Administrative template files and Office Customization Tool files When the client joins the domain, the activation object automatically activates the Office installation, granting a license to the client for 180 days. The activation object uses the same Generic Volume Licenses Key (GVLK) and KMS host pair as that for regular KMS activation. After admins supply the KMS host key, the setup process adds an activation object to the Active Directory Domain Services. To implement ADBA, administrators must use the Volume Activation Tools utility, which walks them through the setup process. With ADBA, however, IT can easily activate Office 2013 clients through their connections to the domain.

Little has changed with either MAK or KMS in Office 2013. These processes were generally more complex than ADBA. Prior to Office 2013, IT had to rely on Multiple Activation Key (MAK) or Key Management Service (KMS) activation.

With ADBA, IT staffers can use their existing Active Directory infrastructures to activate Office 2013 clients under a volume license. Enterprises implementing Office 2013 on Windows 8 or Windows Server 2012 systems now have a new method for volume activation: Active Directory-based activation (ADBA).

Office 2013 key cmd