Understanding KMS and MAK keys for Windows operating systems

Starting with Windows Vista, Microsoft has adopted a new key management approach, with the original vol key for Windows XP and Windows Server 2003 no longer used. If you are deploying the Windows operating system for your enterprise and what activation method you use, it is an issue that every administrator needs to know. This article will answer this question.

1. 1. The new activation mechanism in the Windows Vista era

In the age of Windows XP and Windows Server 2003, there are two license keys for Microsoft: one that requires activation (which can be done over the network, the phone), and a vol key for the "big customer." For the same system, such as Windows XP Professional, because of the different types of keys used and how they are activated, each product has a different installation medium (although the operating system uses and functions exactly the same), and the two cannot be mixed. For example, if you are purchasing a Vol key, you need to use a VL version of the installation CD (or disc image), and you cannot use the installation media "Retail Edition (this serial number usually requires activation)".

With the release of Windows Vista, Microsoft has improved the key management approach. Starting with Vista, all Windows operating systems (Windows Vista, Windows Server 2008, Windows 7, Windows Server R2) must be activated before they can be used. Microsoft has introduced two new key types for Volume License customers: Key Management Service (KMS) and multiple Activation key (MAK).

Description: (1) KMS is the abbreviation for key Management services, which takes "client/server approach", requires a KMS Management Server to be configured within the enterprise, and provides volume-activated services for other operating systems in the enterprise. The KMS key is a pair, which is used for KMS server-side, called KMS key, for the client, then called Vol key. VOL key is made public by Microsoft and does not need to be purchased. If you do not enter a serial number when you install Windows 7, Windows Server R2, these vol keys are used for installation.

When using the KMS mechanism, there is a minimum number of computers (client 25, server 5). Also, once the computer is activated, the KMS server will be reconnected every 180 days for activation.

(2) MAK, the abbreviation for multiple Activation key, which allows multiple activations of this Open License key. The activation is permanent, and after activation, activation will remain in effect as long as the operating system does not reinstall.

1. 2.KMS product key and grouping

After Vista, the keys for the Microsoft operating system are organized into product groupings. Currently, there are 4 product groupings, including all Windows clients and the Windows Server operating system. One of the groupings is for the client version, and the other three groups involve the server version.

As of now, Windows has two product groupings: product groupings in the Windows 7 era and product groupings in the Windows Vista era. The current Windows 7 and Windows Server R2 operating systems are grouped as follows:

Windows client Groups: Windows 7Professional, Windows 7 Enterprise;

Server teaming a:windows WEB server R2, Windows Server2008 R2 HPC Edition, Windows HPC Server, R2;

Server group B:windows server R2 Standard, windowsserver R2 Enterprise;

Server groupings C:windows server R2 Datacenter, windowsserver, R2 itanium-based System.

The grouping situation is as shown.

650) this.width=650; "Src=" Http://s2.51cto.com/wyfs02/M01/84/77/wKiom1eReTXi0CkaAACaqcZ5KV0726.jpg-wh_500x0-wm_3 -wmp_4-s_3989931900.jpg "title=" 1.jpg "alt=" Wkiom1eretxi0ckaaacaqcz5kv0726.jpg-wh_50 "/>

Windows Vista The product groupings for Windows Server 2008 are very similar, as shown in.

650) this.width=650; "Src=" Http://s5.51cto.com/wyfs02/M01/84/77/wKioL1eReWHC-FT7AACJuW3ccpA718.jpg-wh_500x0-wm_3 -wmp_4-s_4290540674.jpg "title=" 1.jpg "alt=" Wkiol1erewhc-ft7aacjuw3ccpa718.jpg-wh_50 "/>

In the group above, there are "levels", WindowsServer R2 Datacenter higher than Windows Web Server R2, and the latest released or generated products, such as Windows 7 larger than Windows Vista, with a KMS server consisting of high-level keys can activate low-level systems .

