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Cannot activate server 2008 r2 server kms unavail

hi guys,

Strange issue, one of our servers shutdown today and said it needed to be re-activated. It was a server we inherited when we took over the network. Here is the error message:

When trying to activate you get 0xC004F074 with description "The Key Management Server (KMS) is unavailable
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/974998

Scott Gorcester

KMS licensing requires a properly configured in house KMS license server. If you are not running a KMS server inhouse then you want to install a MAK license key on your inherited server. Once the MAK key has been entered you can activate it online or by telephone.

Scott Gorcester MCITP

Bill H

ASKER

What's a mak key? Why would this just happen all of a sudden?

Scott Gorcester

Here is some instructions to convert from KMS to MAK,

https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/Ff793408.aspx

Scott

Scott Gorcester

A MAK key is a license key that uses a process of activation against the Microsoft Online license clearinghouse. MAK keys are probably what you have been using all along. A KMS key is designed to be activated in house. KMS licensing is especially well suited to VDI implementations and systems where continuous internet connections may be unavailable. I am unsure why it would suddenly start complaining, how long has it been on your network? I would not expect a properly activated MAK license to suddenly switch to KMS so I would guess that it just now came up for re-activation and could not find the KMS host.

Scott

ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION

Scott Gorcester

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