The problem with Server Core … there’s no way for you to see the “updates to install” notice in the system tray when you log on to the computer because, well, there’s no systray!

In comes a handy piece of VBscript that allows you to do a manual quick check and start off the installation process, using the in-box Windows Update Agent API.
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa387102(VS.85).aspx

Although the MSDN article states it does not run against SUS 1.0 servers, you don’t have to worry because both Windows Update (site) and WSUS 3.x employ the WUA API.

Save and run the script in the command prompt as “cscript ” since the default script host is graphical (wscript) on a Core box.

Set updateSession = CreateObject("Microsoft.Update.Session")
Set updateSearcher = updateSession.CreateupdateSearcher()
 
WScript.Echo "Searching for updates..." & vbCRLF
 
Set searchResult = _
updateSearcher.Search("IsInstalled=0 and Type='Software'")
 
WScript.Echo "List of applicable items on the machine:"
 
For I = 0 To searchResult.Updates.Count-1
    Set update = searchResult.Updates.Item(I)
    WScript.Echo I + 1 & "> " & update.Title
Next
 
If searchResult.Updates.Count = 0 Then
WScript.Echo "There are no applicable updates."
WScript.Quit
End If
 
WScript.Echo vbCRLF & "Creating collection of updates to download:"
 
Set updatesToDownload = CreateObject("Microsoft.Update.UpdateColl")
 
For I = 0 to searchResult.Updates.Count-1
    Set update = searchResult.Updates.Item(I)
    WScript.Echo I + 1 & "> adding: " & update.Title 
    updatesToDownload.Add(update)
Next
 
WScript.Echo vbCRLF & "Downloading updates..."
 
Set downloader = updateSession.CreateUpdateDownloader() 
downloader.Updates = updatesToDownload
downloader.Download()
 
WScript.Echo  vbCRLF & "List of downloaded updates:"
 
For I = 0 To searchResult.Updates.Count-1
    Set update = searchResult.Updates.Item(I)
    If update.IsDownloaded Then
       WScript.Echo I + 1 & "> " & update.Title 
    End If
Next
 
Set updatesToInstall = CreateObject("Microsoft.Update.UpdateColl")
 
WScript.Echo  vbCRLF & _
"Creating collection of downloaded updates to install:" 
 
For I = 0 To searchResult.Updates.Count-1
    set update = searchResult.Updates.Item(I)
    If update.IsDownloaded = true Then
       WScript.Echo I + 1 & "> adding:  " & update.Title 
       updatesToInstall.Add(update) 
    End If
Next
 
WScript.Echo  vbCRLF & "Would you like to install updates now? (Y/N)"
strInput = WScript.StdIn.Readline
WScript.Echo 
 
If (strInput = "N" or strInput = "n") Then 
WScript.Quit
ElseIf (strInput = "Y" or strInput = "y") Then
WScript.Echo "Installing updates..."
Set installer = updateSession.CreateUpdateInstaller()
installer.Updates = updatesToInstall
Set installationResult = installer.Install()
 
'Output results of install
WScript.Echo "Installation Result: " & _
installationResult.ResultCode 
WScript.Echo "Reboot Required: " & _ 
installationResult.RebootRequired & vbCRLF 
WScript.Echo "Listing of updates installed " & _
"and individual installation results:" 
 
For I = 0 to updatesToInstall.Count - 1
WScript.Echo I + 1 & "> " & _
updatesToInstall.Item(i).Title & _
": " & installationResult.GetUpdateResult(i).ResultCode 
Next
End If

It looks like a ‘nice to have’ feature for the ubertweaker and enthusiast at first, but think about this:

What if you need to support a DTA environment for desktops? Now, you don’t have to mess around with Virtualization software – just provision and deploy the VHD file with the appropriate configuration (such as a segmented VLAN for Test or Dev) and let your application developers use the same hardware.
No double PCs, no double network outlets, no extra poweroutlets or powerconsumption (think green here).

Sure, it needs some tweaking (preventing disk access between images) but.. tempting nonetheless…