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Planning for the Installation of Windows 7 : Planning and Managing Client Licensing and Activation (part 1)

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5/16/2011 5:44:11 PM
Software developers have been battling software counterfeiting (often called pirating or software piracy) since the very first operating system or application was sold. When it's easy to copy the software without paying for it, some people do just that.

Client licenses, product keys, and activation work together to help ensure that a software program that is being used is a valid copy. The goal is to make it more difficult for software counterfeiters to copy and sell the software to unsuspecting users while also making the process smooth for users who have purchased valid versions.

With this in mind, administrators have a responsibility to their company to help it develop sound licensing strategies and ensure they remain compliant with license agreements. You should understand the basics of client activation that can be implemented in an organization.

1. Licensing Strategy and Compliance

Windows 7 uses a product key and an activation process to help thwart counterfeiting. Figure 1 shows the product key screen from the installation process. You can still install Windows 7 without the product key by clicking Next on the installation screen, but it won't successfully activate without the key.

Figure 1. Entering the product key

Some product keys are designed for a single product, and some product keys are designed for multiple products. A Multiple Activation Key (MAK) uses a single key purchased for many clients. In larger organizations, MAKs or Key Management Service (KMS) servers could be used for activation, or a combination of the two can be used.

Activation will ultimately be paired with the product key and your computer. The activation process collects information on the computer to uniquely identify it, but it does not collect any information on the user.

When installing Windows, you'll receive the prompt Automatically Activate Windows When I'm Online. If this box is checked, activation will be attempted three days after the user logs on the first time. If it is not checked, the user will be prompted to activate before the grace period expires.

1.1. Windows 7 Activation Grace Period

Windows 7 has a grace period of 30 days before it needs to be activated. During this time, users will see a pop-up reminding them they need to activate. This starts as a once-a-day pop-up four days after the installation and increases to as often as once an hour on day 30.

On day 31, a message will appear indicating that you must activate Windows to continue using all Windows features. A logical question is, "What features can't be used?" In past versions of Windows, Microsoft introduced a reduced-functionality mode where users can browse the Internet for one hour before having to log off and back on again.

At this writing, it appears as though everything in Windows 7 still works in this reduced-functionality mode. The desktop background goes black with text indicating the copy of Windows is not genuine. You can change the background, but it will change back within about an hour. Periodically, an Activation window appears, informing you the activation period has expired and prompting you to activate, buy a new product key online, retype your product key, or view other ways to activate.

On Windows Server 2008 R2 (the server companion to Windows 7), the server shuts down hourly after the activation period expires.

All of this can be frustrating when you use a system that isn't activated, but there is a simple solution—ensure the software is genuine and activate it.

You can activate Windows from the System page. Click Start, right-click Computer, and select Properties. If you scroll down to the bottom of the page, you'll see a Windows Activation menu similar to Figure 2.

Figure 2. Viewing the Windows Activation status

If your system is connected to the Internet, you can simply click this link. Your system will connect to Microsoft's servers, some information on your computer will be transferred back and forth, and a moment later you'll be notified that activation was successful. Microsoft stresses that the information transferred during the activation process can be used to identify your computer, but it does not include any information on the user.

Once the system is activated, the countdown to activate will be replaced with a message saying, "Windows is Activated." Windows activation is considered permanent, although Windows does periodically check to ensure that the system is the same.

1.2. Detecting Changes

Periodically, Windows 7 will verify that the copy of Windows is valid and is operating on the same system where it was originally installed. If significant changes are detected, the activation will be reversed and the system will need to be reactivated.

The most common scenario where this occurs is when imaging software such as Symantec's Ghost is used. It is possible to make an image copy or clone of a system and then use this cloned copy on other computers. The license for the original system wasn't purchased for the other computers, and Windows 7 will detect that the operating system that was activated on the original system is now located on a different computer. Once the change is detected, activation will be revoked and the client will need to be reactivated.

This can also occur if too many changes are made to the hardware of a system. For example, if the motherboard of a system is replaced, Windows 7 may assume it's been moved to a different computer. This can usually be resolved with a phone call to a Microsoft help center to obtain a new key.

