AD DS activation on Windows 8 and Office 2013

My present MAK activation config is

  • Windows 2008 domain controller (keep on using MAK for the server role)
  • Windows 8  x 50pcs
  • Office 2013 x 90pcs

I wish to switch to AD DS activation for easy maintenance.

Question 1

is Windows 2008 fit for the host?  it seems it has to upgrade to AD 2012 schema http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2757817?wa=wsignin1.0  The 2008 server version is not R2.

Question 2

How can i save both KMS (Win8 and Office 2013) at the host?

Question 3

What is "specific volume license key (CSVLK)"?

Question 4

How to switch the existing MAK clients to AD DS?

Thanks a lot.

February 4th, 2014 2:10am

Hi, in answer to your questions.

1. my understanding is that you need to install the role on a 2012 server and that you need to have the schema extended to 2012 - although you don't need a 2012 DC

2. articles here http://blogs.dirteam.com/blogs/sanderberkouwer/archive/2012/09/12/new-features-in-active-directory-domain-services-in-windows-server-2012-part-16-active-directory-based-activation.aspx and http://blogs.technet.com/b/odsupport/archive/2012/11/07/how-to-setup-active-directory-based-activation-host-for-microsoft-office-2013.aspx will show you how to set both of these up

3. this key is the key on volume licence installs of the OS - you need to make sure you are using the correct install of windows and office for volume activation - you can check with your software reseller for the versions you are using

4. I believe you can do this using slmgr commandline to change back to a KMS key - as long as you are on a volume licence edition

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February 4th, 2014 2:23am

Thanks a lot for detailed explanation.

Question 4

i mean to switch from MAK to AD DS.  re-join the domain again?  any smarter way. (join out and join in the domain require reboot and take time)

February 4th, 2014 3:10am

understand, so are all your client computers currently using MAK keys?

I think you could change these back to KMS keys using these two commands

slmgr.vbs /ckms and slmgr.vbs /ato

i'm pretty sure once you set these two commands the machine will change back to using KMS key and should try and re-activate using ADBA as long as you have ADBA configured. You shouldn't need to disjoin and rejoin the domain.

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February 4th, 2014 3:38am

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