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Windows Key Management Service (KMS)
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The KMS service enables the automatic allocation and activation of Windows and Office volume licenses.
- Contact:servicedesk@scc.kit.edu
General
The KMS service enables the automatic assignment and activation of Microsoft Windows and Office volume licenses (VL). Only VL versions can be activated!
Scope
The KMS service is only available within the KIT network.
The use of the KMS service requires a valid volume license of the user. The SCC is not responsible for misuse of the KMS service.
Use
The KMS service can be used in two ways:
Automatic activation.
The client to be activated searches for the KMS host itself via a DNS entry (_vlmcs._tcp.) and connects to it. The client then transmits its Activation Hash (25 digits), which is answered by the host with the Threshold. This is a number between 1 and 50. If this threshold is "5″, servers can be activated, with a threshold of "25″, servers and clients can be activated.
The necessary SRV record _vlmcs was set in the following DNS domains, among others:
- kit.edu
- scc.kit.edu
On request, the SRV record can also be set up in other DNS domains - centrally managed by SCC.
Manual activation
If there is no corresponding SRV record in the DNS domain for which the client was configured, the activation must be completed manually.
On the client to be activated, start cmd.exe as administrator (via right-click --> start as administrator...) and enter the following commands:
Windows
- slmgr.vbs -skms kms.scc.kit.edu
- slmgr.vbs -ato
Office 2016
- cscript "%ProgramFiles%\Microsoft Office\Office16\ospp.vbs" /sethst:kms.scc.kit.edu
- cscript "%ProgramFiles%\Microsoft Office\Office16\ospp.vbs" /act
The VB Script: ospp.vbs can also be found under "%ProgramFiles(x86)%\Microsoft Office\Office16\" depending on the combination of OS and Office architecture.
For other Office versions, the path must be adjusted accordingly. For example, for Office 2013, "Office15" must be used in the above path.
Please make sure that the port 1688 (outbound) is enabled in the firewall.
Costs
The use of the service is free of charge.
Included services
The KMS service currently activates the following Windows operating systems (as of 12/2018):
- Windows 7
- Windows 8 / 8.1
- Windows 10
- Windows 10 Enterprise LTSC 2019
- Windows Server 2008 / 2008 R2
- Windows Server 2012 / 2012 R2
- Windows Server 2016
- Windows Server 2019
Furthermore, the following Office versions are activated:
- Office 2010
- Office 2013
- Office 2016
- Office 2019
Services not included
If the client does not have access to the KIT network, a Multiple Activation Key (MAK) must be used for activation. The MAK can be obtained from EVM.
Organizational requirements
Participation in a Microsoft volume licensing agreement (e.g. Campus Agreement, Select) is mandatory.
Technical requirements
Activation through a KMS service requires the use of specific volume license versions. Retail, OEM, MSDN or MSDNAA versions cannot be activated via the KMS service.