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Which server version (2022 or 2025) do I need as a KMS activation server?

Anonymous
2025-01-07T10:22:52+00:00

Hi All the Experts,

We are planning to ultimately purchase Server 2025 license soon so that we can license our servers pool in the long run.

We are also currently in progress of deploying Server 2022 at the moment, however, our existing Server 2016 KMS server won't be able to active these new servers.

Therefore, we would like to know:

  1. If we were to build a new KMS server to activate Server 2022s, do we need to build it on Server 2022 or Server 2025?
  2. Could a Server 2022 KMS activates 2025 servers?
  3. Could a Server 2025 KMS activates 2022 servers?
  4. We also have RDSH farm that consists of 2016 and 2022, could we use Server 2025 KMS to activates them?

Hope my questions above makes sense and hope to hear from you soon.

Appreciated and regards

Windows for business | Windows Server | Devices and deployment | Licensing and activation

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  1. Anonymous
    2025-01-08T00:05:27+00:00

    Hello,陈家豪

    To activate server2022 using the kms server, the kms server must be running server2022 or 2025.

    The relevant information is set out below:

    reference document：

    Key Management Services (KMS) activation planning for Windows Server | Microsoft Learn

    Alternatively, Windows Server 2025 can be activated to include Windows Server 2016 and Windows Server 2022, but it is necessary to ensure that the KMS server can communicate with all RDSH hosts

    Best Regards，

    Chengxili

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  2. Anonymous
    2025-01-08T10:17:13+00:00

    Hi,

    Thanks for the reply.

    However, could you please provide all the details in English? As I will need to past the information over to my team as well, and none of them are chinese nor can they read chinese.

    Thanks

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  3. Anonymous
    2025-01-09T00:32:04+00:00
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  4. Anonymous
    2025-01-09T17:21:49+00:00

    Hello K H Chan, I would be glad to help you out with this.

    A KMS Server can be used with Windows 2025 as Microsoft documentation explicitly states that KMS activation is available for "Windows Server 2025"

    Windows Server 2025 is completely available and you can read more about it below.

    • Host requires a minimum of a 16-core license
    • Includes Hyper-V and activates one physical server and two virtual machines
    • Requires Client Access Licenses (CALs) for users accessing the server
    • License is based on the number of physical cores on the server
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