Guide to Microsoft Volume Licensing Installation and Activation Methods
Published on May 25, 2010
Most Microsoft products obtained by nonprofit organizations through TechSoup require a product activation key or setup code to complete the installation process. These keys and codes ensure that the software has been received through legitimate means and is not installed on more computers than permitted.
Some products have a key in the installation media (CD-ROM or DVD-ROM), so the person installing the software does not need to enter one. Most license-only products, such as client access licenses, management licenses, and external connector licenses, do not require keys or codes for setup.
To look up your product and see if it requires an activation key or setup code, see the Product Activation and Key Information page on the VLSC. (Macintosh products do not appear in this list; they do not need keys.)
Types of Keys
Setup Code
Many server products have a setup code that is on a printed label or is provided when you download the product through the VLSC.
Standard Volume License Key (VLK)
Standard VLKs are provided for Microsoft Office suites and applications released prior to Office 2010 and for certain other Microsoft software. The activation process using standard VLKs is fairly simple: enter the VLK obtained through the Volume Licensing website when prompted by the software to activate it. You can use the same VLK on multiple installations of the same software if you requested multiple licenses. For example, if your donation includes 10 copies of Office 2007 Standard, you can use the Office VLK to install that product on 10 separate computers.
Key Management Service (KMS) Key
In the KMS model, the KMS key is installed on only one computer in a network, known as the KMS host, and all other users on the network can activate their software from this host. This model allows users with network experience to complete activations on their local network and eliminates the need for all computers except the host to connect to Microsoft for product activation. KMS does not require a dedicated computer and can be co-hosted on a computer that provides other services.
KMS requires a minimum number of computers (physical or virtual machines) in a network environment. These minimums are referred to as activation thresholds. Organizations that cannot meet the following thresholds or do not have the technical ability to set up a KMS host should activate their products through the MAK model:
- For Windows Server 2008 or Windows Server 2008 R2 — at least 5 computers
- For Windows Vista or Windows 7 — at least 25 computers
- For Office 2010, Visio 2010, Project 2010, or a combination of the three — at least 5 computers (however, for Office 2010 suites and applications, Microsoft recommends MAK activation if organizations have fewer than 50 computers)
Multiple Activation Key (MAK)
The MAK model is used for one-time activation with Microsoft's hosted activation services. These keys are similar to standard VLKs in that users must enter the MAK on their individual computers to activate the products.
There are two ways to activate computers using the MAK model. The first method is MAK independent activation, which requires that each computer independently connect with Microsoft and be activated, either over the Internet or by telephone. The second method is MAK proxy activation. With this method, a computer acting as a MAK proxy gathers activation information from multiple computers on the network and then sends a centralized activation request on their behalf. MAK proxy activation is configured using the Volume Activation Management Tool.
Like standard VLKs, MAKs allow a predetermined number of activations, depending on the number of licenses an organization requests. For example, if your donation includes 10 copies of Windows 7, you can use the Windows 7 MAK to install that product on 10 separate computers.
Product Groups for MAK and KMS Keys
Activation keys in both the KMS and the MAK models apply to the following product groups rather than to individual products.
- Windows 7: The Windows 7 product group includes Windows 7 Enterprise and Windows 7 Professional, so the Windows 7 activation keys work for both of these products.
- Office 2010: The Office 2010 product group includes all Office 2010 suites and applications, Project 2010 Standard, Project 2010 Professional, Visio 2010 Standard, Visio 2010 Professional, and Visio 2010 Premium. For KMS activations, the Office 2010 KMS host will activate all Office 2010 suites and applications, Project 2010, and Visio 2010.
- Windows Server 2008: For Windows Server 2008 and Windows Server 2008 R2, there are three product key groups:
- Windows Web Server 2008 and Windows HPC Server 2008
- Windows Server 2008 Standard and Windows Server 2008 Enterprise
- Windows Server 2008 Datacenter and Windows Server 2008 for Itanium-Based Systems
MAKs are directly associated with a single product group and can activate only the Windows editions within that specific product group. For example, the group B MAK must be used to activate Windows Server 2008 Standard or Windows Server 2008 Enterprise. A MAK for Windows Server 2008 Datacenter (group C MAK) will not work. And a MAK for Windows 7 will not work with Windows Vista.
KMS keys are hierarchical, with C ranking higher than B or A. For example, if you have licenses for the Windows Server 2008 Datacenter R2 and Standard R2 editions, you should install the KMS key associated with the Datacenter product (the group C key) on your KMS host. The host will then be able to activate computers with either Windows Server 2008 Datacenter R2 installed or Windows Server 2008 Standard R2.