automatic updates

[spartaco]

I've noticed that on a new VPS win2003 installation, automatic updates on the control panel are disabled, the windows service is disabled, you must go to the windowsupdate web site manually in order to keep the server updated with security updates, and this seems to work the first time, because the next ones the website explictly asks that the automatic updates service be on.

If I set it automatic start, after a restart of the server it turns back disabled. I''m curious to know the reasons of this behavior, maybe the physical host controls or owns the windows directory of the VPS or its update?

If this or something similar is the cause then I feel unconfortable by this 'external update' because I noticed there were more than 20 important security updates to download and install on the server.

I'm wondering how to switch on automatic updates, I don't like the idea to manually install the updates every month or waiting for others do so on the physical host.

[suwunk]

Hi Spartaco,

Windows updates cannot be run within a Virtuozzo based container. With Virtuozzo VMs, you do not have fully access to the Operating System. The OS is in fact shared among all VMs on the host machine so performing updates if possible would affect all VMs on the machine. If you want full access i highly recommend using HyperV Hyper-V VPS Hosting | myhosting.com

Hyper-V VPS isn't just about a remote desktop. Hyper-V VPS provides a complete control over the entire OS so you can truly install, update and configure any aspect of Windows within your Hyper-V VPS.

OS patching and updates for Virtuozzo are handled by hosting company.
Compare all VPS Features and Options | myhosting.com
If you hosted your VPS in Myhosting, you can contact to Myhosting support for further assistance
24/7 In-House Phone Support | myhosting.com

Regards

[spartaco]

I already did update the OS by the windowsupdate website, does that means that I have affected other VPS on the same host? I'm hoping this is not the case, it is quite easy to make such operation.
I'm not sure if the operating system files are effectively changed after that update, the physical host could have replaced them or make such attemps void.

I've read somewhere, but I don't remember where now, that if the user makes any changes to shared files, e.g by a windows update operation, then such files stop being shared with the host, and they go copied into the single VPS creating a kind of fork.

This obviously consumes disk space, since the shared files are copied into the private disk, but from this point the local server has a true copy of the file.

I suppose anyway that this mechanism applied to system files could generate confusion, what happen if the host updates a system file who depends on others, and the private server has partial changes?

I'm going to study the hyper-V solution, I already had too many hackers attacks due to missing system updates, I don't feel confortable leaving this topic to the host, who also has other responsabilities.