instead of leaving each server to download their own updates, with WSUS you have a centralized management tool for all the updates alongside a log for all the servers. By creating and deploying a WSUS server that will download the updates from the internet and dispatch them to the other servers, you can have control over the entire deployment process.
Essentially, it's like a Windows Update proxy that you absolutely need to have, as the IT department grants the WSUS server an exception to download files of any type from the internet. This is the only server with such an exception so that you can control what is entering or exiting the network with regard to updates.
The advantage that is offered by WSUS is not only that you can manage all updates (e.g. critical updates, essential updates, feature updates, driver updates, etc.), but also that you can manage the updates per type of operating system; for example, Windows 10, Windows 11, Windows Server 2022, Windows Server 2019, and so on. It provides you a way to create classifications of types of updates per type of operating system. And all this, you can do from a single management console.
What needs improvement?
The main problem with WSUS is that the management console doesn't allow you to do a lot of operations. It's actually quite a primitive console, and has been since day one. In order to be more effective, you need to use another tool from Microsoft that can take advantage of WSUS and also offer you the extra features you need.
For example, SCCM (System Center Configuration Manager) is software from Microsoft that uses WSUS and gives you many more features than you would get from using WSUS alone. To truly manage the updates of your entire environment effectively, you either need to automate the features you need with PowerShell scripts or you need to use SCCM.
To illustrate one particular limitation of the basic WSUS management console, when you download updates with classifications per operating system, sometimes it doesn't offer you a good way to display or regroup updates that are part of a specific group. Or, as another example, if you just want to see the latest updates, the WSUS console will simply show you all the updates that are available. Microsoft uses an updating process whereby each new update will supersede the previous one, meaning it will expire the old updates, but the management console doesn't offer you a way to regroup or display only the new updates while excluding the ones that have expired. This is one of the many management features that are missing from the WSUS console.
One other area of improvement is that when you want to add servers to use WSUS, you can't easily add or search for a server. To add a server into the management console, you need to do other things and wait until the check cycle starts, meaning that you need to wait for a while until you see the newly-added server that will be handled by the WSUS server.
For how long have I used the solution?
We started using Microsoft WSUS in 2015, although after a few technical problems we stopped using the service because it was causing us a lot of trouble. Later, in 2022, I redeployed a server that we now use to manage the updates for all the Microsoft products that we are using.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
As one of the administrators for our WSUS server, I would say that it is very stable.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
Regarding the scalability, you can actually configure something of an ERP version of the WSUS service. For example, if you work in a company that has multiple sites and these sites are located in other states or countries, you can deploy WSUS for each site. Once you've done that, these WSUS servers will all communicate with a parent WSUS server that will then deploy updates to each child WSUS.
Therefore, I'd say that WSUS is quite scalable since we can make servers communicate with one another, in the sense that you have one parent source that communicates with and deploys updates to each child WSUS service in a hierarchical arrangement.
How are customer service and support?
My rating for WSUS would be the same rating I would give the overall technical support from Microsoft, and it all depends on the criticality of the incident. Microsoft will sometimes call you within 24-48 hours depending on the urgency of your request, and most of the time, Microsoft support does a good job.
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
We haven't used any other solution for this type of process as there are no other products that offer the same service, because Windows Update is part of the Windows Server operating system. It is like a black box that nobody knows anything about and you aren't provided with any tools that can offer the same job that the WSUS server does.
How was the initial setup?
Setting up WSUS is quite easy, but the installation itself is just a feature you can enable in your server. If you really want to use it well, you need to do extra configuration tasks, not only in the WSUS server but also in the Active Directory server. You will typically have to create a few network group policies and other configurations in addition to setting up WSUS itself.
What about the implementation team?
I was responsible for deploying our current WSUS server, but we are still in the testing stage. We haven't yet deployed WSUS to be used in a production environment at all, since we are still adding in servers one by one, testing everything as we go along.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
The licensing of WSUS is free of charge because it comes with the Windows Server operating system, included as a feature of the operating system itself. It's simply a role that you enable within Windows Server. Technically, we are only a customer of Microsoft and not a customer of WSUS.
For example, if your license for the Windows Server 2022 operating system costs, let's say, $400, then this license will include WSUS and all the other features of the Windows Server operating system (like IIS, etc.). So, ultimately, to speak of the licensing of WSUS, you have to refer to the price of the server license and what kind of contract you have with Microsoft. If you rent, it's a rental license contract, or otherwise you might go with a volume license contract.
Suppose a corporation wants you to buy a number of licenses, and you opt for a group of individual licenses at a price of, for example, $200 per license. If you want to deploy 50 servers, you will need to buy 50 licenses. This method of licensing is very expensive and it will cost far too much to be reasonable. That's why Microsoft offers what are called "volume license" packages.
With volume licensing, Microsoft gives you a discount if you buy a large number of licenses. But with the volume type of licensing, you are not able to get upgrades for the next version, such that if you currently have Windows 10 or Windows Server 2019, you can't upgrade to Windows 11 or Windows Server 2022, respectively. Although these licenses are perpetual, you will be stuck with the same version.
The better option is to go for a rental contract, which means that you merely rent a certain number of licenses each year, and these licenses won't expire unless the contract expires (at which point you lose access to the portal where you can download operating systems and other applications along with their licenses). Importantly, these licenses give you the ability to do upgrades from one version to another. For as long as you are on a rental contract, you will pay an amount of money depending on the type of software you want to rent (e.g. Windows Server, Microsoft SQL Server, Windows 10, Windows 11, Office 365, Visual Studio, etc.), and you will always be able to upgrade from one version to another.
This is just a basic overview of the licensing models from Microsoft; the details are much more complicated.
What other advice do I have?
One piece of advice I can give is that it's important to acknowledge that, sometimes, updates can bring their own problems. For example, when you install an update, you need to wait until the computer restarts, and in some cases updates can cause the computer to crash. The crash may even be so severe that you need to reformat the machine and, thus, you lose your data.
When talking about other administrators who are wondering about whether to use WSUS, I can confirm that it's a very good tool. And, if yo...
Disclaimer: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
Date published: 2022-11-20T00:00:00-05:00
Rated 5 out of
5 by
AdityaParihar from
Provides automatic server updates for our clients
What is our primary use case?
We have more than 200 users in our organization.
What is most valuable?
We get server updates from the internet and from the Bluetooth server. All of the clients are connected to it, and they're all updated from this exact server. It updates automatically.
What needs improvement?
We faced issues with updates with some clients, so we have downloaded a patch appliance in those instances.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have used this solution for nine years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
We haven't had any issues with stability.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
The scalability is okay.
How was the initial setup?
Setup is complex. I would rate it as seven out of ten.
For the installation process, we had to install a service from Windows and load the drivers.
The amount of time it takes to deploy will depend on the operating system. It can take from 45 minutes to one hour.
We have the M&A ticketing system, which we use to get information about the clients and issues. It's not difficult to maintain the solution.
What other advice do I have?
I would rate this solution as nine out of ten. I would recommend it.
Disclaimer: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
Date published: 2023-01-31T00:00:00-05:00