Houdini license error

Deadline
1

Hello,

I’m trying to setup Deadline for Houdini, and encountering an error:

=======================================================
Error
=======================================================
No licenses could be found to run this application
   at Deadline.Plugins.PluginWrapper.RenderTasks(Task task, String& outMessage, AbortLevel& abortLevel)

=======================================================
Type
=======================================================
RenderPluginException

=======================================================
Stack Trace
=======================================================
   at Deadline.Plugins.SandboxedPlugin.d(DeadlineMessage bgt, CancellationToken bgu)
   at Deadline.Plugins.SandboxedPlugin.RenderTask(Task task, CancellationToken cancellationToken)
   at Deadline.Slaves.SlaveRenderThread.c(TaskLogWriter ajx, CancellationToken ajy)

=======================================================
Log
=======================================================
2024-11-02 09:33:12:  0: Loading Job's Plugin timeout is Disabled
2024-11-02 09:33:12:  0: SandboxedPlugin: Render Job As User disabled, running as current user 'loksa'
2024-11-02 09:33:16:  0: Executing plugin command of type 'Initialize Plugin'
2024-11-02 09:33:16:  0: INFO: Executing plugin script 'C:\ProgramData\Thinkbox\Deadline10\workers\Aftershock-PC\plugins\6725572436292bedb026276f\Houdini.py'
2024-11-02 09:33:16:  0: INFO: Plugin execution sandbox using Python version 3
2024-11-02 09:33:16:  0: INFO: About: Houdini Plugin for Deadline
2024-11-02 09:33:16:  0: INFO: The job's environment will be merged with the current environment before rendering
2024-11-02 09:33:16:  0: Done executing plugin command of type 'Initialize Plugin'
2024-11-02 09:33:16:  0: Start Job timeout is disabled.
2024-11-02 09:33:16:  0: Task timeout is disabled.
2024-11-02 09:33:16:  0: Loaded job: TestRubberToy - /out/mantra1 (6725572436292bedb026276f)
2024-11-02 09:33:16:  0: Executing plugin command of type 'Start Job'
2024-11-02 09:33:16:  0: DEBUG: S3BackedCache Client is not installed.
2024-11-02 09:33:16:  0: INFO: Executing global asset transfer preload script 'C:\ProgramData\Thinkbox\Deadline10\workers\Aftershock-PC\plugins\6725572436292bedb026276f\GlobalAssetTransferPreLoad.py'
2024-11-02 09:33:16:  0: INFO: Looking for legacy (pre-10.0.26) AWS Portal File Transfer...
2024-11-02 09:33:16:  0: INFO: Looking for legacy (pre-10.0.26) File Transfer controller in C:/Program Files/Thinkbox/S3BackedCache/bin/task.py...
2024-11-02 09:33:16:  0: INFO: Could not find legacy (pre-10.0.26) AWS Portal File Transfer.
2024-11-02 09:33:16:  0: INFO: Legacy (pre-10.0.26) AWS Portal File Transfer is not installed on the system.
2024-11-02 09:33:16:  0: Done executing plugin command of type 'Start Job'
2024-11-02 09:33:16:  0: Plugin rendering frame(s): 1
2024-11-02 09:33:17:  0: Executing plugin command of type 'Render Task'
2024-11-02 09:33:17:  0: INFO: Starting Houdini Job
2024-11-02 09:33:17:  0: INFO: Stdout Redirection Enabled: True
2024-11-02 09:33:17:  0: INFO: Stdout Handling Enabled: True
2024-11-02 09:33:17:  0: INFO: Popup Handling Enabled: True
2024-11-02 09:33:17:  0: INFO: QT Popup Handling Enabled: False
2024-11-02 09:33:17:  0: INFO: WindowsForms10.Window.8.app.* Popup Handling Enabled: False
2024-11-02 09:33:17:  0: INFO: Using Process Tree: True
2024-11-02 09:33:17:  0: INFO: Hiding DOS Window: True
2024-11-02 09:33:17:  0: INFO: Creating New Console: False
2024-11-02 09:33:17:  0: INFO: Running as user: loksa
2024-11-02 09:33:17:  0: INFO: Executable: "C:\Program Files\Side Effects Software\Houdini 20.5.392\bin\hython.exe"
2024-11-02 09:33:17:  0: INFO: Argument: "C:\ProgramData\Thinkbox\Deadline10\workers\Aftershock-PC\plugins\6725572436292bedb026276f\hrender_dl.py" -f 1 1 1 -o "$HIP/render/$HIPNAME.$OS.$F4.exr" -g -d /out/mantra1 -tempdir "C:\ProgramData\Thinkbox\Deadline10\workers\Aftershock-PC\jobsData\6725572436292bedb026276f\0_temp10EDd0" -arnoldAbortOnLicenseFail 1 "C:/ProgramData/Thinkbox/Deadline10/workers/Aftershock-PC/jobsData/6725572436292bedb026276f/testdeadline.hipnc"
