Windows KMS Host Configuration

I recently went through the process of setting up a KMS host for our enterprise and thought it was going to be a fairly straightforward process, but I was not surprised when things were not as obvious as I had hoped. First off, the documentation and newsgroups out on the net were equally confusing and after some trial and error I finally nailed down the proceedure to make the KMS work.

1) Decide what server to install your KMS host. I chose a Windows 2008 R2 server to host the KMS.
2) On the server (or workstation) you decide to use as your KMS, log on with an account that has access to modify DNS in your domain (Domain Admin or DNS admins for those who have split permissions like I have).
3) Right click on the Command Prompt and click 'Run As Administrator'
4) Issue the 'cscript slmgr.vbs /ipk (This Key is from your MSVL list, labeled KMS B
5) Issue the 'cscript slmgr.vbs /ato' to activate the KMS host.
6) Check your DNS Server under Forward,,_tcp. There should be a service (SRV) record for _VLMCS that points to the server you just activated as the KMS host.
7)Now your KMS server is ready to host activations.

Remember that it takes at least five (5) server activation requests before the server will start activating server OS' or twenty-five(25) requests total before the server will start activating desktop OS'.

The KMS client key is pre-loaded on the MSVL Server or Desktop media, so no action needs to be taken on a new install aside from telling the OS to activate. This can be accomplished by running the slui.exe (as administrator) or issuing the 'cscript slmgr.vbs /ato' command in an elevated privilege command prompt.

If you are like me though, you have already been using your MAK keys for some time, and there is a proceedure to revert these back to KMS. The KMS default keys are well-known public keys and can be seen at this URL http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ff793421.aspx.

All you have to do to change back to KMS is use the slmgr.vbs /ipk command and use the key from the above URL that matches the OS you are activating. Remember each OS has it's own unique KMS client key.
After the key has been entered, use slmgr.vbs /ato to activate with the KMS host and you are done.

I hope this helps ease the confusion that some are finding due to the lack of complete information that is on the net.

Have fun and happy admining.