KMS and Active Directory Activation
Hi,
We started upgrading our servers to server 2019, and things are going very well. I h ave one last server that is on 2008 R2 - it was a domain controller, and I decommissioned it.
However, this server is our KMS host. I think I need to keep it around for awhile until we get rid of the 30 +/- windows 7 clients that are being activated by this KMS host.
I guess I have a few questions, but you might need to know the following facts before you can answer:
1. We have Win 7 clients using KMS for activation - the KMS host is running server 2008 R2
2. We have Win 10 Pro clients that are using OEM licenses (Eventually would like to use KMS or AD activation...)
3. we have Win Svr 2019 and a few Win Svr 2016 servers that are using MAK keys
It also looks like Microsoft has done away with the KMS activation methods in favor of Active Directory activation; or are the two synonymous?
I guess it boils down to a few stupid questions: Is it possible to use the KMS Host key that we currently have on server 2019 or 2016 and continue activating my Win 7 clients, either by using KMS or AD Activation?
Is it possible to get a new KMS/AD Activation key that will work for newer server versions that can activate Win 10 and win 7 clients?
Thank you in advance for your time and consideration in answering my questions.
We started upgrading our servers to server 2019, and things are going very well. I h ave one last server that is on 2008 R2 - it was a domain controller, and I decommissioned it.
However, this server is our KMS host. I think I need to keep it around for awhile until we get rid of the 30 +/- windows 7 clients that are being activated by this KMS host.
I guess I have a few questions, but you might need to know the following facts before you can answer:
1. We have Win 7 clients using KMS for activation - the KMS host is running server 2008 R2
2. We have Win 10 Pro clients that are using OEM licenses (Eventually would like to use KMS or AD activation...)
3. we have Win Svr 2019 and a few Win Svr 2016 servers that are using MAK keys
It also looks like Microsoft has done away with the KMS activation methods in favor of Active Directory activation; or are the two synonymous?
I guess it boils down to a few stupid questions: Is it possible to use the KMS Host key that we currently have on server 2019 or 2016 and continue activating my Win 7 clients, either by using KMS or AD Activation?
Is it possible to get a new KMS/AD Activation key that will work for newer server versions that can activate Win 10 and win 7 clients?
Thank you in advance for your time and consideration in answering my questions.
ASKER
Hi Adam,
In your response you stated:
"If your Windows 7 computers are already activated, you don't need to activate them again unless you make major hardware changes."
That is false.
If you are using a MAK license, then what you say is true, you only need to reactivate is you have major hardware changes.
If you are using KMS, clients that are activated with KMS check in with the KMS host in order to remain activated. One example of this in my prior experience - I had user who was off the network for an extended period of time, and their laptop was telling them Windows was no longer activated one day when they signed in.
This behavior can be observed in the Event Viewer on the KMS Host; you will typically observe a few computers check in every few days and reactivate.
From TechNet:
"KMS activations are valid for 180 days—the activation validity interval. To remain activated, KMS client computers must renew their activation by connecting to the KMS host at least once every 180 days. By default, KMS client computers attempt to renew their activation every seven days. If KMS activation fails , the client will retry every two hours. After a client computer’s activation is renewed, the activation validity interval begins again"
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/previous-versions/tn-archive/ff793434(v=technet.10)
In your response you stated:
"If your Windows 7 computers are already activated, you don't need to activate them again unless you make major hardware changes."
That is false.
If you are using a MAK license, then what you say is true, you only need to reactivate is you have major hardware changes.
If you are using KMS, clients that are activated with KMS check in with the KMS host in order to remain activated. One example of this in my prior experience - I had user who was off the network for an extended period of time, and their laptop was telling them Windows was no longer activated one day when they signed in.
This behavior can be observed in the Event Viewer on the KMS Host; you will typically observe a few computers check in every few days and reactivate.
From TechNet:
"KMS activations are valid for 180 days—the activation validity interval. To remain activated, KMS client computers must renew their activation by connecting to the KMS host at least once every 180 days. By default, KMS client computers attempt to renew their activation every seven days. If KMS activation fails , the client will retry every two hours. After a client computer’s activation is renewed, the activation validity interval begins again"
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/previous-versions/tn-archive/ff793434(v=technet.10)
Adam is wrong and you are right, KMS requires reactivation (which if there is a KMS server available ) as you stated from the microsoft docs document referenced.
The OEM versions will stay activated and you only have to do an upgrade install using the VL media (all VL Media is upgrade) and it comes with the KMS Client Key embedded
The OEM versions will stay activated and you only have to do an upgrade install using the VL media (all VL Media is upgrade) and it comes with the KMS Client Key embedded
ASKER
Ok, so I guess my question has multiple parts to it.
My KMS host that is activating my Windows 7 clients needs to be decommissioned. We are moving to server 2019, and most of my servers are on 2019, this KMS host is one of the last to go.
I am wondering if I can continue using the KMS host key that I installed on the old server on one of my new server 2019 devices, and would it still activate the few windows 7 clients I have?
Windows 7 is going away soon, but I still have to manage about 30-40 for about another year.
If I cannot use the KMS host key on the newer server version, is it even possible to get a new KMS host key that will work with server 2019 and activate Windows 7 clients? Do we have to buy a new KMS host key, or can we just generate a new one that works with server 2019?
Also, I am confused about one thing based on some reading I did about KMS - Let's say I bought some server 2019 MAK keys, and I want one of those server 2019 devices to be a KMS host...does the KMS host key replace the server 2019 product key (In other works, when I buy a new KMS host key, do I need to buy licensing for server 2019 as well as windows 7?)
Sorry for all the crazy questions, I am kinda new to MS License management. Before, I was just given the KMS key from my boss and I setup the old KMS host and everything just kinda worked.
My KMS host that is activating my Windows 7 clients needs to be decommissioned. We are moving to server 2019, and most of my servers are on 2019, this KMS host is one of the last to go.
I am wondering if I can continue using the KMS host key that I installed on the old server on one of my new server 2019 devices, and would it still activate the few windows 7 clients I have?
Windows 7 is going away soon, but I still have to manage about 30-40 for about another year.
If I cannot use the KMS host key on the newer server version, is it even possible to get a new KMS host key that will work with server 2019 and activate Windows 7 clients? Do we have to buy a new KMS host key, or can we just generate a new one that works with server 2019?
Also, I am confused about one thing based on some reading I did about KMS - Let's say I bought some server 2019 MAK keys, and I want one of those server 2019 devices to be a KMS host...does the KMS host key replace the server 2019 product key (In other works, when I buy a new KMS host key, do I need to buy licensing for server 2019 as well as windows 7?)
Sorry for all the crazy questions, I am kinda new to MS License management. Before, I was just given the KMS key from my boss and I setup the old KMS host and everything just kinda worked.
ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION
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That said, AD Activation is a drop-in replacement for KMS and requires a KMS host key to function, so you'll probably need to generate a new key. It will work with KMS activation keys, regardless.