2024-11-02 09:33:17:  0: INFO: Full Command: "C:\Program Files\Side Effects Software\Houdini 20.5.392\bin\hython.exe" "C:\ProgramData\Thinkbox\Deadline10\workers\Aftershock-PC\plugins\6725572436292bedb026276f\hrender_dl.py" -f 1 1 1 -o "$HIP/render/$HIPNAME.$OS.$F4.exr" -g -d /out/mantra1 -tempdir "C:\ProgramData\Thinkbox\Deadline10\workers\Aftershock-PC\jobsData\6725572436292bedb026276f\0_temp10EDd0" -arnoldAbortOnLicenseFail 1 "C:/ProgramData/Thinkbox/Deadline10/workers/Aftershock-PC/jobsData/6725572436292bedb026276f/testdeadline.hipnc"
2024-11-02 09:33:17:  0: INFO: Startup Directory: "C:\Program Files\Side Effects Software\Houdini 20.5.392\bin"
2024-11-02 09:33:17:  0: INFO: Process Priority: BelowNormal
2024-11-02 09:33:17:  0: INFO: Process Affinity: default
2024-11-02 09:33:17:  0: INFO: Process is now running
2024-11-02 09:33:29:  0: STDOUT: Detected Houdini version: (20, 5, 392)
2024-11-02 09:33:29:  0: STDOUT: ['C:\\ProgramData\\Thinkbox\\Deadline10\\workers\\Aftershock-PC\\plugins\\6725572436292bedb026276f\\hrender_dl.py', '-f', '1', '1', '1', '-o', '$HIP/render/$HIPNAME.$OS.$F4.exr', '-g', '-d', '/out/mantra1', '-tempdir', 'C:\\ProgramData\\Thinkbox\\Deadline10\\workers\\Aftershock-PC\\jobsData\\6725572436292bedb026276f\\0_temp10EDd0', '-arnoldAbortOnLicenseFail', '1', 'C:/ProgramData/Thinkbox/Deadline10/workers/Aftershock-PC/jobsData/6725572436292bedb026276f/testdeadline.hipnc']
2024-11-02 09:33:29:  0: STDOUT: Start: 1
2024-11-02 09:33:29:  0: STDOUT: End: 1
2024-11-02 09:33:29:  0: STDOUT: Increment: 1
2024-11-02 09:33:29:  0: STDOUT: Ignore Inputs: True
2024-11-02 09:33:29:  0: STDOUT: Output: $HIP/render/$HIPNAME.$OS.$F4.exr
2024-11-02 09:33:29:  0: STDOUT: Driver: /out/mantra1
2024-11-02 09:33:29:  0: STDOUT: Input File: C:/ProgramData/Thinkbox/Deadline10/workers/Aftershock-PC/jobsData/6725572436292bedb026276f/testdeadline.hipnc
2024-11-02 09:33:29:  0: STDOUT: Warnings were generated during load.
2024-11-02 09:33:29:  0: STDOUT: Error loading: C:/ProgramData/Thinkbox/Deadline10/workers/Aftershock-PC/jobsData/6725572436292bedb026276f/testdeadline.hipnc
2024-11-02 09:33:29:  0: STDOUT: Warning:     The following node types are using incomplete asset definitions:
2024-11-02 09:33:29:  0: STDOUT:     Driver/deadline
2024-11-02 09:33:29:  0: STDOUT: Begin Path Mapping
2024-11-02 09:33:32:  0: STDOUT: b''
2024-11-02 09:33:34:  0: STDOUT: b''
2024-11-02 09:33:34:  0: STDOUT: End Path Mapping
2024-11-02 09:33:34:  0: STDOUT: ROP type: ifd
2024-11-02 09:33:34:  0: STDOUT: Enabled Alfred style progress
2024-11-02 09:33:34:  0: STDOUT: Set verbosity to 3
2024-11-02 09:33:34:  0: STDOUT: Rendering frame 1
2024-11-02 09:33:35:  0: STDOUT: No licenses could be found to run this application.
2024-11-02 09:33:35:  0: STDOUT: 	Please check for a valid license server host
2024-11-02 09:33:35:  0: STDOUT: Error: Caught exception: The attempted operation failed.
2024-11-02 09:33:35:  0: STDOUT: Error:       Command Exit Code: 3
2024-11-02 09:33:35:  0: STDOUT: Traceback (most recent call last):
2024-11-02 09:33:35:  0: STDOUT:   File "C:\ProgramData\Thinkbox\Deadline10\workers\Aftershock-PC\plugins\6725572436292bedb026276f\hrender_dl.py", line 875, in <module>
2024-11-02 09:33:35:  0: STDOUT:     rop.render( frameTuple, resolution, ignore_inputs=ignoreInputs )
2024-11-02 09:33:35:  0: STDOUT:   File "C:\PROGRA~1/SIDEEF~1/HOUDIN~1.392/houdini/python3.11libs\hou.py", line 80804, in render
2024-11-02 09:33:35:  0: STDOUT:     return _hou.RopNode_render(self, *args, **kwargs)
2024-11-02 09:33:35:  0: STDOUT:            ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
2024-11-02 09:33:35:  0: STDOUT: hou.OperationFailed: The attempted operation failed.
2024-11-02 09:33:35:  0: STDOUT: Error:       Command Exit Code: 3
2024-11-02 09:33:35:  0: Done executing plugin command of type 'Render Task'

