By default, KMS client computers attempt to renew their activation every seven days. KMS clients must renew their activation by connecting to the KMS host at least once every 180 days to stay activated. KMS activations are valid for 180 days, a period known as the activation validity interval. The KMS only counts unique connections from the past 30 days, and only stores the 50 most recent contacts. Servers and volume editions of Microsoft Office products will activate if the count is five or greater. Clients will activate if the count is 25 or higher. The client or server will activate if the count is high enough.

When a client or server contacts the KMS host, the host adds the machine ID to its count and then returns the current count value in its response. KMS hosts count the most recent connections. To ensure that the activation threshold is met, a KMS host counts the number of computers that are requesting activation on the network. KMS clients activate only after this threshold is met. KMS can activate physical and virtual computers, but to qualify for KMS activation, a network must have a minimum number of computers (called the activation threshold). You can also get assistance by contacting your local Microsoft Activation Center. You can get this key from the Product Keys section of the Volume Licensing Service Center for the following agreements: Open, Open Value, Select, Enterprise, and Services Provider License. This key is sometimes referred to as the KMS host key, but it is formally known as a Microsoft Customer Specific Volume License Key (CSVLK). To use KMS, a KMS host needs a key that activates, or authenticates, the KMS host with Microsoft. A KMS host running on a Windows Server operating system can activate computers running both server and client operating systems, however a KMS host running on a Windows client operating system can only activate computers also running client operating systems. You can run a KMS host on any physical or virtual system that is running a supported Windows Server or Windows client operating system. KMS hosts do not need to be dedicated servers, and KMS can be cohosted with other services.

The KMS host must reside on your local network. KMS clients connect to a KMS server, called the KMS host, for activation. KMS uses a client-server model to active clients and is used for volume activation. The following information outlines initial planning considerations that you need to review for Key Management Services (KMS) activation.

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