Server 2016 Activation

Symptom:
Encountering the following error during activation:

Error(s):  Activating Windows(R), ServerDatacenter edition

Error: 0xC004F074 The Software Licensing Service reported that the computer could not be activated. No Key Management Service (KMS) could be contacted. Please see the Application Event Log for additional information.

Cause:
KMS Server authentication error due to caching.

Resolution:
Cleared the cache using the following commands and resolved the issue.

@echo off

slmgr.vbs /ckms

slmgr.vbs /ato

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Steps are below:

Open PowerShell with Admin Privileges

% { iex "$env:windir\system32\cscript.exe $env:windir\system32\slmgr.vbs /ato" ; start-sleep 5 }

KMS Client Setup key will be changed as per OS Version

iex "$env:windir\system32\cscript.exe $env:windir\system32\slmgr.vbs /ipk CB7KF-BWN84-R7R2Y-793K2-8XDDG"

iex "$env:windir\system32\cscript.exe $env:windir\system32\slmgr.vbs /ato"

If you still facing activation issue try below command for clear activation.

Open CMD with Admin Privileges

@echo off
slmgr.vbs /ckms
slmgr.vbs /ato

Once Successfully cleared KMS Key retry below command with PowerShell

iex "$env:windir\system32\cscript.exe $env:windir\system32\slmgr.vbs /ato"