Activation Requirements Volume Licensing

I want to buy less than 10 Windows 8.1 64-bit client licenses for a small business under Volume Licensing.  In reading about this here, I'm reading that there are all kinds of complex requirements for activation, including that we need to set up a KMS Server to activate?  Is there a simpler path to activation for a small company?

What was wrong with just having the OS client activate over the Internet to Microsoft directly?    If that's still an option, then why not at least in the documentation make clear that this is the default behavior?   The existing descriptions of Activation on Microsoft's site make activation sound like a horror show, and this alone would scare many people away from buying volume lic

February 13th, 2014 9:51pm

Please contact the Microsoft  Volume Licensing Service Center and they will assist you with your inquiry.  Thank you!
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February 13th, 2014 10:55pm

Hi Will,

For just 10 computer, it is easier to just use the MAK key and activate them one-by-one instead of going through the KMS way. 

Having said that KMS serve other purpose, for example, in a highly secured environment where server / client devices do not have Internet access at all, you will use one device as "proxy" to do "bulk activation" for others.

Do this :

1. Link your agreement and get the MAK key from Microsoft VLSC website. Click Here.

2. Then use the command slmgr to do the activation on each client directly to Microsoft.  Syntax is :

      slmgr.vbs /ipk <MultipleActivationKey>

you can do it remotely with domain admin rights as well.  Read here for more abt slmgr command.

February 13th, 2014 11:22pm

I logged into the Volume Licensing Service Center.  I don't see any link for Activations.  This looks like a place to see a list of licenses you purchased.  How does that answer my question about how to activate licenses, in general?  
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February 14th, 2014 1:11am

Hi Wayne.  Okay, this is progress. :)

Do you get one MAK key per software license, or are they sharing one MAK key across multiple licenses?

Why don't they just allow you to automatically connect over the Internet.   What's the requirement that generated this need to go retrieve an activation key and feed that to a command line utility?   It feels like we stepped backwards on convenience.

February 14th, 2014 1:15am

Hi Will,

     The way to manage licensing in a Corporate environment is very different using volume licensing as compare with OEM.

    To answer your question, you will use the same MAK for your installations that is intended for the purchased license. In VLSC, you see that there is actually an Counter next to the MAK, it is sth like xx / 50.  That is to help you to track the number of activation that have been done against that MAK.

     In case you wonder again, volume licensing, in a way, based on trust model.  Though you can activate 50 times, does not mean that you can install on 50 computers.  At the end of the days, it is the Product Use Rights that defined how they are licensed.

     Thanks.

--

wsn

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February 14th, 2014 2:17am

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