S 4.336 Activation of Windows systems from a volume licence contract in Vista or Server 2008 and higher versions
Initiation responsibility: Head of IT
Implementation responsibility: Administrator, Head of IT
In order to obtain a properly operating Windows system, the operating system must be installed and then a licence activated in Windows Vista or Windows Server 2008 and higher versions. A Windows Vista installation that is not activated becomes inoperable after expiration of a predefined grace period of 30 days. The Vista client is forced to enter the Reduced Functionality Mode (RFM), which only provides reduced functionality. In Windows Vista Service Pack 1, Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 and higher versions, the manufacturer has eliminated the RFM. Instead of going into the RFM mode, the systems now display corresponding warnings.
Licences for Windows Vista Enterprise and Windows 7 Enterprise can only be purchased in the framework of a volume licence contract. Another requirement is that the customer also signs a Software Assurance Contract with Microsoft. Volume licence contracts can also be concluded similarly for the server operating systems.
Windows licences from a volume licence contract are activated using the "Volume Activation Management Tool 2.0" (VAMT) tool. This is a separate application which the collects the activation requirements of several computers and sends them as a group to Microsoft.
Selection of the appropriate form of activation
In order to activate a licence from a volume licence contract, there are the following forms of activation:
- MAK (Multiple Activation Key) Proxy activation,
- MAK Independent activation, and
- KMS (Key Management Service) activation.
There are also further differences within each of these types of activation due to the different communication routes supported for exchanging the licence information with Microsoft. Activation via the Internet and telephone are supported. Part of the licence information is the key material installed automatically or manually on the systems to be activated and the utilities used during activation.
A suitable form of activation must be selected. The criteria to use for selection include the number of systems to be activated as well as whether the systems are connected to a LAN and/or the Internet. The following presents possible criteria for selecting a suitable form of activation as well as the most important properties of each form of activation.
Criteria for selecting a suitable form of activation
The activation of licences from a volume licence contract is a highly complex process, and only basic guidelines can be provided in the framework of this document. Additional information can be found in the documentation provided by the manufacturer.
The following table guides you to a possible form of activation based on the criteria provided, such as number of systems to be activated and the types of communication supported. After the table, you will find descriptions of these forms of activation based on selected properties. Then, general information is provided.
| Criteria | Form of activation | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Number of systems (servers and clients) | LAN Access (1) | Internet access | |
| Less than 25 | Yes | Yes (2) | MAK Proxy activation, via LAN & Internet (case 1) |
| MAK Independent activation, via Internet (case 2a) | |||
| No | MAK Independent activation, via telephone (case 2b) | ||
| No | Yes (3) | MAK Independent activation, via Internet (case 2a) | |
| No | MAK Independent activation, via telephone (case 2b) | ||
| 25 or more | Yes | Yes (4) | KMS activation, via LAN & Internet (case 3a) |
| No | KMS activation, via LAN & telephone (case 3b) | ||
| No | Yes (3) | MAK Independent activation, via Internet (case 2a) | |
| No | MAK Independent activation, via telephone (case 2b) |
1) Corporate LAN access of the systems to be activated
2) The Multiple Activation Key Proxy (MAK Proxy) has Internet access in the corporate LAN for case 1
3) Internet access of the systems to be activated
4) The Key Management Server (KMS) has Internet access in the corporate LAN
Deviating from the table, the KMS activation for server licences is already possible starting from a total of five systems.
Selected properties of the different forms of activation
Case 1, MAK Proxy activation, via LAN & Internet
- The administrator installs the VAMT (Volume Activation Management Tool) once on an IT system in the LAN. The VAMT is used as the MAK Proxy and for administration of the volume licences. The VAMT supports the client operating system Windows Vista as well as the Windows 7 editions Business and Enterprise, Windows XP SP3 and higher, and the server operating systems Windows Server 2003 SP2 and higher, Windows Server 2008 SP2 and higher and Windows Server 2008 R2.
- To exchange licence information, every system communicates with the MAK Proxy in the LAN. The MAK Proxy communicates with Microsoft over the Internet.
- The required licence information (MAK license key) is installed automatically on every system.
- Reactivation is not necessary in this case.
- The number of possible activations must be specified at the start of the activation procedure. If necessary, additional licences can be purchased afterwards.
Case 2a, MAK Independent activation, via Internet
- Every system must be activated individually by the administrator.
- To exchange licence information, every system communicates separately with Microsoft over the Internet.
- The MAK license key is installed automatically on every system.
- Reactivation is not necessary in this case.
- The number of possible activations must be specified at the start of the activation procedure. If necessary, additional licences can be purchased afterwards.
Case 2b, MAK Independent activation, by telephone
- Every system must be activated individually by the administrator.
- To exchange licence information, the administrator communicates with Microsoft by telephone.
- The MAK license key must be entered manually on every system.
- Reactivation is not necessary in this case.
- The number of possible activations must be specified at the start of the activation procedure. If necessary, additional licences can be purchased afterwards.
Case 3, KMS activation, via LAN & Internet
- The administrator installs the KMS once on an IT system in the LAN and activates it online (Case 3a) or by telephone (Case 3b) with Microsoft. The KMS supports the Windows Vista and Windows 7 client operating systems as well as the Windows Server 2003 and higher server operating systems.
- For initial activation of the systems in the LAN, they communicate with the KMS via the LAN of the organisation. The activation for a client is only carried out when an activation was requested from KMS by at least 25 systems within 30 days ("Activation Threshold"). For servers, the activation is already carried out starting from five requesting systems. Virtual systems can also be activated via the KMS, but are not counted for the Activation Threshold.
- The systems must be reactivated no more than 210 days (180 days plus a 30-day grace period) after initial activation or following a change in the hardware. The systems need to establish a connection with the KMS over the LAN of the organisation for reactivation. At that time, too, the "Activation Threshold" must be complied with.
Notes
- The forms of activation can be combined as desired depending on your requirements and the properties of the network.
- To install Windows systems from a volume licence contract, no licence information is required, but only for later activation within a grace period of 30 days.
- Administrative rights are needed for MAK activation (Case 1, Case 2a, and Case 2b). As an option, activation by standard users can also be allowed by setting a corresponding registry key.
The VAMT tool offers the option of changing the activation methods from MAK to KMS and vice versa.
Review questions:
- Was the most suitable form of activation selected?
- Are the technical requirements for activation fulfilled?