I need a bit of clarification please. When I started at this organization I was handed a list of server keys for new installs. Some were KMS some were MAK. Since there was no documentation supporting the purpose for purchasing both license types I thought I'd try to make use of them (KMS licenses) given the investment was already made. That said, in order for this to work sensibly should I have a plan to build 6 servers before I think of using the KMS licenses? If so, how much of a grace period would I have from the first server build to build the other five before it becomes unusable? Thanks in advance for your help.

Hello Psuche, What product are we referring to? Since we mention KMS I presume 2008 or 2008 R2 so this is what that behavior should be. You have 60 days before the server goes into notification mode, however the server can be rearmed 3 times, extending the grace period 60 days each time Notification mode does not make the server unusable, it puts a slight delay on the logon and displays a black desktop, all services and roles remain fully functional.Thanks, Darrell Gorter [MSFT] This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights. VAMT - Volume Activation Management Tool - Download link http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=ec7156d2-2864-49ee-bfcb-777b898ad582&displaylang=en

Hi Darrell, Yes I was referring to 2k8 R2. So I will have a total of 240 days (the initial 60 + 3-60 day rearm periods)? What happens after the 240 days? Also is 6 the magic number of machines that need to be running before I can start self activation? Once I start self activation can I do it for Windows 7 & Server 2k8? Thanks!! :-)

Hello Psuche, After the grace period expires, you go into notification mode, slight delay at logon, black desktop non-customizable and you get notifications that you need to activate. the machine remains fully functional. For Server you need 5 KMS client machines, for Windows 7 you need 25 KMS client machines. Yes you can activate both Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 once the count for requirements are met.Thanks, Darrell Gorter [MSFT] This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights. VAMT - Volume Activation Management Tool - Download link http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=ec7156d2-2864-49ee-bfcb-777b898ad582&displaylang=en

So it wouldn't it be 6 total? 5 client + 1 KMS Host. Or do I have this all wrong? Can the 5 client machines be KMS hosts as well. The point being I would put one at each of my remote sites so that activation (however small) never goes over the WAN.

Hello Psuche, So I count the KMS host separately from the KMS clients so yes if you are counting the host that needs to be one more. The host does not figure into into the count, so for Windows Server 2008 R2 you would need 6 instances. The KMS host activates via the Microsoft activation servers so it is not a KMS client machine, so it is not included in any of the counts.Thanks, Darrell Gorter [MSFT] This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights. VAMT - Volume Activation Management Tool - Download link http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=ec7156d2-2864-49ee-bfcb-777b898ad582&displaylang=en

So if I had the host activate 6 Server 2K8 clients could those clients become hosts to activate clients locally? I have 6 remote sites each site has an instance of Server 2K8 that has been activated by the host at the primary site. Could I then have those 6 become a host for local activations? Is this even possible, and if so, how?

Hello Psuche, No a KMS host is not a KMS client and does not increment the contThanks, Darrell Gorter [MSFT] This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights. VAMT - Volume Activation Management Tool - Download link http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=ec7156d2-2864-49ee-bfcb-777b898ad582&displaylang=en

Hey Darrell! :-) I wasn't talking about the count, I was talking about the functionality. Could a client become a host? That is to say if the server (Server 2K8 R2) was a client when it was activated, can it become a host to do activations? For Example: I have 7 sites. Site 1 is the KMS host that activated the servers at sites 2-7. Could the servers at sites 2-7 become servers that activate Windows 7, Office 2010, and other 2K8 servers if required?

Hello Psuche, Yes the KMS clients can be converted to KMS hosts if you change the product key to a KMS host key and reactivate them with the Microsoft Activation servers.Thanks, Darrell Gorter [MSFT] This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights. VAMT - Volume Activation Management Tool - Download link http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=ec7156d2-2864-49ee-bfcb-777b898ad582&displaylang=en