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windows/deployment/volume-activation/introduction-vamt.md
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@ -4,61 +4,62 @@ description: VAMT enables administrators to automate and centrally manage the Wi
ms.reviewer:
manager: dougeby
ms.author: aaroncz
ms.prod: w10
ms.prod: windows-client
ms.technology: itpro-deploy
author: aczechowski
ms.date: 04/25/2017
ms.topic: article
ms.date: 09/16/2022
ms.topic: overview
---
# Introduction to VAMT
The Volume Activation Management Tool (VAMT) enables network administrators and other IT professionals to automate and centrally manage the Windows®, Microsoft® Office®, and select other Microsoft products volume and retail activation process. VAMT can manage volume activation using Multiple Activation Keys (MAKs) or the Windows Key Management Service (KMS). VAMT is a standard Microsoft Management Console (MMC) snap-in and can be installed on any computer that has one of the following Windows operating systems: Windows® 7, Windows 8, Windows 8.1, Windows 10, Windows Server 2008 R2, or Windows Server 2012.
The Volume Activation Management Tool (VAMT) enables network administrators and other IT professionals to automate and centrally manage the Windows, Office, and select other Microsoft products volume and retail activation process. VAMT can manage volume activation using Multiple Activation Keys (MAKs) or the Windows Key Management Service (KMS). VAMT is a standard Microsoft Management Console (MMC) snap-in and can be installed on any computer that has a supported Windows OS version.
> [!NOTE]
> VAMT can be installed on, and can manage, physical or virtual instances. VAMT cannot detect whether or not the remote products are virtual. As long as the products can respond to Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI) calls, they will be discovered and activated.
> VAMT can be installed on, and can manage, physical or virtual instances. VAMT can't detect whether or not the remote products are virtual. As long as the products can respond to Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI) calls, they will be discovered and activated.
## In this Topic
- [Managing Multiple Activation Key (MAK) and Retail Activation](#bkmk-managingmak)
- [Managing Key Management Service (KMS) Activation](#bkmk-managingkms)
- [Enterprise Environment](#bkmk-enterpriseenvironment)
- [VAMT User Interface](#bkmk-userinterface)
## <a href="" id="bkmk-managingmak"></a>Managing Multiple Activation Key (MAK) and Retail Activation
## <a href="" id="bkmk-managingmak"></a>Managing MAK and retail activation
You can use a MAK or a retail product key to activate Windows, Windows Server, or Office on an individual computer or a group of computers. VAMT enables two different activation scenarios:
- **Online activation.** Many enterprises maintain a single Windows system image or Office installation package for deployment across the enterprise. Occasionally there is also a need to use retail product keys in special situations. Online activation enables you to activate over the Internet any products installed with MAK, KMS host, or retail product keys on one or more connected computers within a network. This process requires that each product communicate activation information directly to Microsoft.
- **Proxy activation.** This activation method enables you to perform volume activation for products installed on client computers that do not have Internet access. The VAMT host computer distributes a MAK, KMS Host key (CSVLK), or retail product key to one or more client products and collects the installation ID (IID) from each client product. The VAMT host sends the IIDs to Microsoft on behalf of the client products and obtains the corresponding Confirmation IDs (CIDs). The VAMT host then installs the CIDs on the client products to complete the activation. Using this method, only the VAMT host computer needs Internet access. You can also activate products installed on computers in a workgroup that is isolated from any larger network, by installing a second instance of VAMT on a computer within the workgroup. Then, use removable media to transfer activation data between this new instance of VAMT and the Internet-connected VAMT host.
- **Online activation**: Many organizations maintain a single Windows system image or Office installation package for deployment across the organization. Occasionally there's also a need to use retail product keys in special situations. Online activation enables you to activate over the internet any products installed with MAK, KMS host, or retail product keys on one or more connected computers within a network. This process requires that each product communicate activation information directly to Microsoft.
## <a href="" id="bkmk-managingkms"></a>Managing Key Management Service (KMS) Activation
- **Proxy activation**: This activation method enables you to perform volume activation for products installed on client computers that don't have internet access. The VAMT host computer distributes a MAK, KMS host key (CSVLK), or retail product key to one or more client products and collects the installation ID (IID) from each client product. The VAMT host sends the IIDs to Microsoft on behalf of the client products and obtains the corresponding Confirmation IDs (CIDs). The VAMT host then installs the CIDs on the client products to complete the activation. Using this method, only the VAMT host computer needs internet access. You can also activate products installed on computers in a workgroup that's isolated from any larger network, by installing a second instance of VAMT on a computer within the workgroup. Then, use removable media to transfer activation data between this new instance of VAMT and the internet-connected VAMT host.
