WSUSContent folder grows too large; Reset WSUS Server

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To configure WSUS to store updates locally and if you want to minimize disk space, use the below configuration.

If you are certain that the above settings have been configured as such on your WSUS server (including any downstream servers) since the product was installed, then it is likely that the storage requirements on your WSUS server is accurate. The only thing you may want to try is running the Server Cleanup Wizard (WSUS console – Options – Server Cleanup Wizard) because there is an option to delete any EXPIRED updates.

or RESET WSUS

1) Correct any settings above or disapprove any unneeded updates.
2) Close any open WSUS consoles.
3) Go to Administrative Tools – Services and STOP the Update Services service.
4) In Windows Explorer browse to the WSUSContent folder (typically D:WSUSWSUSContent or C:WSUSWSUSContent)
5) Delete ALL the files and folders in the WSUSContent folder.
6) Go to Administrative Tools – Services and START the Update Services service.
7) Open a command prompt and navigate to the folder: C:Program FilesUpdate ServicesTools.
8) Run the command WSUSUtil.exe RESET
-This command tells WSUS to check each update in the database, and verify that the content is present in the WSUSContent folder. As it finds that the content is not present in the folder, it executes a BITS job to download the content from Microsoft. This process takes quite a bit of time and runs in the background.

How do you tell when the process is complete?
Other than noticing that the WSUSContent folder is no longer growing you can also check the SoftwareDistribution.log:
C:Program FilesUpdate ServicesLogFilesSoftwareDistribution.log
When you start the reset process, you should see a line towards the bottom of the log which looks like this:
WsusService.13  ExecutionContext.runTryCode     State Machine Reset Agent Starting
After waiting for some time, check the log again and search for the text “State Machine Reset Agent Finished”
WsusService.13  ExecutionContext.runTryCode     State Machine Reset Agent Finished

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