KMS server setup process flawed

[darkknight0072004]

I run a network am am beginning to evaluate Windows Vista. I installed
a KMS server on a 2003 server (it won't run in a VM which is a huge
annoyance) and have it servicing activations. I also installed Vista
Enterprise on a machine and had it register with my now working KMS
server (with volume license key installed). As I continue to evaluate
Vista (I'm nowhere close to done and it isn't my top priority) my
client has locked me out (the count on my KMS server is now 1). When I
ask it to activate it throws an error saying it can't activate because
the total number on my KMS server is below 25 (well, no kidding). This
is annoying beyond belief. Not only do I have licenses and jumped
through Microsoft's KMS hoops to essentially make their job easier I
now get bitten and can't use a product I have licenses for because I
am not suicidal and don't want to convert a perfectly stable network
to it all at once and within 90 days. If that is the model it is
flawed and this certainly does not encourage me to roll it out.

How does microsoft expect you to evaluate this OS if you have to
convert all your machines at once? What do they expect me to do with
the brick which is now my first XP OS with my half tested apps
installed? This isn't very inspiring.

-M

 

[AJR]

RTFM - Less than 25 units - activation is performed "normally" via product
key.

 

[darkknight0072004]

RTFM - Less than 25 units - activation is performed "normally" via product
key.

Yeah, thanks for being simultaneous sophomoric and unhelpful. The
correct answer was that they should have also provided a MAK key in
addition to my KMS key which they did not. "Normal" activation does
nothing but postpone the problem.

The process punishes people who signed license agreement to
specifically avoid such annoyances. Microsoft should know that it is
the main reason why IT people are put off from even evaluating Vista.
It doesn't stop bad guy script kiddies who want to install it on 1
laptop, it just annoys good guys who have to decide whether to roll it
out to hundreds of machines that work perfectly fine. Doing so puts us
right back in media dependence code/serial number hell.

 

[Adam Leinss]

How does microsoft expect you to evaluate this OS if you have to
convert all your machines at once? What do they expect me to do with
the brick which is now my first XP OS with my half tested apps
installed? This isn't very inspiring.

What kind of licensing do you have? We got both a MAK and KMS under SA
(Enterprise level). I used the MAK until we got to 25 computers, then
went back and ran the SLMGR.VBS script to convert them to KMS.

You should probably talk to your MS Rep. Hell, I even have a MAK on my
personal Technet subscription for 15 uses!

Adam