Forum Discussion
scruggst
Oct 13, 2021Copper Contributor
ADBA Air Gapped Network
Hello, I am trying to find out how the ADBA operates within an air gapped network. I have an isolated network with 200 windows 10 clients. I know that once I load the KMS license to the ADBA and crea...
LainRobertson
Oct 30, 2021Silver Contributor
Hi, Scruggst.
While I don't use ADBA, from what I've read on the requirements, it comes across like KMS (my area of experience), where the initial activation is once-off.
I know you're looking for an explicit statement but from reading the following, the implied discussions (around proxy and phone activation for isolated networks) are about as good as you're going to get from docs.microsoft.com.
It seems your best best may be the VAMT proxy activation route.
In the third article, as you read the "isolated networks" section, you can readily exchange the term "KMS" for "ADBA" in your scenario.
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/deployment/volume-activation/active-directory-based-activation-overview
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/deployment/volume-activation/activate-forest-by-proxy-vamt
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/deployment/volume-activation/plan-for-volume-activation-client
While I don't use ADBA, from what I've read on the requirements, it comes across like KMS (my area of experience), where the initial activation is once-off.
I know you're looking for an explicit statement but from reading the following, the implied discussions (around proxy and phone activation for isolated networks) are about as good as you're going to get from docs.microsoft.com.
It seems your best best may be the VAMT proxy activation route.
In the third article, as you read the "isolated networks" section, you can readily exchange the term "KMS" for "ADBA" in your scenario.
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/deployment/volume-activation/active-directory-based-activation-overview
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/deployment/volume-activation/activate-forest-by-proxy-vamt
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/deployment/volume-activation/plan-for-volume-activation-client
- kwester-ebbinghaus-businessNov 02, 2021Iron ContributorI would also plea for keeping ADBA and for these airgapped ones use VAMT 3 with a special account and proxy activation using the same method. KMS imho is only used because it is well known and MSFT still refers to it in many docs instead of ADBA and VAMT.
You can also use VAMT from Windows 11 ADK and use MAK instead on airgapped systems. It is a neat tool. Check the docs. Have updated them throughout the year.