Activating Windows Server 2016 KMS on Server 2012 R2

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[Copy the body of the article — If the KMS host has internet connectivity — If the Offline Activation / KMS host does not have internet connectivity: https://blogs.technet.microsoft.com/askcore/2016/10/19/windows-server-2016-volume-activation-tips/]

This article covers how to activate Windows Server 2016 KMS key (CSVLK) on an existing Windows Server 2012 R2 KMS Host. If you try this on an existing Server 2012 R2 KMS host, you might run into the error: “vmw.exe stopped working” and a crash of Volume Activation Tools.

You will need to download 2 updates, and then install the CVLK using the manual method with slmgr.vbs.

Install the KMS Key 

(slmgr.vbs /ipk <Server 2016 CSVLK>)

Online Activation:

Run slmgr.vbs /ato

That’s it. The KMS host should now successfully activate Windows Server 2016 KMS clients, assuming all other prerequisites are met.

Offline Activation:

(Steps from article to get computer ID, call in for activation, get confirmation ID, and import confirmation ID)

If successful, the KMS host should now successfully activate Windows Server 2016 KMS clients

What is the Installation ID / Activation ID? 

It is a long unique ID divided into 8 sections of 6 digits. For example: 144125-194521-125666-173654-130115-124014-726591-682382

See also: https://blogs.technet.microsoft.com/askcore/2016/10/19/windows-server-2016-volume-activation-tips/

This article applies to:

• Windows Server 2012 R2