While teaching a couple of weeks ago one of my students asked if I could blog about AVMA.  So here you go.

One of the issues you may run in to after installing Windows Server 2012 R2 is, a virtual machine becomes deactivated after being moved to a different host.  To solve this issue, a new feature in Microsoft Windows Server 2012 R2 Datacenter is the ability to automatically activate the appropriate guest operating system without the use of managing keys.  By using AVMA keys when a VM is moved it will automatically reactivate using the host machines activation key.

The requirements for AVMA are as follows:

• Host server must be running Windows Server 2012 R2 Datacenter.
  • Requires the host to be fully activated with a valid activation key.
• Hyper-V role must be installed.
• Supported virtual machine guest operation system.
  • Windows Server 2012 R2 Datacenter
  • Windows Server 2012 R2 Standard
  • Windows Server 2012 R2 Essentials
• Install the AVMA key into the virtual machine. (See below).

Use the following steps to configure the guest operation system:

1. Install appropriate guest operating system.
2. Launch an administrative command prompt.
3. Type the following: slmgr /ipk <AVMA_Key>  – these below keys are provide on the following Microsoft link Automatic Virtual Machine Activation.
   1. Datatcenter – Y4TGP-NPTV9-HTC2H-7MGQ3-DV4TW
   2. Standard – DBGBW-NPF86-BJVTX-K3WKJ-MTB6V
   3. Essentials – K2XGM-NMBT3-2R6Q8-WF2FK-P36R2
4. Close the command prompt.

Note:  The AVMA key can also be provided during an Unattended setup using a unattend.exe setup file.

Your virtual machine will now automatically activate.

Until next time, RIDE SAFE!!!