In my experience, dealing with Server 2016 activation errors can be frustrating, especially when encountering issues like KMS connection failures.

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Troubleshooting Connectivity Issues

If you are experiencing connectivity issues while trying to activate your Server 2016 using KMS and are encountering the error message “KMS Connection Failed,” there are a few troubleshooting steps you can take to resolve the issue.

First, ensure that your server has a stable internet connection. Check the network settings on your server to make sure it is properly configured and able to reach the KMS server.

If the issue persists, try restarting the KMS service on your server. Open an elevated command prompt and run the command “net stop sppsvc” followed by “net start sppsvc.”

You can also try to reset the TCP/IP stack on your server. Run the command “netsh int ip reset” in an elevated command prompt and then restart your server.

Checking System Configuration

System Configuration Check Details
Operating System Windows Server 2016
Error Message Server 2016 Activation Error KMS Connection Failed
Activation Method Key Management Service (KMS)
Network Connection Failed to connect to KMS server

Verifying License Status

To verify the license status on your Server 2016, you can check the activation status using the command prompt. Open Command Prompt as an administrator and type slmgr.vbs /dlv to display detailed license information. Look for the “License Status” field to see if the server is activated or not.

If the activation status shows as “Licensed” then the issue may lie with the Key Management Service (KMS) connection. You can troubleshoot this by checking the KMS server settings and ensuring that it is reachable from the server.

Additionally, make sure that the server has internet connectivity to communicate with the KMS server. You can check the network settings and firewall rules to ensure there are no restrictions blocking the connection.

If the issue persists, you may need to contact your system administrator or IT support team for further assistance in resolving the Server 2016 activation error related to KMS connection failure.

Ensuring Network Access Permissions

  • Check the firewall settings to ensure that the Key Management Service (KMS) traffic is allowed
  • Verify that the server has proper network access permissions
  • Ensure that the KMS server is reachable from the client machine
  • Confirm that there are no network issues causing the connection failure
  • Double-check the DNS settings to make sure that the KMS server can be resolved correctly

F.A.Q.

How to fix no key management service could be contacted?

To fix the issue of “no key management service could be contacted,” you can start by configuring the appropriate KMS client setup key, checking if the VM is behind a Standard SKU internal load balancer, and verifying the connectivity between the VM and Azure KMS service.

How to activate Office 2016 with KMS server?

To activate Office 2016 with a KMS server, you can open an Elevated Command Prompt window and navigate to the Office16 folder in Program Files. Then use the command “cscript ospp” to activate. Finally, close the command prompt window.

How to fix kms server failed?

To fix a KMS server failed issue, you can start by checking your Internet connection, upgrading your Windows OS, ensuring your computer is activated, verifying you have more than 25 clients, confirming the client is communicating with the host, opening the correct ports, and properly configuring DNS for multiple KMS hosts.

Why is the KMS activator not working?

The KMS activator may not be working due to an insufficient count on the KMS host for the client OS, or if there are not enough systems in the environment to meet the activation requirements.

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