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Key Management Service 1.1 for Windows Server 2003 SP1 and later enables enterprise customers to activate volume editions of Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008.
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Microsoft Key Management Service (KMS) for Windows Server 2003 SP1 and later is part of Microsoft Windows Volume Activation 2.0. It allows enterprise users to host KMS on Windows Server 2003 to enable activation of Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008 using a KMS key.
Microsoft Volume Activation 2.0 is a set of technical and policy solutions provided by Microsoft’s Software Protection Platform (SPP) that gives Microsoft customers more secure and easier methods to manage their volume license keys.
KMS based activation allows enterprise customers to host a local service within their environment to enable activation of machines running Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008 volume editions within their environment, instead of activation directly with Microsoft. Computers that have been activated using KMS are required to reactivate by connecting to a KMS host at least once every 6 months.
KMS keys are provided through Microsoft’s Volume Licensing System portals (MVLS, eOpen). The KMS host needs to be activated once with Microsoft either online or via telephone.
KMS version 1.1 for Windows Server 2003 provides the same feature set as version 1.0 and the following additional functionality:
- A single KMS host which support volume license editions of both Windows Vista RTM/SP1 and Windows Server 2008
- Running KMS version 1.1 in a Windows Server 2003 virtual machine.
Supported Operating System
Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 1, Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 2, Windows Server 2003, Datacenter Edition (32-bit x86), Windows Server 2003, Enterprise Edition (32-bit x86), Windows Server 2003, Standard Edition (32-bit x86)
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Key Management Service for Windows 2003 requires Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 1 or later. Note that the same language versions must be used.
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Follow the Step-by-Step guide for scenario-specific installation instructions. IMPORTANT: The language version of the KMS package you are downloading must match the language version of the target Windows Server 2003 computer.
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Key Management Service for Windows 2003 is installed as a software update package. The document KMS for Windows 2003 Step-by-Step Guide.doc (available only in English) is required reading in order to install and use Key Management Service for Windows 2003.
