Windows 7 Activation Issues

Now that Windows 7 is finally released to the public, it's time to start looking into all of the potential activation issues (among other things) that users are running into. The one issue in particular that I encountered was with activating the Enterprise edition of the software against a KMS (Key Management Server). If you have been running Vista in your organization using KMS Licensing (the replacement for Volume Licensing, if you will), then you are more than likely familiar with what I am talking about. If this is your first run-in with the new licensing system, then you may be in for a bit of frustration.

What is KMS (Key Management Server)

Starting with Windows Vista, Microsoft introduced a new model for enterprise licensing in large organizations. Previously, MS had provided the organization with a single license key which would be valid for x number of clients. While this model was relatively pain free and easy to implement, it caused problems in terms of software piracy, exceeding the available number of licenses, etc. So Microsoft came up with the idea of the Key Management Server (KMS). With this model, you still get your volume license key, but it is installed on a server within your domain. When the server is initialized, it creates SVR records in your domain's DNS servers that tell machines where to go for activation. This means that computers no longer have to phone home to Microsoft to activate. They simply contact the KMS within the company's domain. And providing that the organization protects the master key (MAK), users who are not on the domain will not be able to activate their machines, thereby preventing software piracy.

I have a MAK key, now what?

If you have the volume license key or MAK key for your software or operating system, there are a couple of ways that you can set up the activation server. Microsoft recommends setting the server up on a Domain Controller or DNS server within your network. This provides a good centralized location within your network for the KMS server to function. Another option is to simply set the KMS server up on the device that you are attempting to activate. Although this is far from ideal, it was originally needed when Vista was first released as they did not enable the software on Windows Server 2003 at the time of release. Users had to perform a workaround to get their OSes to activate, and that workaround was to run the KMS service locally or on another Vista computer within the domain. NOTE: If you wish to install the KMS on a Windows Server 2003 box, you will need to download the Key Management Service Package for Windows Server 2003.

• Download Key Management Service (x86) for Windows Server 2003 SP1 and Later


• Download Key Management Service (x64) for Windows Server 2003 SP1 and Later

How do I enable the KMS server?

The KMS server is relatively easy to initialize. You simply type a couple of commands at the command prompt on the machine where you want to install it and it's ready to go. The following steps will get you up and running with a KMS Server on your domain.

1. Obtain an original KMS key (MAK Key) from Microsoft Volume Licensing Services.


2. Download and install the appropriate Key Manager Service package if you plan to install the KMS on Windows Server 2003 (see links above).


3. Open an command prompt with elevated privileges (right click and select "run as administrator" on Windows Server 2008. On Windows Server 2003, just log on as an account with administrator privileges).


4. Type the following command followed by the Enter key to install the KMS key:
   
   

   cscript C:\windows\system32\slmgr.vbs -ipk <MAK key>



5. Type the following command followed by the Enter key to activate the KMS server host:
   
   

   cscript C:\windows\system32\slmgr.vbs -ato

At this point, the KMS server configuration is complete. The KMS host will automatically publish its SRV records in the domain's DNS servers (If you have third party DNS servers such as Bind on your network, you may need to manually enter the SRV records). All Windows Vista machines should now automatically use DNS auto discovery to detect the KMS host and activate. Another thing to note is that all machines attempting to activate will need to be connected to the organization's network. Laptops, for example, will not be able to activate from home without first being connected via VPN to your corporate network.

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Windows 7 - My Thoughts

Holy wow! First off, it's been a while since I have posted here. Guess I should be a little more diligent. Anyways, I have been running Windows 7 in one form or another for about 4 months now, and so far I am really loving it. It is definitely much more stable than Windows Vista and it has many of the same features and conveniences that many users have come to expect.

First and foremost, if you are used to using Windows Vista, then Windows 7 is going to be pretty familiar to you. The interface is laid out pretty much the same, with the big changes being in the taskbar on the desktop. While Windows XP and Vista both had little bars showing the name of open applications on the taskbar, Windows 7 simply has an icon. It is a little bit tricky, and to be honest I still don't really like it all that much. If you hover over the icon, the windows display in the Aero preview boxes, just like in Vista. I just find it really annoying that you don't have any text identifying what the application is. The other really annoying part about the Windows 7 taskbar is that there is no longer a Quick Launch bar. I use this feature extensively in both XP and Vista, but it isn't really there in Windows 7. You can, however, pin applications to the taskbar. Now you might be thinking that this isn't so bad, but it really is. All of the icons that you pin to the taskbar simply show up as icons, just like your opened applications do. And they are not separated from your open applications, so it's really difficult to tell what you have opened already and what is simply a quick launch icon. I have Outlook and my web browser pinned to the taskbar, and I hate having to hover over the icon and wait to see if a window pops up telling me that the application is already opened. It's annoying and frustrating.

As for the other features of Windows 7, you will find them to be very similar to Vista. In my opinion, this OS is a bug release of Vista, in the same fashion that Windows 98 was a bugfix release of Windows 95. It is basically the same operating system, but it runs more smoothly and has a lot more stability. Other than the taskbar and desktop, the interface is laid out in the same fashion as Vista. So if you are familiar with administering Windows Vista, Windows 7 should not be a problem. There are a few other simple features that I have found that add to the functionality, but for the most part it's the same OS, so don't expect too many new and fancy bells and whistles.

Having worked for over a decade in the enterprise, I can tell you that one of the big issues with new operating systems is application compatibility. It's not possible for big companies to simply replace all of their applications whenever Microsoft decides it needs to change everything. One good point about Windows 7 is that you don't have to worry too much about this. So far, all of the applications that I have needed to run in Windows 7 have worked with no problems. Windows 7 also features a Windows XP compatibility mode, which essentially configures a sandbox space for your application to run that emulates a Windows XP system. I have not used this feature as of yet (I have not needed to) but assuming it works as promised, there should be very little worry about whether your applications will run on this OS. Now the big sticking point here is "assuming it works as promised". I have not tried this feature yet, and I have heard very little feedback on it. In fact, I read an article about a week or two ago that stated Microsoft was adding finishing touches. Hopefully by the official launch on October 22nd, it will be fully developed and ready to launch.

If you have the ability to load Windows 7 on a computer, I would strongly suggest giving it a try. All in all, it is solid and stable and seems to run just fine on any system capable of running Vista. There are definitely some annoyances with this operating system , but it's overall stability and functionality outweigh those annoyances and make this a good choice for your next operating system. (read here about a whole new Windows Annoyance I discovered over the weekend)

Web Hosting Comparison

There is nothing harder than trying to find the right web host for your needs. There are so many hosting options to choose from these days, it's hard to know if you are getting the best package for your needs. At www.webhostseek.net, you can take a look at some of the top hosting providers on the net. Their web hosting comparison lines up many web hosting companies side by side so you can pick the one that is best for you.

How to install Hyper-V on Windows Server 2008

Microsoft will soon be releasing it's latest server operating system, Windows Server 2008. One of the best new features about 2008 is it's ability to perform virtual hosting with it's Hyper-V hypervisor engine. Hyper-V will soon be a standard component of Windows Server 2008 Enterprise, which means you will be able to add or remove it just like other windows components such as IIS. The folks over at bitmonkeys.com have written up a quick little howto for installing Hyper-V on Windows Server 2008. It's a pretty simple task, so if you have an inkling to give it a shot, head on over there and have a look at the article.