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How to use Windows Server 2012 R2 Datacenter Volume License keys

I bought Windows Server 2012 R2 Datacenter License Volume License. It came with 2012 R2 and 2008 R2 MAK keys that can be activated 45 times each. It also has KMS keys for each product.

Does this mean that I have to call Microsoft if I exceed 45 activations?

How do I add both KMS keys to a 2008 KMS server or using VAMT?

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serialband

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SOLUTION

kevinhsieh

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James Haywood

Yes you will need to ring Microsoft and they will reset your MAK limit. Its a quick process. Its much easier to use KMS as per the answers above.

Ryan McCauley

If you do hit an activation limit of some kind, it's just a phone call to reset it. I've never used MAK, but I've tried to activate keys for from both OEM and MSDN and gotten an error that it's exceeded its activation count, and you just call the 800 number and they reset it for you. I suppose they assume that if you're calling them to activate a key, they're going to assume you're above board. They might get suspicious if you have them reset a key multiple times, but I've never had an issue calling to reset activations on a key.

Multi-activation keys may be treated a bit differently, as my experience is with either single-use or MSDN (10-use) keys.

masterofall

ASKER

I will share the points between the first two answers. Kevinhsieh, true if you are using Hyper-V 2012 R2 for virtualization, the Windows 2012 R2 guests automatically activate without needing MAK or KMS however I am using Microsoft Hyper-V server (the hypervisor) and so it does not activate the guest automatically.