Workstation Imaging and Volume License Media - Using MAK vs. KMS
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As many of us know, for workstations that come with an OEM license of Windows 7/8, you can use the volume license media for these platforms to create and deploy images to your workstations. My understanding is that you can even use the VLK to activate Windows on the workstations that have been imaged.
And, you only need one volume license of Windows to cover this need (assuming all stations are covered with OEM licenses already, which they should be).
For the open license agreements I have seen (open business), you have 50 MAK activations possible. There's not a max limit listed for KMS from what I can tell.
So if you were going to image hundreds of computers, does it make more sense to go with KMS? If you reach your maximum MAK activations, does that send a red flag to Microsoft and make them want to audit you? How do they know you are using the one volume license for imaging and not re-using it over and over illegally?
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@NetworkNerd said:
And, you only need one volume license of Windows to cover this need (assuming all stations are covered with OEM licenses already, which they should be).
That is correct.
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@NetworkNerd said:
How do they know you are using the one volume license for imaging and not re-using it over and over illegally?
They don't, but as that is generally how it is used, it's not a flag.
