Windows update solution

Well without any description of your network size, OS's involved or how your doing things now it is kind of hard to give a "good" solution.

There of course is the Microsoft Corporate Update area. And scripting.

Also the Newer Automatic Update aspect of Windows XP

Automatic Update checks the Windows Update Web site for critical updates and automates the process of downloading and installing the critical updates.

Only the Owner or a member of the Local Administrators group can configure the
Automatic Update feature in Windows XP. Updates are only reported when an owner or administrator is logged on.

However when you say manage windows updates then you also start into the area of security fixes, software updates which may beneeded as a result, and evolve into the wide arena of remote desktop management solutions.

A few to mention for consideration are:

http://www.shavlik.com/security/prod_hf.asp
security fixes/hot fixes primarily

http://www.on.com/index.htm -full spectrum package

http://www.netcomply.com/ManageUpdates/updateexpert/
update focused but may have some problems with W98

http://www.managesoft.com/products/index.xml -

interesting - a bit of PR sophistication to get it above the desktop management crowd.

http://www.bigfix.com/website/index.html - a new breed approach.

There is another company that is well established in software updates and I just cannot recall the name, will add if I can recall it.

http://www.blueocean.com/ - foundation in a help desk - asset management but you have to know what you got in order to "update" it.

Budget - current tools utilized - scope of coverage and scope of update view all interact in making the decision.

Again, it can all depend on what it is your going to manage.

Hope that helps

You might want to take a look at St. Bernard Software's UpdateExpert. (http://www.stbernard.com)

It basically scans the computers on your network and determines which updates each needs. From within the UpdateExpert interface you can download andinstall the necessary updates.