[windows software] KMS server not found

[nicholab]

I have just installed the KMS server on a Windows 2012 server but when using the Volume Activation Management Tool VAMT I get the software licencing service report that the product could not be activated. No Key Management Service could be contacted.

 

I need to use this as licences seem to be ending on Windows 10 machines for Office even thought they activated ok.

 

Any suggestions?

[FN-GM]

Have you checked that the KMS server is published in the DNS?

[nicholab]

Seems to be a _vlsc entry.

[ADMaster]

windows firewall on the kms server?

 

also have you considered active directory based activation?

[nicholab]

I selected activate directory based it does now seem to activate but I would quite like to do automatic activation's. I am also get messages that my MAK key has been used to mach.

[ADMaster]

active directory is automatic.

as long as they are joined to the domain, they should be activated.

[nicholab]

I tried using an automatic key in office it did not activate. Do I need to add any keys I have mak keys added as that what I activated office with but they seem to run out.

[3s-gtech]

You need to use your KMS key, which is requested through VLSC. Not the client key, which is public, but your server key.

[forkies]

As said above. You need to use your KMS host key to activate your kms server, then the clients use the kms client key which is public to activate and find them add count to your kms server. This is a guide I found online which helps with doing this (sorry I can’t remember the steps from memory but I think there is a kms host download for each version of office that when installed on your kms server asks to enter the kms host key and does all this for you as an alternative method)

 

http://edhammond.blogspot.co.uk/2015/10/add-your-office-2016-kms-keys-to-your.html