WSUS Self-update is not working

I've noticed a number of WSUS 3.0 servers are coming up with the following error in the Application event log:

Event Type: Error
Event Source: Windows Server Update Services
Event Category: Clients
Event ID: 13042
User: N/A
Computer: WSUS01
Description: Self-update is not working.

To fix the issue, follow these steps:

• Open IIS Manager and ensure there is a Selfupdate virtual directory in the Default Web Site. If not, create it with the Local Path pointing to C:\Program Files\Update Services\Selfupdate


• Click the Directory Security tab and ensure that Anonymous Access is allowed


• Restart IIS

Verify that the problem is fixed by running the following command at the command prompt:

C:\Program Files\Update Services\Tools\wsusutil.exe checkhealth

Then examine the Application event log for the following event:

Event Type: Error
Event Source: Windows Server Update Services
Event Category: Clients
Event ID: 10000
User: N/A
Computer: WSUS01
Description: WSUS is working correctly.

As background, WSUS clients must connect to the SelfUpdate virtual directory to check for a new version of the WSUS client before checking for new updates. This always happens anonymously over port 80, even if WSUS is configured to use a custom port, such as port 8530.

Credit: http://www.expta.com/2008/06/fix-for-self-update-is-not-working-in.html