You should be able to set the server up as a KMS server, it will require an internet connection for activation. Once activated it should not bother you again, as long as it has an internet connection. You will need a total of at least 5 devices before the remaining devices will be permanently/temporarily activated. I say it that way because by default the clients will check with the KMS server every 7 days, and are required to validate a minimum of every 30 days.
** Disclaimer ** I did this with Vista over a year ago. To the best of my knowledge the licensing has not changed. The only difference I can think of is Vista KMS requires a min. of 25 clients. I do have a Windows 2008 KMS license but have not activated it yet. Running a test server at the moment. Jim M From: Tom Miller [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Monday, September 15, 2008 3:03 PM To: NT System Admin Issues Subject: RE: Win2008 activation Looking at the MS docs, you'll need to have 5 or more devices before using KMS. There are several documents on the Tech Net site about licensing, but they do seem confusing. We buy our user CALS and server licenses in chunks, so I'm now sure how KMS addresses that when the authorization and license numbers are different for each batch. There are technically different MAK keys for each authorization agreement. So I really don't know how one can use a volume license key when there are different MAK keys associated with each bulk purchase. It would be nice to be able to set up a KMS server and be done with it but that does not seem possible. Comments from gurus already using KMS with multiple agreements? >>> "Salvador Manzo" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> 9/15/2008 1:45 PM >>> Without setting up a KMS server, you'll need to change it to a MAK key I think. This will activate against Microsoft's serer, like XP does. -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Monday, September 15, 2008 10:31 AM To: NT System Admin Issues Subject: Win2008 activation Wow, I've never been so overwhelmed with trying to understand how to activate a product. I want to start using a single Windows 2008 Standard Server so I can begin learning it. However, it seems like I cannot activate the product via KMS (which I don't even have setup anywhere) because you need (5) Windows 2008 Server licenses in use to even begin using KMS. So, without using KMS, how should I activate this product? The product key I have is from one of my license agreements and is listed as "Windows 2008 Std/Ent - KMS". I've read numerous things from http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserver2008/en/us/licensing.aspx but still don't quite understand exactly what I need to do. This seems a bit more bloated than it should be... Should I phone in the activation or use some other method? Thanks JR -------------------------------------------------------------------- mail2web - Check your email from the web at http://link.mail2web.com/mail2web ~ Finally, powerful endpoint security that ISN'T a resource hog! ~ ~ <http://www.sunbeltsoftware.com/Business/VIPRE-Enterprise/> ~ ~ Finally, powerful endpoint security that ISN'T a resource hog! ~ ~ <http://www.sunbeltsoftware.com/Business/VIPRE-Enterprise/> ~ Confidentiality Notice: This e-mail message, including attachments, is for the sole use of the intended recipient(s) and may contain confidential and privileged information. Any unauthorized review, use, disclosure, or distribution is prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient, please contact the sender by reply e-mail and destroy all copies of the original message. ~ Finally, powerful endpoint security that ISN'T a resource hog! ~ ~ <http://www.sunbeltsoftware.com/Business/VIPRE-Enterprise/> ~