NOTE

Cloning systems can also result in duplicate security identifiers (SIDs). To prevent duplicate SIDs on a network, the Sysprep program is run before capturing the image. Sysprep sanitizes the system by removing unique information such as the computer name and SIDs. It also resets the licensing information used for activation, requiring computers receiving the image to be activated separately.

2. Software Manager Licensing Manager Tool

The Software Licensing Management Tool is a built-in Visual Basic script (slmgr.vbs) program that can be used for licensing and activation tasks. It includes several options that are entered as a switch. Some of the options directly relate to the clients (and are covered in this section), and some of the options directly relate to KMS.

The slmgr tool must be run from an elevated command prompt. Click Start => All Programs => Accessories, right-click Command Prompt, and select Run As Administrator.

2.1. Reset Grace Period

You can extend the initial 30-day grace period using the slmgr /rearm command. In other words, if the 30-day grace period has expired, the background has gone black, and the reminder screens are coming up hourly, you can execute this command at the command prompt to give yourself another 30 days. This command can be executed three times.

The Windows 7 activation limit can be extended to a total of 120 days. When the 30-day limit is reached, you can run slmgr -rearm from an administrator command prompt, which resets the activation limit for another 30 days. This command can be executed three times. Thus, if it is run at the end of each 30-day period, you'll get a total of 120 days.


2.2. Activate Windows

You can use slmgr /ato command to cause the system to activate right away. As a reminder, activation won't normally be done until three days after the user first logs on. If you are building computers that you'll move to an isolated environment without Internet access, you can use this command to force activation right away.

2.3. Display License Information

The slmgr /dli command can be used to display information on the license used for this system. When executed, it will show the name, description, a partial product key, and the license status of the current license. As an example, Figure 3 shows what it looks like on one of my systems:

Figure 3. Displaying license information

You can also execute it as slmgr /dli all to display information on all licenses on the system. Other licenses will indicate they are not in use and the status is Unlicensed.

2.4. Install Product Key

The slmgr /ipk <Product Key> command can be used to install a new product key. This can be useful if the system is configured to use a KMS but you want to switch it to use a MAK.

2.5. Display Detailed License Information

You can use the slmgr /dlv command to get more detailed information on the license. The result includes several identification numbers and certificate URLs. It will also show the status of the license and the remaining rearm count.

2.6. Expiration Data for Current License

The command slmgr /xpr can be used to indicate the expiration date for the current license. If the system has not been activated, this will indicate the date and time when the 30-day grace period expires.

If the license has been permanently activated, it will say, "The Machine is Permanently Activated." If the system has been activated by KMS, it will indicate the expiration of the KMS activation.

3. Volume Activation Methods

For smaller businesses, Windows 7 is purchased on an individual basis, and the clients are automatically activated three days after the installation. For larger enterprises, volume-activation methods are used to activate multiple clients with a single key. There are two methods of volume activation.

  • Multiple Activation Key (MAK)

  • Key Management Service (KMS)

KMS is used when the clients can't access the Internet and require the use of a KMS server. KMS requires significantly more administration than other methods of activation.

As an overview, Table 1 shows some of the comparisons between MAK activation and KMS server activation. It's important to realize that MAK keys and KMS keys are different. A MAK key can't be activated with a KMS server, and a KMS key won't be activated over the Internet.

Table 1. Comparing MAK and KMS
MAKKMS
Activation is permanent.Clients must connect to a KMS server periodically to renew activation.
Used when access to the Internet is possible (or manual phone method is desirable).Used in isolated networks where Internet access is not possible (and manual activation via the phone is not desirable).
Can be used for any number of clients.Requires a minimum of 5 servers, 25 clients, or a combination of 25 servers and clients.
Volume Activation Management Tool (VAMT) can be used with a MAK proxy.Although a KMS server is used, it's not referred to as a proxy.
Supports clients duplicated from a single image.Supports clients duplicated from a single image.

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