KMS real-world Question

neathneathneath

We've recently started installing Windows 7 client pc's at work (we have a volume licence agreement).

We have several Server 2008 R2 machines already in service.
Up until now we have not looked at KMS due to the numbers involved and used MAK activation.

We have setup a KMS host on a Server 2008 R2 machine.
By using the slmgr.vbs commands we have installed the KMS licences for Server 2008 R2 and Office 2010 and activated them both successfully.

We were unable to activate the Windows 7 KMS licence key - error message invalid key.
We are pretty certain that the KMS keys supplied by Microsoft are ok.

Can't find anything on this in the several books that I have but googled this topic and some say that the Server 2008 R2 KMS key will activate Server 2008 AND Windows 7 KMS clients.

Can someone confirm this or point me in the right direction please.

alokin123

yes that is correct.
This page has great info about activation: Windows Activation | Genuine Windows 7, Vista, XP | TechNet

This poster specifically mentions "KMS host on a Windows client operating system can only activate Windows clients (Windows 7 and Windows Vista). KMS host on Windows Server operating system can activate both clients and servers". the table in the below poster shows what is activated.

http://download.microsoft.com/download/2/D/F/2DF30F9F-829C-4F14-AF1B-DC20AB8CA84C/Windows_Volume_Activation_Reference_Guide_October_2009.pdf

netBooger

Are you actually trying to install the Win 7 KMS key on the Server 2008 KMS host server? If so you don't need to do that as the server key should be able to activate the Windows clients as well.

Here is a link that explains what key should be used and what OS's they will activate, How to Choose the Right Volume License Key for Windows.

For example, if the highest OS you have deployed is Server 2008 R2 Enterprise then you would have a Group B license that can activate the following systems:
Windows Server 2008 R2 Standard
Windows Server 2008 R2 Enterprise
Windows Web Server 2008 R2
Windows Server 2008 R2 HPC Edition
Windows HPC Server 2008 R2
Windows 7 Pro
Windows 7 Enterprise

Then once the key is activated on the KMS host server you would just simply need to install the OS with the cooresponding KMS client key found here: KMS Client Setup Keys

The only system that the KMS Host key should be installed on is the KMS host server(s). All other systems should be installed with the client key.

neathneathneath

thanks for the replies, we seem to have cracked it