Updates : Superseding and Superseded Updates : Complete Story

Superseding and Superseded Updates

Typically, an update that supersedes other updates does one or more of the following:

• Enhances, improves, or adds to the fix provided by one or more previously released updates.
• Improves the efficiency of its update file package, which is installed on client computers if the update is approved for installation. For example, the superseded update might contain files that are no longer relevant to the fix or to the operating systems now supported by the new update, so those files are not included in the superseding update's file package.
• Updates newer versions of a product, or in other words, is no longer applicable to older versions or configurations of a product. Updates can also supersede other updates if modifications have been made to expand language support. For example, a later revision of a product update for Microsoft Office might remove support for an older operating system, but add additional support for new languages in the initial update release.

Conversely, an update that is superseded by another update does the following:

• Fixes a similar vulnerability in the update that supersedes it. However, the update that supersedes it might enhance the fix or modify the applicability to client computers that the superseded update provides.
• Updates earlier versions or configurations of products.

On the WSUS console, the WSUS update page clearly indicates those updates that have a superseded or superseding relationship with an earlier version. The Details tab also includes "Superseded by" and "Supersedes" status information for updates, in addition to KB links containing more information about each update.

WSUS does not automatically decline superseded updates, and it is recommended that you do not assume that superseded updates should be declined in favor of the new, superseding update. Before declining a superseded update, make sure that it is no longer needed by any of your client computers. These are three possible scenarios in which you might need to install a superseded update:

• If a superseding update supports only newer versions of an operating system, and some of your client computers run earlier versions of the operating system.
• If a superseding update has more restricted applicability than the update it supersedes, which would make it inappropriate for some client computers.
• If an update no longer supersedes a previously released update because of new changes. It is possible that, through changes at each release, an update no longer supersedes an update it previously superseded in an earlier version.

 

Expired Updates

An expired update is an update that has been invalidated by Microsoft. An expired update can also be an update that has been superseded by the release of another update (new or revised) that fixes or enhances functionality or applicability offered by the expiring update. In this case, the superseding update should be approved in place of the expired update. An update that is expired can no longer be approved for detection or installation.

 

Some of the sample such updates

 

MS10-006 superseded by KB980232
MS10-009 superseded by KB978338
MS10-015 superseded by KB979683