How do I configure my machine to use Penn State's Microsoft KMS?

Configuring Windows 10, 7, Server 2008, Server 2008 R2, or Microsoft Office 2010 to use Penn State's Microsoft Key Management Server (KMS)

Windows 10, 7, Server 2008, Server 2008 R2, or Microsoft Office 2010 can either have its KMS server set manually or will 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 zone needs to be set to a DNS zone that has the KMS Service Record or the KMS needs to be set manually.

If you are a part of the Microsoft Windows Active Directory® at Penn State service, access.psu.edu, the KMS Service Record has already been set in the root domain. Organizations that have an OU in access.psu.edu will automatically use this service record pointing to the Penn State KMS. Child domains will need to follow the steps below to create the services record for the KMS.

Creating a SRV record in an Active Directory DNS zone

1. Open the DNS MMC
2. Expand the DNS Zone
3. Right click on the _tcp folder and select Other New Records…
4. Select Service Location (SRV) as the new record type
5. 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: mskms.psu.edu

Manually setting the KMS for Windows 10, 7, 8, Server 2008, 2008 R2 or 2012

Please follow the steps below:

1. Open a command prompt with Administrative Privileges. This is done by right clicking the command prompt shortcut and selecting "Run as administrator".
2. Change directories to the windows\system32, normally this is done by changing to the system drive and then typing "cd \windows\system32"
3. Run the following command to set the KMS Server: “cscript slmgr.vbs /skms mskms.psu.edu”
4. Run the following command to active against the newly set KMS: “cscript slmgr.vbs /ato”

Manually setting the KMS for Microsoft Office 2010

Please follow the steps below:

1. Open a command prompt with Administrative Privileges. This is done by right clicking the command prompt shortcut and selecting "Run as administrator".
2. Change directories to the Microsoft Office's Office14 directory.
   
   • On 32-bit machines this is normally done by typing: cd "%ProgramFiles%\Microsoft Office\Office14"
   • On 64-bit machines that have the 32-bit version of Microsoft Office install this is normally by typing: cd "%ProgramFiles(x86)%\Microsoft Office\Office14"
   • On 64-bit machines that have the 64-bit version of Microsoft Office install this is normally done by changing to the system drive and then typing: cd "%ProgramFiles%\Microsoft Office\Office14"
3. Run the following command to set the KMS Server: “cscript ospp.vbs /sethst:mskms.psu.edu”
4. Run the following command to active against the newly set KMS: “cscript ospp.vbs /act”