Q. Does the Microsoft System Center Configuration Manager 2007 (SCCM) software-updates feature force clients to download the whole patch-update package regardless of whether the client needs all the patches?

A. No. The SCCM software updates service leverages Windows Server Update Services (WSUS) and scans clients for required updates. It downloads only the client-required patches from the deployment package. This service is called selective download. It’s not available for Microsoft Systems Management Server (SMS) 2003 clients using Inventory Tool for Microsoft Updates (ITMU).

The client knows its required patches through the compliance-assessment phase available through the SCCM Software Update Point.