Activating Server Core 2008 R2

So, I’ve got my server core DC all up and running. Works like a champ, and I love the low overhead of the machine.

Time to activate.

Sander Berkouwer has a great write up over here that he wrote back in ’08.
I’ll just put up the basics of activating using a CD key.

Check activation status:
start /w slmgr.vbs -dli

Install a CD key:
start /w slmgr.vbs -ipk ABCDE-FGHIJ-KLMNO-PQRST-UVWXY

Activate the product:
start /w slmgr.vbs -ato

Easy enough eh?