Windows 2022 Std (16 core) running Hyper-v Only - How to activate 2 vm licencing

Question

I am running 2022 Std with Hyper-V only. I want to run 2 (vms), both 2022 (DC and a File Server). I downloaded the evaluation copy. How to I activate the two VMs? I can't use the license key of the physical host, that does not work.

Answer 1

In general you'll need to convert the evaluation to full.

Dism /online /Set-Edition:ServerStandard /ProductKey:xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx /AcceptEula

above assumes a retail product key. If the key is volume or some other then as a work around, you can use a kms key as intermediary step.

Dism /online /Set-Edition:ServerStandard /ProductKey:VDYBN-27WPP-V4HQT-9VMD4-VMK7H /AcceptEula

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/get-started/kmsclientkeys#windows-server-ltscltsb-versions

then if successful use your own product key below after reboot

slmgr /ipk xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx
slmgr /ato

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