In addition to MAK or retail activation, you can use VAMT to perform volume activation using the Key Management Service (KMS). VAMT can install and activate GVLK (KMS client) keys on client products. GVLKs are the default product keys used by Volume License editions of Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 10, Windows Server 2008, Windows Server 2008 R2, and Windows Server 2012 and Microsoft Office 2010.\
VAMT treats a KMS Host key (CSVLK) product key identically to a retail-type product key; therefore, the experience for product key entry and activation management are identical for both these product key types.
## <a href="" id="bkmk-managingkms"></a>Managing KMS activation
## <a href="" id="bkmk-enterpriseenvironment"></a>Enterprise Environment
In addition to MAK or retail activation, you can use VAMT to perform volume activation using the KMS. VAMT can install and activate GVLK (KMS client) keys on client products. GVLKs are the default product keys used by volume license editions of Windows, Windows Server, and Office.
VAMT is commonly implemented in enterprise environments. The following screenshot illustrates three common environments—Core Network, Secure Zone, and Isolated Lab.
VAMT treats a KMS host key (CSVLK) product key identically to a retail-type product key. The experience for product key entry and activation management are identical for both these product key types.
## <a href="" id="bkmk-enterpriseenvironment"></a>Enterprise environment
VAMT is commonly implemented in enterprise environments. The following screenshot illustrates three common environments: core network, secure zone, and isolated lab.
![VAMT in the enterprise.](images/dep-win8-l-vamt-image001-enterprise.jpg)
In the Core Network environment, all computers are within a common network managed by Active Directory® Domain Services (AD DS). The Secure Zone represents higher-security Core Network computers that have extra firewall protection.
The Isolated Lab environment is a workgroup that is physically separate from the Core Network, and its computers do not have Internet access. The network security policy states that no information that could identify a specific computer or user may be transferred out of the Isolated Lab.
- In the core network environment, all computers are within a common network managed by Active Directory Domain Services (AD DS).
- The secure zone represents higher-security core network computers that have extra firewall protection.
- The isolated lab environment is a workgroup that is physically separate from the core network, and its computers don't have internet access. The network security policy states that no information that could identify a specific computer or user may be transferred out of the isolated lab.
## <a href="" id="bkmk-userinterface"></a>VAMT User Interface
## <a href="" id="bkmk-userinterface"></a>VAMT user interface
The following screenshot shows the VAMT graphical user interface.
The following screenshot shows the VAMT graphical user interface:
![VAMT user interface.](images/vamtuserinterfaceupdated.jpg)
VAMT provides a single, graphical user interface for managing activations, and for performing other activation-related tasks such as:
- **Adding and removing computers.** You can use VAMT to discover computers in the local environment. VAMT can discover computers by querying AD DS, workgroups, by individual computer name or IP address, or via a general LDAP query.
- **Discovering products.** You can use VAMT to discover Windows, Windows Server, Office, and select other products installed on the client computers.
- **Monitoring activation status.** You can collect activation information about each product, including the last five characters of the product key being used, the current license state (such as Licensed, Grace, Unlicensed), and the product edition information.
- **Managing product keys.** You can store multiple product keys and use VAMT to install these keys to remote client products. You can also determine the number of activations remaining for MAKs.
- **Managing activation data.** VAMT stores activation data in a SQL database. VAMT can export this data to other VAMT hosts or to an archive in XML format.
- **Adding and removing computers**: You can use VAMT to discover computers in the local environment. VAMT can discover computers by querying AD DS, workgroups, by individual computer name or IP address, or via a general LDAP query.
## Related topics
- **Discovering products**: You can use VAMT to discover Windows, Windows Server, Office, and select other products installed on the client computers.
- [VAMT Step-by-Step Scenarios](vamt-step-by-step.md)
- **Monitoring activation status**: You can collect activation information about each product, including the last five characters of the product key being used, the current license state (such as Licensed, Grace, Unlicensed), and the product edition information.
- **Managing product keys**: You can store multiple product keys and use VAMT to install these keys to remote client products. You can also determine the number of activations remaining for MAKs.
- **Managing activation data**: VAMT stores activation data in a SQL database. VAMT can export this data to other VAMT hosts or to an archive in XML format.
## Next steps
[VAMT step-by-step scenarios](vamt-step-by-step.md)