Explanation of KMS Activation Method
This section mainly explains how to automatically activate Windows hosts in the SurferCloud cloud environment.
Background
Users must activate the Windows system before they can use it, install application software, deploy business environments, and so on.
When users purchase all Windows system UHosts, they have already included the system copyright fee. The SurferCloud platform will automatically activate the Windows system when the host is activated, as explained below.
Activate using the KMS method
Microsoft used the VOL (volume licensing for organizations) group volume license method to activate systems in Windows XP and Windows Server 2003. After that, Microsoft adopted the MAK (Multiple Activation Key) multiple activation key method and the KMS (Key Management Service) key management service method for activation of Windows Vista.
The difference between them is that MAK is a counted method. Each time the system is reinstalled and the MAK key is entered for activation, this key is counted towards the maximum activation limit. Once the activation count reaches the maximum limit, the key cannot be activated again.
KMS uses a Server-Client method to manage keys. The client can communicate with the server over the local area network. The key is installed on the server and manages all clients communicating with it through key management services, as shown below：
KVM operating mechanism is as follows:
- After the KMS Server installs the key, it activates its KMS service by connecting to the Microsoft authorization license server via the public network;
- The Client accesses the KMS address through the internal network during initialization and resolves to the KMS Server IP via the DNS Server;
- The DNS Server regularly maintains communication with the KMS Server cluster on the internal network. If it detects that a KMS Server is abnormal, it automatically resolves the domain name to another KMS Server;
- The KMS Server communicates with the Client through the default port 1688 and automatically activates the Client system. It will contact the KMS Server for activation again every 180 days.
Client Activation
UHost can automatically activate the system upon initialization. This process is seamless and requires no user intervention. After logging into the host remotely, users can check the activation status using the slmgr.vbs /dlv command
Uhost is in the data center: Available Zone C in North China
Uhost installed system: Windows server 2008 datacenter r2
If you need to query KMS addresses in various data centers, please contact technical support.
Frequently Asked Questions And Answers
Q: Are all the Windows cloud hosts you provide genuine?
A: All Windows platform hosts provided by SurferCloud have acquired genuine authorization licenses from Microsoft. When you purchase our Windows version of the host, the system copyright fee is included. The host will automatically activate through the internal KMS service during initialization and will continue to activate every 180 days. You can view specific activation information inside the host using the command slmgr.vbs /dlv.
Q: Can I install other paid software on these Windows cloud hosts?
A: You can install any paid softwares on the UHost of SurferCloud. However, users are responsible for paying any necessary copyright fees to the software vendor. SurferCloud will not interfere with any operations on the host. If you use pirated software and incur legal liabilities, you will bear all legal responsibilities.
Q: I created a Windows host in a data center of SurferCloud and made it into an image. After submitting a work order, you helped me migrate this image to another data center. But now after generating a new UHost through this image, the system prompts "Product not activated". How can I solve it?
A: Because your image has been migrated across data centers, the internal KMS address of the system has changed. The KMS information in the image is still the previous data center, so you need to manually activate it once to solve it. For specific operations, please refer to our [FAQ document](/docs/uhost/faq#How to activate Windows Server on UHost?).
Summary
Using the KMS method to manage system activation in a unified manner, while maintaining communication between the server and client through the internal network, greatly facilitates the automatic deployment and rapid generation of hosts in the cloud environment. This approach streamlines repetitive tasks such as system activation and environment initialization when customers add or reduce resources in bulk.
Reference Document
Microsoft Official Website: Windows Activation FAQ (opens in a new tab)
