What Is KMS?

KMS stands for Key Management Service. Some Microsoft products such as Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8 series, Windows 10, Windows Server 2008 series through Windows Server 2019 series require activation. KMS is the default method to activate Windows, since the release of Microsoft Vista and Windows Server 2008. Current Microsoft Office products provided for campus use also require KMS activation. The KMS service allows Microsoft software purchased under a volume license agreement to be activated locally, on-campus, without having to contact Microsoft.

NCSU’s KMS Service

OIT provides KMS services for campus. The KMS service is available to any non-Resnet computer on the campus network. It is not available outside the campus network unless using VPN.

Locating The KMS Service

There are 2 ways in which KMS clients (Windows 10 workstations, for example) can locate a KMS service:

• Auto Discovery: Client uses DNS to automatically locate the KMS service.
• Direct Registration: KMS service host and port are set in the registry. This can be done using a VBS script that is installed with Vista.

Troubleshooting

See the Troubleshooting KMS Activation page for more information.