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MAK Independent Activation MAK independent activation requires that each computer
independently connect and be activated with Microsoft, either over the Internet or by telephone.
MAK independent activation is best suited for computers in an organization that does not maintain
a connection to the corporate network.
MAK Proxy Activation by using VAMT This enables a centralized activation request on behalf of
multiple computers that have one connection to Microsoft. MAK Proxy activation is configured by
using VAMT. MAK Proxy activation is appropriate for environments in which security concerns
might restrict direct access to the Internet or the corporate network. It is also suited for development
and test labs that do not have this connectivity.
Note:
The latest version of VAMT is 3.0. For information about VAMT 3.0, see Volume Activation
Management Tool (VAMT) 3.0.
MAK architecture
MAK activation requires that a MAK key is installed on a client computer and instructs that computer to
activate itself against Microsoft hosted activation servers over the Internet. In MAK Proxy activation, a
MAK key must be installed on the client computer by any of the methods previously described. VAMT
obtains the installation ID (IID) from the target computer, sends the IID to Microsoft on behalf of the
client, and obtains a confirmation ID (CID). The tool then activates the client by installing the CID. The
CID is saved and can be used later, for example, to activate test computers that were re-imaged after
90 days.
Active Directory-Based activation
On the Windows 8 platform, starting with Office 2013 Preview, a third volume activation method is
available: Active Directory-Based activation.
As with KMS, Active Directory-Based activation can activate all Office 2013 Preview VL clients within
the domain. To use Active Directory-Based activation, you set up Active Directory Domain Services (AD
DS) from either a Windows 8 VL edition computer or a Windows Server 2012 computer to support the
activation of all Office 2013 Preview VL clients within the domain. The Office 2013 Preview VL clients
can run on any Windows 8 or Windows Server 2012 client computer.
Active Directory-Based activation uses the same GVLK/KMS host key pair that KMS activation uses.
When you use Active Directory-Based activation, the Software Protection Platform Services (SPPSvc)
periodically attempts to activate the GVLK against either an Activation Object (AO) in AD DS or a
discoverable KMS host if the Active Directory-Based activation attempt fails. A successful Active
Directory-Based activation grants a license to the Office 2013 Preview client for 180 days.
For more information about Active Directory-Based activation, see Active Directory-Based Activation
Overview.
Volume Activation Management Tool (VAMT) 3.0
The latest update to the Volume Activation Management Tool (VAMT) is version 3.0. VAMT 3.0 is
designed to manage volume activations for Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows Server