Computer Groups Adding Computers in Bulk

I have two questions here:
1.We use a separate tool to patch our systems. Would like to know if we can we use WSUS only for scanning the environment to ensure the systems are patched. If yes, can you point me to some resources that speak about such a configuration.
2.We intend to create some computer groups in our Windows 2012 WSUS. Is there a way to bulk add computer objects into these newly created group using powershell or other means.
Thanks

2.We intend to create some computer groups in our Windows 2012 WSUS. Is there a way to bulk add computer objects into these newly created group using powershell or other means.
Sort of... maybe. :-) We (SolarWinds) have a
free tool that's designed to extract groups/computers from a WSUS server to be imported into another WSUS server. The tool was designed for dealing with DR/replica scenarios where server-side targeting is being used, thus avoiding the need to reassign
all of the computers to groups again.
The export function produces an XML file which contains all of the groups and computers contained in the WSUS database. This XML file can be edited (e.g. if you wanted to move some computers from one group to another, or add them to another group) prior
to import).
As such... it's possible to run the "export" of your WSUS server to build the shell of existing computer groups, and then populate the file with the necessary computer records and re-import the file, effectively creating the computers
in the database. However, it may not actually be worth the effort, because you'll need to create structured XML records for the computers, including GUIDs, but that's the only way I know of to "push" non-existent computers into a WSUS database, except by having
the client actually talk to the WSUS server.
The other option to consider... since you're going to need to create a GPO to configure the clients to talk to WSUS anyway... consider using Client-Side Targeting, and assign the group memberships using Group Policy.
Lawrence Garvin, M.S., MCSA, MCITP:EA, MCDBA
SolarWinds Head Geek
Microsoft MVP - Software Packaging, Deployment & Servicing (2005-2014)
My MVP Profile: http://mvp.microsoft.com/en-us/mvp/Lawrence%20R%20Garvin-32101
http://www.solarwinds.com/gotmicrosoft
The views expressed on this post are mine and do not necessarily reflect the views of SolarWinds.

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