A: The Virtual Machine Servicing tool was previously available (VMST 3.0), which worked with System Center Configuration Manager 2007 and Windows Software Update Services. It enabled a virtual machine (VM) to be patched without having to be started.
This was useful if a VM might have been offline for a long period of time and there could be risk associated with starting the VM without proper patching. Using VMST, the VM could be patched prior to being started.
Microsoft now has a beta available of the new version. It will work with System Center 2012 Configuration Manager and WSUS for patches, and integrates with System Center 2012 Virtual Machine Manager to patch:
- Offline VMs in a SCVMM library
- Stopped and saved state VMs on a host.
- VM templates.
The beta is available at the Microsoft Connect site and detail on the tool can be found at TechNet.
