Active Directory-Based Activation (ADBA) is a new feature for Windows® 8, which enables enterprises to activate computers through a connection to their domain. Many companies have computers at offsite locations that use products that are registered to the company. Previously these computers needed to either use a retail key or a Multiple Activation Key (MAK), or physically connect to the network in order to activate their products by using Key Management Services (KMS). ADBA provides a way to activate these products if the computers can join the company’s domain. When the user joins their computer to the domain, the ADBA object automatically activates Windows installed on their computer, as long as the computer has a Generic Volume License Key (GVLK) installed. No single physical computer is required to act as the activation object, because it is distributed throughout the domain.
Active Directory-Based Activation Scenarios
VAMT enables IT Professionals to manage and activate the Active Directory-Based Activation object. Activation can be performed by using a scenario such as the following:
- Online activation: To activate an ADBA forest
online, the user selects the Online activate forest
function, selects a KMS Host key (CSVLK) to use, and gives the
Active Directory-Based Activation Object a name.
- Proxy activation: For a proxy activation, the
user first selects the Proxy activate forest function,
selects a KMS Host key (CSVLK) to use, gives the Active
Directory-Based Activation Object a name, and provides a file name
to save the CILx file that contains the Installation ID. Next, the
user takes that file to a computer that is running VAMT with an
Internet connection and then selects the Acquire confirmation
IDs for CILX function on the VAMT landing page, and provides
the original CILx file. When VAMT has loaded the Confirmation IDs
into the original CILx file, the user takes this file back to the
original VAMT instance, where the user completes the proxy
activation process by selecting the Apply confirmation ID to
Active Directory domain function.