650) this.width=650; "Src=" Http://s2.51cto.com/wyfs02/M01/84/77/wKioL1eReYGiPkSIAAC-TvMSqWY349.jpg-wh_500x0-wm_3 -wmp_4-s_3831431740.jpg "title=" 1.jpg "alt=" Wkiol1ereygipksiaac-tvmsqwy349.jpg-wh_50 "/>

KMS The key type is designed to activate services for the specified host system, and then you can install various Windows version activations on the computer. Therefore, we say that KMS keys are essentially hierarchical in nature.

(1) KMS keys can be published to specific product groupings and are associated with each other. For example, for a server group B,windows server R2, the Standard Edition and Enterprise Edition are the same product groupings.

(2) Each KMS key can activate products within the product group and in lower-level product groups in that hierarchy. For example, for server group B in the Windows7 era, in addition to the Standard and Enterprise editions of WindowsServer R2 that can be activated within the same group, you can also activate Windows Web server in server teaming C R2, Windows Hpcserver R2, you can also activate Windows 7 Pro and Enterprise editions in the client group.

(3) Each KMS key can activate products within the product group and in lower-level product groups in that hierarchy. For example, for the Windows7 era of server Group B, in addition to activating the Windows 7 era of server teaming C, Windows 7 clients, you can also activate the Windows Vista era of server teaming B, Windows Vista ERA Server Group C and Windows Vista Commercial and Enterprise editions.

1. 1. Multiple Activation Key (MAK)

When using a KMS key, you need a computer on your network (installing the Windows Server operating system and activating it with a KMS key) that will be the other Windows Vista or (and) Windows 7, Windows Server in the network 2008. Windows Server R2 provides the active service. However, not all enterprises need to adopt the KMS activation mechanism. Therefore, Microsoft also provides a MAK key.

MAK Keys are similar to retail key behavior, but they have more activation methods. The number of activations depends on the license agreement purchased by the customer. The number of licenses purchased is not 1:1 paired with the number of activations provided per key. The group of MAK Keys is also grouped according to "Server C", "Server B", "Server A", "client", and the contents of the group are the same as the KMS key group, but unlike KMS, the MAK key is used to activate individual systems instead of services. With a MAK, activation is directly related to a single product group, and only the version of Windows within a specific product group can be activated. Therefore, we say that the MAK key is essentially horizontal.

With MAK, it's also important to understand how to work together for different generations of Windows products. As mentioned above, there are two sets of product groupings, one for the current generation of Windows products (Windows 7 and WindowsServer R2), and the other for the previous generation (Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008).

(1) MAK keys can be published to specific product groupings and are associated with each other.

(2) Each MAK key can only activate products within the product group and cannot activate products that are not in the same product group (for example, Windows Server R2 Enterprise Edition keys in Server B groupings, only the enterprise and Standard editions of WindowsServer R2 can be activated, You cannot activate Windows Server R2 Datacenter Edition, Web Edition, or Windows 7).

(3) Each MAK key can only activate this generation of products (for example, the Windows 7 era, server Group B key-windows server R2, cannot activate Windows Vista ERA of server Group B products in Windows Server 2008 Standard Edition or Enterprise Edition).

1. 2.howKMS Works

shown Example : medium to large organizations with desktop and portable computers connected to the corporate network

Contoso, Ltd. There are 175 desktop computers that are always connected to the corporate network and 50 portable computers that are regularly connected to the corporate network. The solution is to use KMS activation for both the desktop computer and the portable computer, and to ensure that the portable computer connection is initially activated and reactivated at least every 180 days.

650) this.width=650; "Src=" Http://s2.51cto.com/wyfs02/M02/84/77/wKioL1eReanSh4nMAABtCSN57ok507.jpg-wh_500x0-wm_3 -wmp_4-s_2499447461.jpg "title=" 1.jpg "alt=" Wkiol1ereansh4nmaabtcsn57ok507.jpg-wh_50 "/>

This article is from the "Xiang Zi" blog, please be sure to keep this source http://fengxiang.blog.51cto.com/531475/1828670

Understanding KMS and MAK keys for Windows operating systems