MAPS Product Keys don't change year after year after year

[dermots]

We received product keys with our Action Pack when we first subscribed years ago. We've renewed for many years but new product keys are never issued. So the 10 licenses for Windows 10 and Office that we received have been used on test PCs as intended. Several systems have been retired and replaced but we have no new keys issued.

We've just had to buy new PCs with Windows 11 compatible spec and I just retrieved the product key for Win 11 in the Partner Centre only to find it is the very same key as for Windows 10. So we have no keys for Windows 11 Pro at all. A new MAPS subscriber today will get 10 keys for Windows 11 Pro, but an exisiting subscriber gets none...

[JanoschUlmer]

@dermots : You should contact support via Partner Center on this, if activation really actually fails for you. While there is no new key, the activation count is changed since those are MAK keys with a certain defined activation count. You can also check remaining activation count using VAMT if you like to look this up yourself. 

Indeed, the keys for Windows 10 and Windows 11 are technically the same, this applies to all licensing channels. Finally, it is not important how the key looks like, it is important what is listed as benefit.

Also note that when you are installing Windows for testing, do better not use those MAK benefits from the benefit. First, any Windows Client and Server OS can be tested for up to 120 days (Insert the KMS GVLK generic key, and optionally rearm the 30-day timer 3 times), and MAPS subscription receive Visual Studio Professional Subscription benefits, the licensed user for Visual Studio has access to Windows Server & Client media & keys in the Visual Studio Benefits section (my.visualstudio.com).

Related to this - afaik all Windows Client OS licenses as MPN//MCPP benefit are still upgrade licenses, like any license form commercial channel. At least this was how it was always done with the Benefit licenses, similar to how any commercial customer can't buy e.g. Windows Enterprise in a Volume License Agreement and assign it to a PC that has no qualifying OS license applied (like Windows 7/8/10/11/ Pro OEM). 

So while technically possible, they only allow usage on devices with a qualified OS license - again Partner Center support might help clarifying that aspect. 

[dermots]

Thanks for the response. I do get what you're saying about trying to use temporary keys for pure "throwaway" test installations, where we are using these licenses is on longer term systems for developers and test engineers, so not convenient to have to reinstall, so they get activated. But older machines expire naturally, it just seems odd if there's no allowance for this when renewing MAPS for several years especially if Win 11 uses the same keys as Win 10.

We're not running VAMT and never have, so I don't think these are MAK keys in that sense. Partner Center provides the single key and says it is for 10 licenses, it activates without us using a Volume Activation server of our own. We keep our own record of use and I've not tried to go beyond the number licensed because I am obeying the licensing (also I know about them being upgrade licenses).

[JanoschUlmer]

For developers and test engineers the Visual Studio Subscriptions you have in MAPS are the recommended way to get keys to install on test machines, and there is no expiration for those either.

And as mentioned, you get 10 licenses, but for this you don't need to get new keys since the key you have allows for further activations.

And the keys are MAK (Multiple Activation Key), MAK doesn't need an activation server - what you refer to is the other option for volume license activation: KMS.

I can confirm from MAPS use terms perspective, an activation counts as consumed license, so it does not matter if there are only 10 devices running activated at a time, you can only activate up to 10 in a year of membership. 

[dermots]

Sadly the VAMT only ever shows "Not Available" for "Remaining Activation Count", so has not provided any insight. I've tried it over several days using the refresh key data online, in case it was a temporary issue. 

[JanoschUlmer]

@dermots : OK, this seems to be new. The last time I worked with this, VAMT was able to show the activation count well. Don't currently have access to keys from Partner benefits to test though.

[dermots]

OK, thank you, it is becoming clearer. I am sorry I don't know all the different terms well.

---

@JanoschUlmer wrote:

You can also check remaining activation count using VAMT if you like to look this up yourself.

---

I am installig this now, thank you for the steer.

---

@JanoschUlmer wrote:

I can confirm from MAPS use terms perspective, an activation counts as consumed license, so it does not matter if there are only 10 devices running activated at a time, you can only activate up to 10 in a year of membership. 

---

Oh, so in effect the keys are "refreshed" each year? Maybe it will be clear once I have VAMT running.