Kms Server -client authenticaion issue

Question

I have a KMS server(Windows server 2019) in my local network and its internet accessible. No Active directory has connect with that. so i want to activate license in my remaining workstation having OS windows server as a client. But in my client machine I did not put any DNS address due to some unavoidable circumstance. But my KMS server & client are in same network. Now concerning part is,

1. I can not activate license in my client machine due to having a error. I am looking for common error troubleshooting but did not sort it out. After completing activation step with error the notification part which was bellow right of the windows said that "windows needs to be activate" is gone but in product id under server manager shows "Needs to activate".
2. Do KMS service work without any DNS? Because when I lookup my KMS server from any KMS client it did not show as local DNS is performing 127.0.0.1.
3. Another part i found there is a parameter called Device threshold. it seems like device count in my network regarding the KMS. its default count is 20/22 something. is there anything dependency regarding that.

In the end i would just like to understand what was wrong with this KMS service. why don't my client machine did not get activated. I need your expert opinion.

Answer 1

Hi.
The working principle of KMS is: after KMS is enabled, the KMS host will register an SRV record in DNS. KMS client computers discover KMS hosts through configured registry keys or through KMS SRV records in DNS. The client sends an RPC request to the KMS host through TCP port 1688, and the request includes the computer ID (CMID). The KMS host adds CMIDs to the table and returns an activation count to the client. Clients activate when an activation threshold is reached.
Activation threshold: 25 clients or 5 servers
Therefore, the connection between the KMS client and the KMS host must pass through DNS, and the KMS service cannot work without DNS. You need to configure DNS.
According to you, the device technology in your network is 20/22 or so. You have not reached the activation threshold, which may be why your client computer is not activated.

Hope the information is helpful.

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Answer 2

@Anonymous

Thanks for your advise. But can I change the default Activation threshold as if I have 2/3 Server how can I activate those.

Answer 3

Hi.
May I ask how you let the default activation threshold be changed? Please provide a screenshot.
According to the official documentation, the activation threshold is a fixed value and cannot be modified.

Also, please run the command in cmd and provide this screenshot: slmgr /dlv, so that I can learn more about the activation of your computer