KMS Server

[1ceman]

Hey CHaps
Sorry to pose this question on you but i have a problem with my KMS server and Windows 7 activation. Everything has been running fine for a month of so all new machines activation correctly using the KMS server until this afternoon. I get an error when trying to activate a new Windows 7 machine saying something like

" The software licensing service reported that the computer could not be activated. The count reported by your Key Management Serveris insifficent"

So i jump on the server that is hosting the KMS service and sure enough the client count is only 10. Yesterday we had 70 on the count. I have been doing some reading and it looks like the client count is reset after 30 days to allow the clients to report back into the server. Is this correct and can there be a quick fix to stop this happening as new machines will error out.

Stu

 

[WindowsStar]

How many client licenses have you purchased? This does not happen on our server. On the first server we have 100 client licenses and about 90 Workstations connected.

You may have purchased a 10 client licenses but are trying to connect with many more machines. The KMS server will allow this until it does maintenance (about 30 days) giving you time to buy more client licenses.

 

[1ceman]

We had the count up to 70 at 1 point, not sure about the client licence for Windows 7 but im checking this now, i wouldnt have though it would be a problem as all our new laptop come with the correct licence for Windows 7

 

[1ceman]

i think i have found the problem, ive exported the KMS log from the server hosting the KMS service then imported than into excel and it looks like the CMID's are duplicated, even though our windows 7 image syspres with /generalize twice.

Not sure now what is going on
Stu

 

[WindowsStar]

We had the count up to 70 at 1 point, not sure about the client licence for Windows 7 but im checking this now, i wouldnt have though it would be a problem as all our new laptop come with the correct licence for Windows 7

You don't get the license with the Laptop. You get the license when you buy your KMS key. The key is added to the server and you are licensed for however many you purchased. If you buy more licenses you add them to the server.

Are you using Windows 7 Enterprise??

 

[1ceman]

Hi There we are using Windows 7 Professional 64bit and we use our e-open licence key which we purchase from Microsoft though our supplier.
I think i have sorted the problem anyways, we double sysprep with generalize each machine but part of the 2nd sysprep we had set the 'Skip Rearm' to 1 instead of the default 0.
We have now changed the image with the above and it looks like everything is now working fine.
Fingerscrossed

Stu

We had the count up to 70 at 1 point, not sure about the client licence for Windows 7 but im checking this now, i wouldnt have though it would be a problem as all our new laptop come with the correct licence for Windows 7

You don't get the license with the Laptop. You get the license when you buy your KMS key. The key is added to the server and you are licensed for however many you purchased. If you buy more licenses you add them to the server.

Are you using Windows 7 Enterprise??

 

[WindowsStar]

FYI: Windows 7 Professional does not require a KMS server; Microsoft is kind enough to handle that for you. If you have setup a dedicated KMS server and are only using Windows 7 Professional you don't need the KMS part. However if you are using Windows 7 Enterprise it requires a KMS server.

 

[pparks1]

However if you are using Windows 7 Enterprise it requires a KMS server.

That's not true. You can also use a MAK key (multiple activation key). That is what we use in our organization as we only have about 8 Windows 7 machines.

 

[WindowsStar]

A MAK key and a KMS key are not the same. The MAK key is used to get you started until you get your KMS running. The MAK key allows you to get 25 machines on the network while you get your KMS server up and running and it takes over from there. We had about 15 machines running with our MAK key, then setup the KMS server and entered the KMS key. Each machine then connected to the KMS server and will check validation every 180 days. With over 200 machines running the KMS server does all the work.

 

[pparks1]

A MAK key and a KMS key are not the same. The MAK key is used to get you started until you get your KMS running. The MAK key allows you to get 25 machines on the network while you get your KMS server up and running and it takes over from there.

I know they are not the same. You have to have at least 25 machines to activate your KMS server...which we wont' have for quite a long time.

However, we have 500 activations on this MAK key. At my last job, we have 5,000 activations. And when I talked to Microsoft about using that MAK key, they told me that if we ever came near the 5,000 activations simply to call them and they would reset the number.

So, in the end, you can really use either one. But Windows 7 Enterprise certainly doesn't require a KMS server.