How to migrate Volume Activation Services on Server 2016 to a Server 2022?

Question

I have Volume Activation Services currently running on Server 2016. That server happens to be our current DHCP server as well.

Since that server was not set up by me, I have the following question.

Are Volume Activation Services to be installed on the same server where the DHCP servers reside?

If not, can you advise how to migrate the VA Services to a new Server 2022?

Appreciated.

CS

Answer 1

No, KMS and DHCP are unrelated. You can follow along here.

https://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/windows/en-US/cd4177bd-8df5-4a66-afdc-c760398b7e7f/migrating-kms-server-from-one-computer-to-another?forum=itprovistaactivation

--please don't forget to close up the thread here by marking answer if the reply is helpful--

Answer 2

Hi @Woody Chiu at RASI

The volume activation service does not need to be installed on the same server as the DHCP server. You can migrate your VA services to the new Server 2022, here are the migration steps:

1. Install the volume activation service on the new Server 2022.
2. Back up the database for the volume activation service on the old Server 2016.
3. Copy the backup file to the new Server 2022.
4. Restore the database for the volume activation service on the new Server 2022.
5. Ensure that the firewall on the new Server 2022 is configured to allow traffic for volume activation services.
6. Update the DNS records to point to the volume activation service on the new Server 2022.
7. Test that the volume activation service on the new Server 2022 is working properly.

Note that before migrating the VA service, make sure that you have backed up all your important data and that you have tested the migration process.

Hope it helps,

Lei