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shockotechcom's avatar
shockotechcom
Iron Contributor
Nov 07, 2021

WSUS DB Tables - Large Tables

I have a tiny WSUS downstream server (10 clients) but the DB is 12 GB. I'm looking at the following tables that have the most records and occupy the most space:     Can anyone explain these ...
Windows Server
shocko's avatar
shocko
Steel Contributor
I also checked and in fact the upstream servers was also changed so these downstream servers were moved from one primary to another. I wonder does the downstream, inherit everything from the parent and remove things it doesn't (seems not?!) ?
LainRobertson's avatar
LainRobertson
Silver Contributor
Nov 16, 2021

shocko 

 

Honestly, in your position, I'd just remove the feature and set it up again. Removing the feature does not remove the downloaded content, which helps minimise the impact if you're dealing with a branch office with mediocre connectivity.

 

The loose logical sequence of events would be:

 

  1. Remove the troublesome downstream replica from the upstream parent, then on the downstream replica;
  2. Remove WSUS features;
  3. Reboot (call me paranoid);
  4. Optional: Remove the remote SQL database (I never use WID if I can help it);
  5. Install the WSUS features;
  6. Use "wsusutil.exe postinstall" to ensure it's configured to re-use the existing content directory (see article linked below);
  7. Optional: In the same command, point it to a remote SQL host (again, just my preferred method);
  8. Once "postinstall" has finished, add it back as a downstream replica to the upstream parent;
  9. Once it's finished it's initial synchronisation - which is going to take a while, no doubt - run the usual "server clean-up" process using either the MMC, WSUS PowerShell module or wsusutil.exe;
  10. Prosper.

 

When I say "take a while" in step 9, I don't mean lots of downloading - though that may also happen if the approvals are significantly different. It takes WSUS a long time to set up the database (which includes pulling the relevant update metadata from the replica's parent), which is what I'm referring to.

 

If you have multiple content directories and are not sure which one is being used, check the registry under HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Update Services\Server\Setup\ContentDir.

 

Article explaining "wsusutil postinstall" (and other stuff) here. The article's from Server 2012 R2, but I've seen no differences using Server 2019. (If it ain't broke, don't fix it)

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