Updated: July 9, 2020 (February 4, 2008)

KMS Activation

Michael analyzed and wrote about Microsoft's operating systems, including the Windows client OS, as well as compliance and governance. Michael... more

Administrators can use the Key Management Service (KMS) to manage the activation of more than 25 Vista or five Windows Server 2008 computers by following these steps:

(1) The administrator gets a KMS key from the Microsoft Volume Licensing Service Center, installs it on a computer running Window Vista or Windows Server 2003 or 2008, and then connects to Microsoft, either online or by telephone, to activate the KMS.

(2) The KMS registers the location of the computer running the KMS with the Domain Name Service (DNS). The location of the KMS can also be included as a Registry key on computers that will use the KMS for activation.

(3) Computers requiring KMS service activation use the DNS record or Registry key to connect to the KMS service.

(4) After successfully connecting to the KMS, and if the threshold of 25 Windows Vista or five Windows Server 2008 servers is met, computers are activated for 180 days. Activations do not start until the 26^th computer or 6^th server requests activation.

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