Lenovo System Update Solution - Manual (Page 7)

Chapter 1. Overview
The programs documented in this deployment guide are System Update, Update Retriever, and Thin Installer.
This deployment guide defines each program, explains the update process, and explains how each program
can be configured to fit your needs. In this deployment guide, you also will find installation procedures,
application configurations, and best practices on how to use these programs in different environments.
System Update
System Update is a program that helps you keep the software on your system up-to-date. Using System
Update, the update packages that are stored on Lenovo servers can be downloaded from the Lenovo
Help Center Web site. Update packages can be applications, device drivers, BIOS flashes, and software
updates. When System Update connects to the repository folder, System Update automatically recognizes
your computer machine type, model number, and other system information to determine whether your
system needs the available updates. System Update will display a pick list of update packages where you
can select update packages to download and install. System Update can be configured to install packages
either manually or automatically. System Update also provides a method to defer the installation of update
packages. System Update can be configured to search for and download update packages from any
combination of the following locations:
• The Lenovo Help Center Web site
• The Repository folder on a local system
• The Repository folder on a network share
Update Retriever
Update Retriever is a program that enables you to search for and download updates from the Lenovo Help
Center Web site to a repository folder on a network share. You can configure System Update to search for
update packages from a repository folder on a network share instead of searching the Lenovo Help Center
Web site. Update Retriever can help you with the following:
• Downloading updates for specific Lenovo systems according to machine types, languages, and operating
systems
• Downloading update packages for more than one machine type
• Importing update packages
Thin Installer
Thin Installer is a lighter version of System Update. Unlike System Update, Thin Installer does not require
installation, does not create any registry keys, and does not have any services. Thin Installer can search for
update packages from the repository folder on a local hard disk drive, a network share, a Web share, or
external media such as a CD, DVD, or USB hard disk drive.
Managing the update process
The update process is a method to obtain, configure, and install update packages.
To complete the update process, use one of the following options:
• System Update
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