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Microsoft Volume Activation - Service Description

This document gives an overview of Microsoft Volume Activation for University volume license editions of Microsoft products.

• Background
• Support Conditions
• Availability

Background

Microsoft Volume Activation 2.0 (VA 2.0) is a new requirement for volume licensed versions of Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008. Volume license versions of previous Windows editions provided through the Microsoft Campus Agreement - Windows XP and Windows Server 2003 - did not require activation. VA 2.0 is expected to be expanded to other Microsoft volume license products used on campus in the future.

There are two volume activation models available:

1. Key Management Service (KMS)
   • KMS allows organizations to activate systems within their own network through a local activation server. Systems must check-in with the activation server on a recurring basis.
2. Multiple Activation Key (MAK)
   • MAK activates systems on a one-time basis, using Microsoft's hosted activation services.

For additional information, please see Volume Activation 2.0 at UW-Madison

Support Conditions

• All volume license editions of Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008 used on campus use VA 2.0

Availability

• KMS Activation is available on all campus networks except the following. Users on these networks must use MAK activation.
  • ResNet
  • UWNet Wireless

  Note: KMS will authenticate over WiscVPN (using both the OnCampus and OffCampus profiles).

• KMS Activation is available on a 24 x 7 basis.
• The maintenance window is 12:00am - 9:00am on Wednesday. The service may be unavailable during that time.

See Also:

• Microsoft Volume Activation - Requesting a SRV Record for KMS Auto Activation
• Microsoft Volume Activation - Troubleshooting Microsoft Volume Activation