2. Kim Griffiths Sr. Product Manager Microsoft Corporation
Seven things to know about volume activation Windows 7, Windows Server 2008 R2, Office 2010
Kim Griffiths
Sr. Product Manager
Microsoft Corporation
Ty Balascio
Sr. Program Manager
Microsoft Corporation
Session Code: CLI323

3. 7 Things to Know What is Volume Activation?
How does Volume Activation affect me?
What methods exist to activate in the enterprise?
What do I need to do to prepare for deployment?
Which method is right for my scenario?
How do I choose the right product key?
Where do I go to get more information?

4. Activation: Why is it Important?
Assurance
Integrity and reliability of the software that you purchased is from a trusted source
Manageability
Avoid key leakage and the need to reactivate deployed systems
Integrated into deployment process and tools
Supportability
Limited support - Software found to be non-genuine will not receive the full range of updates and support available to genuine software
Requires low deployment/ management effort
License Compliance
Being out of compliance can result in financial penalties, and impact to reputation
Assurance
Manageability
Supportability
License Compliance

5. Volume Activation - Overview
Activation required for Windows Vista/Windows Server 2008, and all subsequent editions and channel distributions
Executed by IT pros
Represents transparent end user activation experience
Office 2010 will also require activation
Key Management Service (KMS) for enabling local activation
Eliminates the need for individual machines to connect and activate with Microsoft®
Capable of activating unlimited number of systems, as long as the minimum threshold is established and maintained
Client must connect with KMS host at least once every 180 days to keep activation current
Multiple Activation Key (MAK) for activating with Microsoft
One time activation with Microsoft hosted activation service
Supports online, phone or proxy activations

6. Scenario Walkthroughs with Dave
Choices…
Scenario Walkthroughs with Dave

7. Activation?

9. The Easy Scenario - Core, Well-connected Environmental Characteristics
All clients are always connected to the organization’s network (or connect on a regular basis)
Assumes central or strong IT
Most common scenario:
Large number of systems to activate
Server and client operating systems; Office 2010

10. The Easy Scenario - Core, Well-connected Solutions
KMS with DNS auto-discovery
Single service can support multiple products and editions
Firewalled environments (e.g. labs) that can open TCP 1688
Use the same KMS host(s) as Core
Auto-discovery vs. direct connection depends on lab DNS configuration

11. Key Management Service (KMS)
demo
Key Management Service (KMS)

12. Core - Solved

13. But what about my test and development environments?

14. The Moderate Scenario - Smaller Networks, Still Connected Environmental Characteristics
All clients are connected to the lab or test network
Not managed and may not be standardized
High turnover of systems
Can be made up of physical, virtual or both
Unknown lifetime

15. The Moderate Scenario - Smaller Networks, Still Connected Solutions
If used <120 days, do not activate
Where a sufficient number of systems exist, use KMS
KMS key has limited number of activations, may require exception handling
Security concerns about delegating the KMS key to every isolated lab owner
Use MAK and VAMT
Save CID for rebuilds

16. demo
Volume Activation Management Tool (VAMT) and Multiple Activation Key (MAK) Activation

17. Dev and Test - Solved

18. But what about my disconnected or isolated users?

19. The Complex Scenario - Disconnected or Isolated Environmental Characteristics
Locked down firewalled environments without any external access
Completely disconnected/unreliable communications
Minimal number of systems

20. The Complex Scenario - Disconnected or Isolated Solutions
Where a sufficient number of systems exist, use KMS
KMS key has limited number of activations, may require exception handling
Security concerns about delegating the KMS key to every isolated lab owner
Admin must activate KMS host by phone
Where you can connect to them, MAK proxy activation with VAMT
Where you cannot connect, MAK - Activate with phone call
May not be scalable

21. Disconnected - Solved

22. Configuration Recommendations Principles
Keep it simple
Use KMS as much as possible, and minimize the number of KMS hosts
Central KMS for all, if politically possible
Two hosts should be sufficient for most
Best solution for virtual machines
Use MAK only where needed
OK in small organizations and deployments
In medium and large organizations, use MAK only where you cannot use KMS
Customers will probably need to use both methods
KMS port (TCP 1688 by default) should never be exposed outside the organization
Access to a KMS host is the same as handing out free volume licenses

23. Activation – Solved!

24. Choices…
The Right Product Key

25. Some “Key” Points Sorry for the pun
Product keys are available on the Volume License Service Center (VLSC) Portal
Need to know the information required to choose the right product key from VLSC
Understand how the product keys are grouped
What products are being activated?
Understand the nature of product keys
Which method are you going to use (KMS or MAK)?

26. Product Key Groupings Windows Client VL Windows 7 Professional
Windows 7 Enterprise
Server Group A
Windows Web Server 2008 R2
Windows Server 2008 R2 HPC Edition
Windows HPC Server 2008 R2
Server Group B
Windows Server 2008 R2 Standard
Windows Server 2008 R2 Enterprise
Server Group C
Windows Server 2008 R2 Datacenter
Windows Server 2008 R2 for Itanium-based Systems

27. The Right Key for Core - KMS
KMS keys are hierarchical in nature
Choose the highest in the hierarchy to meet your needs
Single KMS host to support multiple products
Each key activates the products in a product group, as well as the groups lower in the hierarchy
Also activates the products in the previous generation
Question to Ask:
What products are being activated?
Server C
Server B
Server A
Client VL

28. The Right Key for Dev/Test and Disconnected
MAK keys are lateral in nature
Product keys for MAK activations are directly associated with a single product group and can only activate the Windows editions within that specific product group
Each “generation” has a specific MAK (e.g. Windows 7 client VL MAK will only activate Windows 7, not Windows Vista)
Server C
Server B
Server A
Client VL

29. Session Summary – Things to Know
What is Volume Activation and how does it affect me?
Activation is required for all editions of Windows 7 & Windows Server 2008 R2 (and Office 2010)
What methods exist to activate Windows in the enterprise?
KMS, MAK, MAK Proxy with VAMT
What do I need to do to prepare for deployment and how do I know which method is right for my scenario?
Know what is being deployed and how the systems connect
Choose the method that best suits the environmental characteristics
How do I choose the right product key?
Know the method that you will use and which editions of Windows are being activated
Where do I go to get more information?
Windows Volume Activation TechCenter:

30. Related Content Required Slide Speakers,
please list the Breakout Sessions, TLC Interactive Theaters and Labs that are related to your session.
Related Content
Breakout Sessions CLI323 Seven Things You Need to Know about Volume Activation for Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2
Interactive Theater Sessions CLI01-IS Activating Windows: What You Need to Know When Deploying Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 in the Enterprise

31. Track Resources Required Slide
Track PMs will supply the content for this slide, which will be inserted during the final scrub.
Track Resources
Volume Activation TechCenter on Springboard

32. question & answer

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attendees can access session
recordings at TechEd Online.
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36. Required Slide
© 2009 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Microsoft, Windows, Windows Vista and other product names are or may be registered trademarks and/or trademarks in the U.S. and/or other countries.
The information herein is for informational purposes only and represents the current view of Microsoft Corporation as of the date of this presentation. Because Microsoft must respond to changing market conditions, it should not be interpreted to be a commitment on the part of Microsoft, and Microsoft cannot guarantee the accuracy of any information provided after the date of this presentation. MICROSOFT MAKES NO WARRANTIES, EXPRESS, IMPLIED OR STATUTORY, AS TO THE INFORMATION IN THIS PRESENTATION.