Datasheet
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ChAPTeR 1 Windows Server 2008 R2 Deployment Secrets
KMS servers for computers running Windows Server operating systems. You should
keep the following in mind when considering KMS:
You can use KMS only if you have ve servers or twenty-ve clients.3
You congure KMS by adding a specic KMS key to a server and then perform-3
ing activation. After activation is completed, the computer functions as a
KMS server. You should use the telephone method to activate KMS on an iso-
lated network.
You can install the same KMS key on up to six computers, and each KMS server 3
can be reactivated up to nine times, if necessary.
Computers that activate against a local KMS server need to reconnect with 3
that server every 180 days. If the KMS server cannot be contacted within a
180-day period, the computer enters reduced functionality mode.
The KMS server does not need to contact Microsoft’s servers unless a change 3
in the hardware conguration of the KMS server itself triggers reactivation.
This means that KMS is a good solution for isolated networks.
NO TE Although answer les and WDS can minimize the amount of time it
takes to deploy Windows Server 2008 R2, with Microsoft’s System Center
Conguration Manager, you can go further and fully automate the deployment
process. Not only can you congure separate answer les for different deploy-
ment types, but you can also incorporate the deployment server applications,
such as Exchange Server 2010 or SQL Server 2008 R2. If you want to get to the
stage where you can fully automate the deployment of a new Exchange server,
you should investigate System Center Conguration Manager. You can also con-
gure the deployment of virtual machines using System Center Virtual Machine
Manager. Virtual Machine Manager enables you to optimize the process of de-
ploying to virtual hosts.
summary
There are seven editions of Windows Server 2008 R2. The Enterprise Edition sup-
ports all features and comes with four virtual licenses, and the Datacenter Edition
provides unlimited virtual licenses. You can install Windows Server 2008 R2 so that
the entire installation is held in a single VHD container. This simplies the process
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