Michael Posted July 19, 2011 Posted July 19, 2011 Hello all, With Windows Vista and 7 you can use MAK or KMS activation. KMS is easier and more automated, however, after a certain time has passed (I believe 180 days) the client will attempt to 'check in' again with the KMS server. Is this correct and are you using MAK or KMS activation? I presume you can still manually activate a VLK where required?
6Foot2 Posted July 19, 2011 Posted July 19, 2011 As I understand it that is correct. I have sets of MAK and KMS keys. I hop to use the KMS solution once we deploy Windows 7 and Office 2010 here. 1
3s-gtech Posted July 19, 2011 Posted July 19, 2011 KMS for Office, but I'm lame and using MAK for Windows 7 still, as I haven't hit the 25 unique connections needed for it to work. Note - use Generalize when sysprepping!
sted Posted July 19, 2011 Posted July 19, 2011 i dont think you can manually activate a kms key (you can force it to look at a server but if its a teachers laptop it would have to be brought back to school to activate im pretty sure as your kms server has your key and is found via dhcp. Least it means staff have to network their pcs from time to time
Michael Posted July 19, 2011 Author Posted July 19, 2011 i dont think you can manually activate a kms key You're right, but what I meant was activating using the more traditional VLK method. Enter the key, then activate online.
SHimmer45 Posted July 19, 2011 Posted July 19, 2011 using the phone activation service is labour intensive...
Michael Posted July 19, 2011 Author Posted July 19, 2011 I have had to use the phone service years ago to activate XP. Labour intensive is an understatement!
gshaw Posted July 19, 2011 Posted July 19, 2011 Had to do phone activation for Server 2008 on our test network... slow and painful! Used KMS on our Office 2010 installation... doesn't sound good for any device that won't see the network for a while though
sted Posted July 19, 2011 Posted July 19, 2011 I have had to use the phone service years ago to activate XP. Labour intensive is an understatement! fun isnt it had a trolley of win7 laptops i had to phone activate by the end of it i never wanted to do it again
SYNACK Posted July 19, 2011 Posted July 19, 2011 We actually use the KMS timeout as a feature that means teachers don't go too long between bothing to bring their laptops in and connecting them to the network. They leave it too long and they get the evil black background along with the you must activate dialogue which is usually scary enough that they bring it in to be 'fixed'. Cue a 'teachable moment' where you plug it in to the network, boot it, reboot it and then remind the teacher about the mandate that they need to bring their laptops in and connect them to the network within a reasonable timeframe so as to keep software up to date/secure, documents synced etc. Of course those with VPN access quietly reactivate as needed over the VPN in the background without hassel.
Michael Posted July 20, 2011 Author Posted July 20, 2011 Could someone clarify, when you've been given a separate VLK for Windows Server 2008, Windows 7 and Office 2010, can these keys be used when setting up a KMS server, or are KMS keys different? Microsoft state the default activation type is KMS and not MAK. I just find Microsoft's licensing models/security really complicated with no clear answers anywhere online! And I do consider myself quite an advanced IT user
6Foot2 Posted July 20, 2011 Posted July 20, 2011 Could someone clarify, when you've been given a separate VLK for Windows Server 2008, Windows 7 and Office 2010, can these keys be used when setting up a KMS server, or are KMS keys different? Microsoft state the default activation type is KMS and not MAK. I just find Microsoft's licensing models/security really complicated with no clear answers anywhere online! And I do consider myself quite an advanced IT user I don't know the answer to this yet. I hope to find out during the Summer break [by experimentation?]
RabbieBurns Posted July 20, 2011 Posted July 20, 2011 Could someone clarify, when you've been given a separate VLK for Windows Server 2008, Windows 7 and Office 2010, can these keys be used when setting up a KMS server, or are KMS keys different? Microsoft state the default activation type is KMS and not MAK. I just find Microsoft's licensing models/security really complicated with no clear answers anywhere online! And I do consider myself quite an advanced IT user this might help: How to Implement KMS - Key Management Services
Michael Posted July 20, 2011 Author Posted July 20, 2011 Good so it's not just me that thinks this! Stupid MS Can someone who's setup a KMS server please confirm this?
