Activating Windows 10 Pro with MAK key We purchased 5 Windows 10 Pro MAK licenses from from the Microsoft Volume License site and downloaded the software. Installed yesterday on a brand new build and all went well until we tried to activated the license. Jan 15, 2016 These license files are required for the KMS host service to recognize Office 2016 KMS host keys. On Windows Server 2012 and volume license editions of Windows 8, you can use your same KMS host key to set up Active Directory-Based activation. 4324.1002 update extends the Key Management Service (KMS) to support co-hosting of Office 2013. When this process is complete, the MAK keys for each product will be listed along with the rest of the organization's existing keys in the Volume Licensing Service Center. Product Groups for MAK and KMS Keys. Product keys for both KMS and MAK apply to product key groups rather than to individual operating system editions. Aug 01, 2007 The KMS key is used only to set up the KMS box; once that is done (and at least 25 real (not virtual) Vista boxes have asked for activation) the KMS will activate any volume licensed copy that hasn't had a MAK key entered.
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Microsoft has developed different types of keys so it suits a different kind of requirements of companies running Windows.
MAK: Multiple Activation Keys MAK keys are used to activate a specific number of devices. The count is pre-configured as a deal between Microsoft and the Enterprise. Every time a device is activated using the MAK key, this is what happens:
The connection is established to Microsoft's own activation service;
The key is then verified, i.e. validated if any more copies can be activated using that key;
If passed, then 1 is subtracted from the number of activations still available.
However, there is a huge drawback with MAK keys. If the device goes through re-installation or the hard drive is wiped clean, the count is not returned or increased. This is specifically useful for clients where re-installation is rare, and the machine stays as is for a very long time. (I'd highly recommend using MAK keys for Virtual Machines)
Kms License Keys
KMS: Key Management Services Keys If a company wants to keep a tap on their Windows device and make sure these computers get back to the corporate network from time to time and do not need to connect to the internet, KMS is the way to go. Instead of going through Microsoft Activation Server, KMS keys go through corporate KMS servers. Enterprise is given KMS key using which they need to configure an in-house server using Microsoft's Software Licensing Service. So this can be the only device which stays connected with the internet. In short, the KMS server grabs the license from the client devices and then verifies it with the Microsoft licensing service. The advantage you have with the KMS activations is in when Windows is installed on that computer again, the keys can be used to reactivate the same or another computer. This is why the devices that activated using KMS keys need to connect every 180 days, otherwise, they would expire. KMS keys are used on devices which usually do not leave from the corporate network, or at least not for a very long period.
All editions of Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008 now require activation. As part of Microsoft’s Genuine Software Initiative, Volume Activation (VA) 2.0 is a set of technical and policy-related solutions provided by Microsoft’s Software Protection Platform.
The new method of activation designed for volume license customers
VA 2.0 is a configurable solution that helps IT professionals automate and manage the product activation process of Windows Vista Business, Windows Vista Enterprise and Windows Server 2008 systems licensed under volume licensing,
VA 2.0 helps manage and increase the protection of volume license keys in both managed and unmanaged environments. It also helps to optimize the deployment infrastructure through flexible deployment options that require no action or involvement from end users.
VA 2.0 eliminates the use of product keys at the time of software installation and enables better protection and management of customer-specific product keys through new and enhanced activation management tools.
Volume Activation 2.0 Options
There are two types of customer-specific keys, namely Multiple Activation Key (MAK) and Key Management Service (KMS) Key for each license enrollment the customer has under their volume licensing agreement, I touched on this in a previous blog on Server OS
The Key Management Service (KMS) key is used to establish a local activation service (the Key Management Service or KMS) that is hosted locally in the customer’s environment, managed by the customer/IT department
The Multiple Activation Key (MAK) is used for one-time activation with Microsoft’s hosted activation services. Each MAK key has a predetermined number of allowed activations dependent upon the volume license agreement that the customer has. Each MAK activation with Microsoft’s hosted activation service counts towards the predetermined activation limit.
Did you know: Customers can use any combination activation methods to activate machines in their environment, depending on the needs of their organization and network infrastructure.
Did you know: We have a team that can increase your MAK activations, just mail them on [email protected]with the info on why they need increased
Volume Activation 2.0 Documentation
Microsoft Kms Vs Mak Keys
Comprehensive information covering Planning, Deployment and Operations of VA 2.0 for Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008 is available at: http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb892849.aspx.
Notes on WGA
Windows Genuine Advantage (WGA):
Rewards customers for validating their software as genuine, by giving them exclusive benefits.
Is necessary for customers to receive services from the Windows Update site and certain downloads from the Microsoft Download Center.
Requires a brief online process to validate Windows Vista software as genuine.
Kms Vs Mak Key
For more information, see www.microsoft.com/genuine