Gert, it looks like you have to action that file for things to happen. When i first cat the file you mentioned i only got the same as michaels first post.
As soon as i had completed the cat and did it again i got the same as michaels last post.
Yep me too, got the same error [:(] Did also "vi /etc/up2date/up2date_status", exited it, look again in the up2dat overview tab, loads and up2dates are downloaded and installed....
Got the same error at Management > Up2Date > Overview
Then set Password for root/loginuser,
looked at the "/etc/up2date/up2date_status",
returned to WebAdmin and now everythings looks fine...