1, 2, 3, Many

In Terry Pratchett’s Discworld series, trolls count in a base 4-like system whose main cardinals are One, Two, Three, and Many (there is also Lots, which is equal to 16 in decimal).

It is a little known fact that Windows Server Update Services counts in a similar fashion, only it uses a much simpler system with only two numbers: Some and Many.

Observe this amazing numerical system in action:

Log Name:      Application
Source:        Windows Server Update Services
Date:          05/08/2010 12:50:30
Event ID:      13021
Task Category: 6
Level:         Warning
Keywords:      Classic
User:          N/A
Computer:      updates.angrytech.internal
Description:
Some client computers are not reporting their inventory. 1 have been detected so far.

Log Name:      Application
Source:        Windows Server Update Services
Date:          05/08/2010 14:30:36
Event ID:      13022
Task Category: 6
Level:         Error
Keywords:      Classic
User:          N/A
Computer:      updates.angrytech.internal
Description:
Many client computers are not reporting their inventory. 2 have been detected so far.

This is why whenever I look at the Role Health Summary page, I get a dirty great red × next to WSUS; apparently just two computers not checking in counts as ‘many’.

So, if someone would someone please teach the WSUS developers how to count higher than 2, I would be very grateful.