Appendix C: KMS Activation Configuration
KMS hosts can be activated and maintained in several ways. In addition to the simple options provided with Slmgr.vbs, there are registry entries and Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI) calls that can be used for more sophisticated configuration settings.
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Using Slmgr.vbs to Configure KMS
Using Registry Entries to Configure KMS
Using WMI to Configure KMS
Using Slmgr.vbs to Configure KMS
Slmgr.vbs has capabilities that can be used to activate and configure both KMS hosts and KMS client computers. This section describes the available options and how they are used.
KMS Host Configuration
Table 3 details options used to configure and report on KMS hosts.
Table 3. Slmgr.vbs Service Command-Line Options
Option |
Use |
Purpose |
|---|---|---|
-ipk |
-ipk Product Key |
Install enterprise license key (where Product Key represents the actual key) to enable KMS host functionality. |
-dli |
-dli |
Display license information. |
-ato |
-ato |
Attempt immediate activation. |
-sprt |
-sprt port |
Set KMS host listening port (where port is the port ID). |
-sdns |
-sdns |
Enable dynamic DNS publishing (default). |
-cdns |
-cdns |
Disable dynamic DNS publishing. |
-cpri |
-cpri |
Set KMS processor priority to low. |
-spri |
-spri |
Set KMS processor priority to normal (default). |
-rearm |
-rearm |
Reset activation timer and initialization (used for imaging and recovery from RFM). |
-xpr |
-xpr |
Display the date when the current KMS based activation will expire |
KMS Client Configuration
Table 4 details options used to configure and report on KMS client computers.
Table 4. Client Command-Line Options
Option |
Use |
Purpose |
|---|---|---|
-ipk |
-ipk |
Install product key (used to replace MAK). |
-dli |
-dli |
Display license information. |
-ato |
-ato |
Attempt immediate activation. |
-skms |
-skms KMS Server[:port] | :port |
Set name and port of KMS host to be used (where KMS Server is the name of the computer running KMS and port is the port ID). |
-ckms |
-ckms |
Clear name of KMS host used. |
-rearm |
-rearm |
Reset activation timer and initialization (used for imaging and recovery from RFM). |
Using Registry Entries to Configure KMS
Some KMS configuration settings can be managed directly in the registry. This section outlines these registry entries and provides typical values where appropriate.
KMS Host Configuration
The registry entries shown in Table 5 can be used to configure the KMS or can contain information about KMS configuration.
Table 5. KMS Registry Entries and What They Control
HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\SL
DisableDnsPublishing (REG_DWORD)
Setting to nonzero value disables dynamic DNS.
EnableKmsLowPriority (REG_DWORD)
Setting to nonzero value sets low priority.
KeyManagementServiceListeningPort (REG_SZ)
Sets the KMS host port.
DnsDomainPublishList (REG_MULTI_SZ)
Sets a list of DNS domains to publish KMS.
VLActivationInterval (REG_DWORD)
Sets interval for activation attempts (minutes).
VLRenewalInterval (REG_DWORD)
Sets client renewal interval (minutes).
KeyManagementServiceVersion (REG_SZ)
Used for MOM interface.
HKU\S-1-5-20\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\SL
KeyManagementServiceRegisteredDomainName (REG_SZ)
Stores cached domain name when KMS is enabled; is populated during name and domain changes.
KeyManagementServiceRegisteredHostName (REG_SZ)
Stores cached host name when KMS is enabled; is populated during name and domain changes.
KeyManagementServiceRegisteredPortNumber (REG_SZ)
Stores cached port number when KMS is enabled; is populated during name and domain changes.
KMS Client Configuration
The registry entries shown in Table 6 can be used to configure the KMS client or can contain information about KMS activation status.
Table 6. KMS Client Registry Entries and What They Control
HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\SL |
|
|---|---|
KeyManagementServiceName (REG_SZ) |
Used to force a specific KMS host. |
KeyManagementServicePort (REG_SZ) |
Used to force a specific KMS port. |
UserOperations (REG_DWORD) |
Used to enable Standard User product activation |
Using WMI to Configure KMS
This section contains the KMS-specific WMI methods that Windows Vista supports. WMI calls can be issued through scripting tools and custom applications to manage Windows Vista settings.
KMS Host Configuration
Table 7 lists WMI properties that are specific to KMS host operation.
Table 7. KMS Host WMI Properties
Class |
Name |
Description |
|---|---|---|
SoftwareLicensingService |
IsKeyManagementServiceMachine |
Is KMS enabled? 1=True, 0=False |
|
VLActivationInterval |
Interval for activation attempts (minutes) |
|
VLRenewalInterval |
Interval for activation renewals (minutes) |
|
KeyManagementServiceCurrentCount |
Count of currently active volume clients |
SoftwareLicensingProduct |
LicenseStatus |
0=Unlicensed, 1=Licensed, 2=OOBGrace, 3=OOTGrace (OOBGrace represents the out-of-box grace period.) (OOTGrace represents the OOT grace period.) |
|
GracePeriodRemaining |
Remaining time in minutes before activation is required |
KMS Client Configuration
Table 8 lists WMI properties that apply to KMS client computer operation.
Table 8. KMS Client WMI Properties
Class |
Name |
Description |
|---|---|---|
SoftwareLicensingService |
KeyManagementServiceMachine |
Registered KMS host name; null if not manually set |
|
VLActivationInterval |
Interval for activation attempts (minutes) |
|
VLRenewalInterval |
Interval for activation renewals (minutes) |
|
KeyManagementServiceCurrentCount |
Count of currently active volume clients |
|
KeyManagementServiceProductKeyID |
Cached product ID |
|
ClientMachineID |
The unique identifier for this volume client machine |
SoftwareLicensingProduct |
LicenseStatus |
0=Unlicensed, 1=Licensed, 2=OOBGrace, 3=OOTGrace, 4 =NonGenuineGrace |
|
GracePeriodRemaining |
Remaining time before reactivation is required |
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