Volume Activation Management Tool

Although the Volume Activation Management Tool (VAMT) kit does not ship with the Key Management Service, it is the only free tool Microsoft provides for managing volume activation. The tool allows an administrator to see the activation status of computers in their organization, including those that are licensed (activated), awaiting activation (OOB or OOT Grace), unlicensed (failed activation), or in the notification state. For each computer, the administrator can see details such as the type of key used to activate the computer, as well as information about its activation state.

The VAMT ships with the Windows Automated Installation Kit (WAIK), a set of free tools available for organizations that want to use Windows imaging to create and deploy custom images that include Windows and other applications. In order to facilitate activation of software deployed with these images, the WAIK includes the VMAT. Although other tools that can monitor activation are available with System Center products, they require additional acquisition, licensing, and deployment costs.