Configuring Windows Vista to use Texas A&M's Microsoft Key Management Server (KMS)
Windows Vista can either have its KMS server set manually or set to look in the primary DNS suffix zone for the KMS Service Record. For machines joined to a Windows domain, the KMS Service Record is the easiest method to use. For machines not joined to a domain, the "Primary DNS Suffix" needs to be set to a DNS zone that has the KMS Service Record, or the KMS needs to be set manually.
Creating a SRV record in an Active Directory DNS zone
- Open the DNS MMC.
- Expand the DNS Zone.
- Right click on the _tcp folder and select Other New Records…
- Select Service Location (SRV) as the new record type.
- Fill in the following information for the new records:
- Service: _VLMCS (This is not in the drop-down list and must be typed.)
- Protocol: _tcp
- Port: 1688
- Host offering the service: kms.tamu.edu
Manually setting the KMS
In the near future a program will be created to do this task. Until then please follow the steps below:
- Open a command prompt with Administrative Privileges. (From the Start menu, choose All Programs and select Accessories. From there right click on Command Prompt and select "Run as Administrator".)
- Change to the “c:\windows\system32” directory.
- Run the following command to set the KMS Server: “cscript slmgr.vbs -skms kms.tamu.edu”.
- Run the following command to active against the newly set KMS: “cscript slmgr.vbs -ato”.
