Volume Activation in an Educational Environment
Applies To: Windows 8.1
For a Windows 8.1 deployment to PCs in education you can activate your client computer licenses with methods such as Key Management Service (KMS), Active Directory-Based Activation (ADBA), and Multiple Activation Key (MAK).
Client computers need a way to activate their Windows licenses. Many environments, including all environments employing Windows 8.1 Enterprise, use Microsoft Volume Activation to provide for this purpose. The primary technologies available for Volume Activation include:
Key Management Service (KMS). KMS is appropriate in mixed environments where Windows 7 computers are also being licensed, when AD DS isn’t available, when the domain isn’t running at the Windows Server 2012 level, or when there will be licensed computers that aren’t part of the domain. In these instances, you cannot use Active Directory-Based Activation (ADBA). Also, your environment contains multiple versions of Windows, KMS will be the appropriate solution, because KMS is the default activation method for those clients.
ADBA. ADBA is appropriate when AD DS is already operating at the Windows Server 2012 schema level and all the computers to be activated are running Windows 8 or Windows 8.1 and are part of the domain. ADBA can also activate Microsoft Office 2013.
Multiple Activation Key (MAK). MAK activation provides a non-domain method for Volume Activation. MAK activation takes place directly with Microsoft over the Internet or by telephone.
Table 6 describes these activation methods.
Table 6. Windows Activation Methods
| ADBA | KMS | MAK | |
|---|---|---|---|
Domain joined |
Yes |
Optional |
No |
Devices must connect to the network at least once every 180 days |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
Supports Volume Activation of Windows 8 and Windows 8.1 |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Supports Volume Activation of Windows 7 |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
Supports Volume Activation of Microsoft Office |
Yes (Office 2013 only, not Microsoft Office 365 or previous versions of Office) |
Yes |
Yes |
Can use Volume Activation services in Windows Server 2012 or Windows Server 2012 R2 |
Yes |
Yes |
N/A |
Can use Volume Activation services in operating systems prior to Windows Server 2012 |
No |
Yes |
N/A |
VL information is stored in AD DS |
Yes |
No |
No |
Requires Internet access |
No |
No |
Yes |
Can be activated by telephone |
No |
No |
Yes |
Infrastructure |
AD DS |
KMS server |
Internet access or telephone |
Key Management Service
Once activated with Microsoft, a KMS server provides local network–based activation services. Rather than connecting to Microsoft for activation, clients can connect to the KMS server within the network. KMS is the means by which a newly deployed VL edition of Windows 8.1 attempts to obtain its activation.
At least 5 servers or 25 clients need to attempt activation to meet the KMS activation threshold. These computers can be physical or virtual, and many times, virtual machines will be deployed so that the threshold is met.
Active Directory-Based Activation
A new method for activation, ADBA, uses AD DS to store activation objects. When using ADBA, computers running Windows 8, Windows 8.1, Windows Server 2012, or Windows Server 2012 R2 with a Generic Volume License Key will remain activated as long as the computer remains in the domain. However, a limitation of ADBA is that the domain must operate at the Windows Server 2012 schema level and be activated with Microsoft to store activation objects. In addition, ADBA can only be used to activate Windows 8, Windows 8.1, Windows Server 2012, or Windows Server 2012 R2.