Datasheet

48 Chapter 1
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Planning for the Installation of Windows 7
Microsoft has published the Volume Activation Planning Guide for Windows 7
and Windows 2008 R2. It includes some great explanations and a lot more
detail on both the KMS and MAK processes. You can access it here:
http://technet.microsoft.com/library/dd878528.aspx.
Multiple Activation Key
Large enterprises can purchase a Multiple Activation Key (MAK), which is a single key that
can be used to activate many clients. For example, a company could purchase 100 licenses
using a MAK. This single key is used for the image, and activation over the Internet is
automatic.
A common method used to deploy the operating system to multiple computers is the use
of imaging technologies. Chapter 2 will cover different imaging technologies, including
Windows Deployment Services (WDS), in more depth. A single MAK is used and doesn’t
need to be reentered for each installation.
MAKs are purchased from Microsoft partners for a specific number of clients. They
should be used only for these clients and no others.
If your clients cannot access the Internet, you can use a KMS server, as will be explained
later in this chapter. You can also use the Volume Activation Management Tool with a
MAK proxy to activate clients that can’t access the Internet. The most common scenario
where clients can’t access the Internet is when they host or access sensitive data, and com-
pany policy specifically restricts them from accessing the Internet.
Volume Activation Management Tool
The Volume Activation Management Tool (VAMT) version 1.2 is part of the Microsoft
Windows Automated Installation Kit for Windows 7, covered earlier in this chapter. It can
be used to manage activation of Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows Server 2008, and
Windows Server 2008 R2.
You would use the VAMT if clients can’t access the Internet or to manage MAK keys.
The overall process to use VAMT is as follows:
1. Install VAMT on a host computer, which can be any Windows Vista, Windows 7,
Windows Server 2008, or Windows Server 2008 R2 computer.
2. Configure the Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI) firewall exception on all
clients (if not already configured and if the firewall is running).
3. Create a Computer Information List (CIL) as a group within VAMT.
4. Have VAMT collect license status information for clients in the CIL using WMI.
5. Add a MAK to the VAMT. The number of computers activated with the MAK is
tracked by Microsoft, and you can query Microsoft to determine how many operating
system activations are left using the MAK.
6. Install the MAK on the client computers and then activate them.
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