Setting up KMS

[squeeky]

Hi peeps. Im trying to setup a kms host on our domain server. I will be activating windows 7. I understand what i need to do except for one thing. Do I use my windows 2008r2 kms key to activate the kms host and then add the windows 7 kms keys ? or do you just use the slmgr /ipk WINDOWS7KEY HERE ? Im pretty new to kms but we need to get rid of manual activation because its taking lots of my time.

 

Thanks

Squeeky

[FN-GM]

Don't activate the host. Just put it straight into the KMS using slmgr. It will sort out the host itself.

 

KMS is easy to setup, once you get the hang of it

[squeeky]

I keep getting windows cannot connect to a kms server. Ive checked the dns and its deffinatly there. Also I now have 1 request 1 fail in /dlv

 

oh man can you not also activate a windows 8 pc using windows 2008 r2 kms ?

Edited February 15, 2013 by squeeky

[CHR1S]

Don't forget you need 25 PCs to activate windows and 5 PCs to activate office.

[squeeky]

Yeh but in the video I watched it said the fail count should not increase

[CHR1S]

Try using VAMT 2/3 http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=30652

http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=11936

 

Makes managing keys so much easier, including changing keys to KMS and forcing activation

[squeeky]

Great tool CHR1S. office is working saying that it needs more requests before it will work however windows 8 says the kms server cannot be contacted. Edited February 15, 2013 by squeeky

[CHR1S]

Have you done this update?

 

Update adds support for Windows 8 and Windows Server 2012 to Windows Server 2008, Windows 7, and Windows Server 2008 R2 KMS hosts

[squeeky]

Yes applied and rebooted but didnt seem to do anything Edited February 15, 2013 by squeeky

[CHR1S]

open cmd as admin and type

cscript slmgr.vbs -dlv

you might need to navigate to system32 first.

 

Remove product keys if shown in full and post here

Edited February 15, 2013 by CHR1S

[squeeky]

C:\Windows\System32>cscript slmgr.vbs -dlv

Microsoft ® Windows Script Host Version 5.8

Copyright © Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

 

Software licensing service version: 6.1.7601.17946

 

Name: Windows Server®, ServerStandard edition

 

REMOVED KEYS HERE

 

License Status: Licensed

Remaining Windows rearm count: 4

Trusted time: 15/02/2013 11:38:16

 

Key Management Service is enabled on this machine

Current count: 0

Listening on Port: 1688

DNS publishing enabled

KMS priority: Normal

 

Key Management Service cumulative requests received from clients

Total requests received: 9

Failed requests received: 9

Requests with License Status Unlicensed: 0

Requests with License Status Licensed: 0

Requests with License Status Initial grace period: 0

Requests with License Status License expired or Hardware out of tolerance:

 

Requests with License Status Non-genuine grace period: 0

Requests with License Status Notification: 0

[CHR1S]

Looks like you have no KMS keys registered to deploy.

 

cscript.exe slmgr.vbs /ipk xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx

 

where XXX is your KMS keys for office and Win 8

[squeeky]

C:\Windows\System32>cscript.exe slmgr.vbs /ipk KEYHERE

Microsoft ® Windows Script Host Version 5.8

Copyright © Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

 

On a computer running Microsoft Windows non-core edition, run 'slui.exe 0x2a 0xC

004F015' to display the error text.

Error: 0xC004F015

[CHR1S]

What version of KMS are you running?

[squeeky]

how do i tell ?

 

oh you mean VOLUME_KMS_R2_B ?

Edited February 15, 2013 by squeeky

[gshaw]

If you're using a Windows Server 2008 R2 \ 2012 box for KMS you need to use the Windows Server KMS key from VLSC instead of the Windows 7 \ 8 one...

[CHR1S]

KMS 1.2 should be the version your on.

 

I had to patch mine as we run 2003 R2 still.

[CHR1S]

If you're using a Windows Server 2008 R2 \ 2012 box for KMS you need to use the Windows Server KMS key from VLSC instead of the Windows 7 \ 8 one...

 

How does that work? In place of the Win 8 key?

[squeeky]

KMS 1.2 where are you finding that information ?

[sted]

if your trying to activate win 8 its probably easier to set up a win8 vm to be the kms host just shove the kms key in and it should work no pratting round

[CHR1S]

KMS 1.2 where are you finding that information ?

 

I think that is only relevant to server 2003, ignore it.

[CHR1S]

PeteNetLive - KB0000582 - Using KMS Server For Windows Server 2008 R2, Windows 7, and Office 2010

 

Should help

[squeeky]

Followed that exactly still it says cannot contact activation server for windows 8 clients. Windows 8 reports that no kms is avaliable and on the same pc office says the minimum number of clients has not been reached (however that looks like it will work once i get 5). I think im doing something stupid. Its like the windows 2008 r2 server doesnt know about the windows 8 kms key so its just refusing to work. I keep reading that i need to use a 2012 key which i dont actuarly own. Edited February 15, 2013 by squeeky

[uffy2000]

have you had a look at the windows firewall on your server? there is an exception in there for KMS that needs to be turned on to accept KMS requests.

 

here is a step by step guide that worked for me. as long as you have syspreped your windows 7/8 machines and ticked generalize it should work.

 

http://ivan.dretvic.com/2011/06/how-to-configure-a-kms-server-in-windows-server-2008-r2/

 

also it becomes a host for server after the count reaches 5 but it needs to be 25 count get it to be a client host (from what i read on technet)

Edited February 15, 2013 by uffy2000

[squeeky]

AHHH ill give this a go "if your trying to activate win 8 its probably easier to set up a win8 vm to be the kms host just shove the kms key in and it should work no pratting round"