Automatic VM Activation in Windows Server

Are you tired of managing product keys for your Windows Server virtual machines (VMs)? Automatic VM Activation is a convenient feature that allows you to activate Windows Server VMs automatically without the need for entering a product key. In this post, we’ll explore how it works, how to set it up, and provide the generic volume activation keys for your reference.

What is Automatic VM Activation?

Automatic VM Activation is a Windows Server capability that enables automatic activation of Windows Server VMs deployed on supported virtualization platforms. It eliminates the need for manual activation, allowing you to deploy and manage VMs more efficiently.

How Does It Work?

Automatic VM Activation relies on the Key Management Service (KMS) for Windows Server. When a VM is deployed on a supported virtualization platform, it attempts to activate automatically by connecting to a KMS host. The KMS host is responsible for activating the VM without requiring a product key.

Supported Virtualization Platforms

Automatic VM Activation is supported on the following virtualization platforms:

• Microsoft Hyper-V
• Microsoft Azure
• Amazon Web Services (AWS)
• Google Cloud Platform (GCP)
• VMware

Prerequisites

To use Automatic VM Activation, you need the following:

1. A supported Windows Server version (Windows Server 2019 and later)
2. A supported virtualization platform (as listed above)
3. An active Software Assurance or Subscription license for Windows Server

Generic Volume Activation Keys

Microsoft provides the following generic volume activation keys for Windows Server, which can be used for initial activation or testing purposes:

Note: While these generic keys may work for initial activation, Microsoft recommends using Automatic VM Activation with a properly configured Key Management Service (KMS) host for production environments to ensure compliance with licensing terms.

Setting Up Automatic VM Activation

Setting up Automatic VM Activation is relatively straightforward. Here are the general steps:

1. Deploy a KMS Host: You’ll need to deploy a KMS host server within your environment. This server acts as the activation authority for your VMs.
2. Configure KMS Licensing: Ensure that you have an active Software Assurance or Subscription license for Windows Server, which is required for KMS activation.
3. Deploy Windows Server VMs: Deploy your Windows Server VMs on the supported virtualization platform.
4. Activate VMs Automatically: The VMs will automatically attempt to activate by connecting to the KMS host. No manual activation is required.

For detailed instructions on setting up a KMS host and configuring Automatic VM Activation, refer to the Microsoft documentation: Automatic Virtual Machine Activation.

By leveraging Automatic VM Activation, you can streamline your Windows Server VM deployments, reduce manual effort, and efficiently manage your licensing requirements. Give it a try and experience the convenience of automatic activation for your Windows Server VMs.

This article is based on : https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/get-started/automatic-vm-activation