Moving KMS to new server

Question

_{Monday, March 25, 2019 7:18 PM}

Hi there, this should be relatively easy but for some reason I keep tripping up here...

We have an existing KMS Server on a box running Server 2008 R2. That box is being replaced with a new server running Server 2016. So I need to move the KMS service over to the new server. The new server has the same IP as the one it replaced.

On the new 2016 Server, I've installed the Volume Activation Services role OK. I've selected KMS and not AD-based activation for now as I still have some Win7 boxes to deal with for a few more months. After installing the role, I get the prompt "Create a new KMS host by installing your KMS host key." Exactly what key is this referring to? Reading https://blogs.technet.microsoft.com/askcore/2016/10/19/windows-server-2016-volume-activation-tips/ it sounds like the key I need to use is the one for "Windows Srv 2016 DataCtr/Std KMS" but when I paste in the key I have from the MS VLSC site and go to activate product online, I get an error "The activation server determined that the product could not be activated."

Am I using the wrong key, or do I need to remove the KMS service from the old server first before trying to setup on this new server? Some posts have said no migration is necessary, while others suggest you need to uninstall from the old server. Most of the articles on setting up KMS are written for Server 2008, so I'm not entirely sure if I'm missing some extra steps for Server 2016. Aside from the GUI front-end, I think the steps are the same...

Thanks,

Sir_Timbit

All replies (4)

_{Monday, March 25, 2019 9:24 PM ✅Answered}

Found an old post at https://yuridejager.wordpress.com/2011/09/05/moving-your-key-management-server-kms-to-another-server-or-host/

that's helped me... On the old server, I ran

slmgr -cdns

slmgr -upk

slmgr -cpky

After restarting services there, I ran the slmgr.vbs /ato command on the new server once again, and this time it reported that the product activated successfully.

_{Monday, March 25, 2019 7:50 PM}

Sounds like I do need to first uninstall the host key off the old server by running slmgr -upk so will give that a try...

_{Monday, March 25, 2019 9:07 PM}

Ran slmgr -upk on the old server OK.

Still no luck on the new server however. I did the following:

slmgr.vbs /ipk <key for Server 2016 Std/DataCtr>

which it said it installed successfully.

But when I ran slmgr.vbs /ato, I get:

Activating Windows(R), ServerStandard edition (a1234abc-12a3-123a-ab12-abcd1abcde12) ...
Error: 0xC004B100 The activation server determined that the computer could not be activated.

Still investigating....

_{Tuesday, March 26, 2019 6:57 PM}

Hi,

what key is this referring to?

You’re right.  Windows Srv 2016 DataCtr/Std KMS is the kms host key in your case.

Thanks for your sharing. If any other questions, feel free to post here.

Best Regards,

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