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Extending the server evaluation period

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Applies To: Windows Home Server 2011, Windows Small Business Server 2011 Essentials, Windows Small Business Server 2011 Standard

You can use your newly installed server for a limited amount of time (known as the “evaluation period”) without entering a product key. After the evaluation period, you must either enter a product key to activate the server, or extend the evaluation period. You can extend the evaluation period a maximum of two times. When you reach the maximum number of days allowed for the evaluation period, you must activate your server.

The following table provides information about the evaluation period for each listed product.

Product Evaluation Period Number of Extensions Allowed Maximum Evaluation Period

Windows SBS 2011 Standard

30 days

2

90 days

Windows SBS 2011 Essentials

60 days

2

180 days

Windows Home Server 2011

30 days

2

90 days

To extend the evaluation period

  1. Click Start, and then in the search box, type cmd.

  2. In the list of results, right-click cmd, and then click Run as administrator. If you are prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type your password or provide the confirmation.

  3. At the command prompt, type slmgr.vbs -dli, and then press ENTER. The status of your server activation appears.

  4. To extend the activation period, at the command prompt, type slmgr.vbs –rearm, and then press ENTER.

  5. Restart the server.

Note

For information about how to activate the server, see How to activate your server.