When does KMS client activate? At startup, or renewal only?
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Thursday, April 23, 2009 9:45 AMWhen does an activated KMS client renew it's activation?
What I know is, that a KMS client will attempt to renew it's activation with the KMS host, at an interval equal to the renewal period. So, presuming you have say a desktop PC permanently connected to the network, and a renewal period set to 7 days, every 7 days that desktop PC will attempt to renew it's activation with the last KMS host (or search for a new one). That's fine.
However, take the case of a laptop that spends most of it's time off site. However, within a 180 day period, it will connect to the network where the KMS host is. Therefore, in theory, KMS is still an option and no need to use a MAK. But, when it connects, it might only connect for a few hours say. If the 7 day cycle does not fall within that period, does this mean the KMS client will not attempt to renew it's activation? This could be a problem, as you might imagine.
But, does the KMS client ALSO try to activate at startup as well as every 7 days (or perhaps, at startup once the 7 days is over and renewal has not succeeded and hence the count of days is not reset)?
I hope you get what I mean, is renewal attempted only on the 7th day, then 14th day, then 21st day, OR, 7th day, then 8th day, 9th day until successful, then wait 7 days?
Answers
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Thursday, April 30, 2009 5:21 PM Hello Robin,
Yes you could force activation by using slmgr /ato in a script.
You can use WMI as well, to either set the renewal interval to as low as 15 minutes or to activate.
See the link for the technical attributes:
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=9893F83E-C8A5-4475-B025-66C6B38B46E3&displaylang=en
Thanks, Darrell Gorter[MSFT] This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights- Marked As Answer by Robin F Herbert Friday, May 01, 2009 8:09 AM
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Friday, November 19, 2010 11:31 AM
Hi,
According to the following article:
Understanding KMS
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ff793434.aspx
KMS Activation Renewal
KMS activations are valid for 180 days—the activation validity interval. To remain activated, KMS client computers must renew their activation by connecting to the KMS host at least once every 180 days. By default, KMS client computers attempt to renew their activation every seven days. <b> If KMS activation fails , the client will retry every two hours. </b> After a client computer’s activation is renewed, the activation validity interval begins again.
So in theory, if the laptop is connected to the network within the 180 days for a little bit more than two hours it should get an activation from the KMS Host. However, to be sure I guess that a manual activation using slmgr /ato is the most certain option.
Cheers,
Alexander Popov
Microsoft Professional Support Engineer
Microsoft Customer Services und Support
Tel. Deutschland: +49 (0)180 / 567 233 0*
Tel. Österreich: +43 (0)150 / 222 225 5
Tel. Schweiz: +41 (0)848 / 802 330
Email: v-43alep@mssupport.microsoft.com
- Marked As Answer by Magon LiuMicrosoft Contingent Staff, Moderator Thursday, December 02, 2010 5:58 AM
All Replies
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Tuesday, April 28, 2009 12:12 AMHello Robin,
Renewal is attempted every 7 days and it's attempted after the intial 7 days after a reboot or a restart of the service.
The 7 day interval is configurable
Thanks, Darrell Gorter[MSFT] This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights -
Thursday, April 30, 2009 12:09 PMThanks Darrell,
If I wanted to force an attempt to renew, without a reboot, how would I do that?
Example would be where a PC/Laptop is VPN'd in to the corporate network, and hence I don't want to restart the PC (which would drop the VPN, hence stopping activation).
Looks like getting the machine to run "slmgr -ato" (as admin etc.) whilst machine has VPN estabished should make it attempt to renew activation time? Once I know what to do, I can work out how to make it transparent to the user of course.
If I have to wait for a moment in time that happens only every 7 days (assume machine already has activated once or more with my KMS) then I'm very likely to miss it with an occaisonal VPN connection.
If it can't be done, then any machine in this situation will need to have MAK, which I don't want to do if I can help it. -
Thursday, April 30, 2009 5:21 PM Hello Robin,
Yes you could force activation by using slmgr /ato in a script.
You can use WMI as well, to either set the renewal interval to as low as 15 minutes or to activate.
See the link for the technical attributes:
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=9893F83E-C8A5-4475-B025-66C6B38B46E3&displaylang=en
Thanks, Darrell Gorter[MSFT] This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights- Marked As Answer by Robin F Herbert Friday, May 01, 2009 8:09 AM
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Friday, May 01, 2009 8:11 AMThank you.
WMI access is very useful, and with Vista and 2008 will be able to use Powershell to make life easier.
Looks like I have a solution! -
Friday, November 19, 2010 11:31 AM
Hi,
According to the following article:
Understanding KMS
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ff793434.aspx
KMS Activation Renewal
KMS activations are valid for 180 days—the activation validity interval. To remain activated, KMS client computers must renew their activation by connecting to the KMS host at least once every 180 days. By default, KMS client computers attempt to renew their activation every seven days. <b> If KMS activation fails , the client will retry every two hours. </b> After a client computer’s activation is renewed, the activation validity interval begins again.
So in theory, if the laptop is connected to the network within the 180 days for a little bit more than two hours it should get an activation from the KMS Host. However, to be sure I guess that a manual activation using slmgr /ato is the most certain option.
Cheers,
Alexander Popov
Microsoft Professional Support Engineer
Microsoft Customer Services und Support
Tel. Deutschland: +49 (0)180 / 567 233 0*
Tel. Österreich: +43 (0)150 / 222 225 5
Tel. Schweiz: +41 (0)848 / 802 330
Email: v-43alep@mssupport.microsoft.com
- Marked As Answer by Magon LiuMicrosoft Contingent Staff, Moderator Thursday, December 02, 2010 5:58 AM
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