Datasheet

56 Chapter 1
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Planning for the Installation of Windows 7
Planning and managing client licensing and activation Be familiar with different licensing
and activation methods used in an enterprise. Windows clients should be activated within
30 days of installation. If access to the Internet is available, activation can be configured to
occur automatically and will normally occur three days after the install. Large organiza-
tions can use a Multiple Activation Key (MAK), which is a single key that includes licenses
for multiple clients.
If clients will never have access to the Internet, a Key Management Service (KMS) server can
be used to activate clients. KMS requires a minimum of 5 servers or any combination of 25
clients and servers. Clients will periodically contact the KMS server to renew their activation. If
you have fewer than 25 clients, you can use the Volume Activation Management Tool (VAMT)
with a MAK proxy to activate the clients. The VAMT can also be used to identify how many
licenses remain on a MAK.
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