Possible to point Windows 2003 server to Windows 2012 R2 WSUS?

Question

Hello Community,
I have deployed Windows 2012 R2 WSUS in my organisation. I have no issues with Windows 7, 2008 R2 pointing to the WSUS server.
However, I am having issues pointing Windows 2003 R2 and Windows XP to the WSUS server.
On the Windows 2003 client, I have also ran wuauclt /detectnow and the GPO settings is set to:
In Windows 2008 R2, I know that I am getting updates from the WSUS because I can see the option
below (circled in red)
Questions:
1. In Windows 2003, how do I know that I am actually getting the updates from the WSUS and not from the
internet? 
2. Are Windows 2003/XP clients compatible to pull updates from a Windows 2012 WSUS server?
3. If Windows 2003/XP clients are able to get updates from Windows 2012 WSUS server, how do I do it? Is
there any 'interface' for me to use?

Answer 1

In Windows 2003, there isnt an interface for administrators to "Check for Windows Updates managed by your system administrator" unlike in Windows 2008. (See screenshot on my first post)
In Windows 2003, I go to Tools > Windows Update and it is pointing me to microsoft's website. 
Correct, In Windows 2003 you use the WUAUCLT.EXE command line utility, to perform client actions.
But that has *nothing* to do with how you *configure* the client, nor how you check the client's configuration. That is done exactly the same way regardless of which operating system is being used.
So when I say you know you're getting updates from WSUS by using the same method, that method is NOT looking at the WUApp applet in Control Panel, because that applet does NOT tell you that the client is getting updates from WSUS. It merely tells you that
some policy is in place that presumably tells the client to get updates from a WSUS server.
If you *really* want to know.... check the appropriate registry keys, or read the WindowsUpdate.log.... and that's done exactly the same way on every operating system.
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.