jinnantonnixx Posted July 20, 2011 Posted July 20, 2011 (edited) I'm in the same boat. The MS licensing model seems to be an exercise in obfuscation. Here's something I saw yesterday (from here). If you can read that and you're head isn't spinning I'll get you an Edupint. Can I use my Windows 7 Enterprise Volume Licensing media to reimage an OEM PC licensed for Windows 7 Professional that is not covered by Software Assurance? No. Only PCs covered with Software Assurance for the Windows operating system are eligible to have Windows 7 Enterprise installed on them. Windows 7 Enterprise is not available outside Volume Licensing programs, and is therefore not eligible for reimaging. So if you have an Enterprise license (as many LEAs will have) you can't reimage a machine that comes off the boat with a heap of cackware on it? Edited July 20, 2011 by jinnantonnixx
ict_support Posted July 20, 2011 Posted July 20, 2011 In you go to your microsoft licensing portal (Speak to your license suppliers if you dont have access) https://www.microsoft.com/licensing/servicecenter/home.aspx You will be able to view your licensing keys. If you install a KMS key in 2008 r2 it can be used to activate the windows 7 clients once the 25 threshold has been reached(so the first 25 activations will fail) or 5 windows server 2008r2 Remember that the windows 7 clients or 2008 servers will use a DNS service record to find your KMS server. Office 2010 you need to down load and install a seperate install, only small Download Details - Microsoft Download Center - Office 2010 KMS Host License Pack and then enter in your office 2010 KMS key. The MAC keys are designed for the road warrior who does not bring the laptop etc back to the office, the "KMS keys will need to talk" to your KMS server once every 180 days for the MS products to remain activated
Michael Posted July 20, 2011 Author Posted July 20, 2011 @RabbieBurns - According to that article, Volume License Windows 7 and Server 2008 have built in keys or KMS keys. By setting up a KMS server, you specify your real VLK and this is when 25 or more machines will 'check in' and activate OK. KMS clients will then check in every 180 days. Is that right?
ict_support Posted July 20, 2011 Posted July 20, 2011 just to clarify the 2008r2 KMS key will activate windows 7
SYNACK Posted July 20, 2011 Posted July 20, 2011 Could someone clarify, when you've been given a separate VLK for Windows Server 2008, Windows 7 and Office 2010, can these keys be used when setting up a KMS server, or are KMS keys different? Microsoft state the default activation type is KMS and not MAK. I just find Microsoft's licensing models/security really complicated with no clear answers anywhere online! And I do consider myself quite an advanced IT user KMS keys are level based, your Server 2008 key is the one you should use which will activate both 2008 and Windows 7. The Office 2010 KMS is a seporate little app that you download which allows you to add this to your existing KMS server. In this way you can have them all on one server and it is pretty easy once you know what keys to use and where.
Michael Posted July 20, 2011 Author Posted July 20, 2011 KMS keys are level based, your Server 2008 key is the one you should use which will activate both 2008 and Windows 7. The Office 2010 KMS is a seporate little app that you download which allows you to add this to your existing KMS server. In this way you can have them all on one server and it is pretty easy once you know what keys to use and where. So you login to your VL account (which I currently don't have access to) and there are separate VLK for each product and a KMS key?
chazzy2501 Posted July 20, 2011 Posted July 20, 2011 I'm using VAMP2.0 and MAK keys for now, after I've got 50 users I'll switch them over using VAMP to KMS. BTW is office 2010 KMS key also require a minimum user count?
sonofsanta Posted July 20, 2011 Posted July 20, 2011 So wait - if there's a 25 min count for a KMS server, how am I meant to plan & test my deployment of Windows 7 using a couple of test machines? Seems a bit of a strange requirement to me anyway o_O
SYNACK Posted July 20, 2011 Posted July 20, 2011 So you login to your VL account (which I currently don't have access to) and there are separate VLK for each product and a KMS key? There will be a Win Svr 2008 R2 Standard/Enterprise KMS and a Win Svr 2008 R2 Standard/Enterprise MAK entry so that you can choose. Same deal with Windows 7 and Office 2010. The MAK keys have a used count as they get marked off each time you use one. Basicly there are classes, A, B, C etc which will each activate the products beneath the titled one in the same product line. This means that a Windows 7 KMS will only activate Windows 7 but if you use your Win2k8 KMS key on a 2K8 server it will activate 2k8 and Windows 7. If you have Datacenter 2k8 then that is even higher and will activate all windows versions for that platform. Office 2010 is a seporate product line and registers a second activation ID in the KMS server to allow it to respond to MS requests for that product line. Ideally you want to put it on a virtual server so it is nice and portable and if you have enough clients you can setup two of them inside your network to add redundancy. 2
SYNACK Posted July 20, 2011 Posted July 20, 2011 So wait - if there's a 25 min count for a KMS server, how am I meant to plan & test my deployment of Windows 7 using a couple of test machines? Seems a bit of a strange requirement to me anyway o_O Thats what MAK keys or the 30 day window before activation are for. I think that the count for Office is 20 and the required count for Server 2008 is 5. This works well on a single virtualised 2k8 Enterprise server as you have one host and four virtuals making 5. 1
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