Forum Discussion

Deleted's avatar
Deleted
Oct 17, 2023

Azure Stack HCI Datacenter Azure Edition - Activation no longer reported correctly in Server Manager

 

 

Scenario:

different VMs using Windows Server Datacenter Azure Edition (core and GUI),
Clustered and unclustered VMs
OS: Azure Stack HCI 22H2

 

Result:

Attestation is working as expected, locally, Azure Portal and WAC 2203.

Problem:

Server Manager locally or remotely does no longer show the activation status correctly.
slmgr /sconfig / WMIC shows a correct activation on VMs that are also correctly configured with Attestation

Reproducible:
yes, in all cases

Server Manager

 

 

 

Get-CimInstance SoftwareLicensingProduct -Filter "Name like 'Windows%'" | where { $_.PartialProductKey } | select Description, LicenseStatus

 

 

 

sconfig


Test IDMS
Invoke-RestMethod -Headers @{"Metadata"="true"} -Method GET -Uri http://169.254.169.254:80/metadata/attested/document?api-version=2018-10-01
Result: ok

UI & Settings app
no popup for failed activation on GUI based installation

no watermark hints that the VM is not activated (restart may be required if you just attestated and activated it)
activation shows up correctly in Settings app



This has worked few months ago.
Anyone else? Would appreciate a fix for the sake of consistency, as this has worked well in the past.

 

Azure Stack HCI

4 Replies

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  • Deleted's avatar
    Deleted
    Jan 10, 2024
    The issue pops up again even on systems that have been ok in the past. activation now reports to be "licensed" and "activated" by sconfig & slmgr, but effectively in Remote or local Server Manager and GUI (Watermark / Settings app) it is said to be "not activated". This is affecting all customers. We are working on this in SR 2401090050003990. Please open an SR with Azure Support or CSP Partner if you are affected, too. Thank you very much.
  • Deleted's avatar
    Deleted
    Oct 17, 2023

    Repro:
    Spin up a (clustered) VM with this OS on Azure Stack HCI 22H2 using WAC.

    activate attestation for this VM via WAC or PowerShell

    install the AVMA key for Azure Edition and activate it using slmgr or sconfig
    F7TB6-YKN8Y-FCC6R-KQ484-VMK3J

    Core:
    add the VM to domain and add it to your server list in Server Manager
    refresh the view

    GUI:
    check local Server Manager activation status
    refresh the view

    • Deleted's avatar
      Deleted
      Oct 22, 2023
      this one has been solved SR: 2309260050000849

      For some reason repeating to install the AVMA key for Azure Edition on affected machines and activating them both using sconfig (or slmgr) worked fine.

      • Karl-WE's avatar
        Karl-WE
        MVP
        Dec 08, 2023

        Dear Cosmos_Darwin Elden_Christensen 

        this is a follow up for the activation issue I am seeing with Azure Edition Windows Server.

        1. the Windows Server 2022 Datacenter Azure Edition ISO does not contain the AVMA key for this OS.

        Result activation via Attestation on 22H2 won't activate it automatically.

        2. Server Manager shows the activation status of Azure Edition OS GUI installation option as "activated" while on Core it remains "not activated". Even though checking on Core installation option via slmgr or sconfig the activation is correct.

        This should be very reproducible.

        steps:
        Azure Stack HCI 22H2 + Attestation

        install WS DC 2022 Azure Edition with GUI

        install AVMA key

        attestate the VM

        activate VM via slmgr or sconfig / powershell remote

        Azure Stack HCI 22H2 + Attestation

        install WS DC 2022 Azure Edition Core

        install AVMA key

        attestate the VM

        activate VM via slmgr or sconfig / powershell remote

        add both machines to Server Manager and check the activation status.
        When using PS remote for slmgr, an interactive login the the remote machine seems to be required for SPP to work correctly.

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