=======================================================
Details
=======================================================
Date: 11/02/2024 09:33:39
Frames: 1
Elapsed Time: 00:00:00:27
Job Submit Date: 11/02/2024 09:33:07
Job User: loksangho
Average RAM Usage: 16715124736 (25%)
Peak RAM Usage: 16755019776 (25%)
Average CPU Usage: 5%
Peak CPU Usage: 7%
Used CPU Clocks (x10^6 cycles): 113259
Total CPU Clocks (x10^6 cycles): 2265167

=======================================================
Worker Information
=======================================================
Worker Name: Aftershock-PC
Version: v10.4.0.8 Release (48b7b8ab1)
Operating System: Windows 11 Pro
Running As Service: No
Machine User: loksa
IP Address: 2001:8003:262a:c700:4f7:f18:8acb:2acd
MAC Address: 4C:03:4F:A0:0A:D7
CPU Architecture: x64
CPUs: 24
CPU Usage: 4%
Memory Usage: 15.6 GB / 63.1 GB (24%)
Free Disk Space: 1.991 TB (589.104 GB on C:\, 1.416 TB on D:\)
Video Card: AMD Radeon(TM) Graphics

I have asked SideFX/Houdini but they couldn’t provide a working solution, is it a setting in Deadline itself? The licenses are all setup properly as far as I know.

2

do you have ‘Houdini Engine’ licenses on that machine or are you pointing to a server? does running hkey as that user on that machine reveal an available license?

You need a Houdini Engine license as well as a Mantra/Karma/Redshift etc license if you render this way. If you want to render just IFD’s you need to run the export locally and submit dependent job option.

3

Yes, I have Houdini Engine license, Karma and Mantra licenses (1 of each) installed on that machine, locally.

It seems that when I put the Houdini Education license in that machine as well, it gives a different error, but at least that license issue is resolved. However, that wasn’t my initial intended setup.

4

you’re not supposed to mix houdini licenses and file versions, this could be the issue. hipnc, hiplc & hip shouldn’t be used in the same environment, I’m not sure which direction you’re sending these but this could be the problem

5

I didn’t mix it up, I’ve been using hipnc to create and submit to the farm all along.

6

I’m not sure I understood the previous reply then, It sounds ike you had a license locally, and you added an education license as well,

If you’re not using a license server and pointing it to the server then you do need to either install a local license or use the online sidefx server.

There could have been an issue with hserver not running and/or receiving the license which got resolved by (re)installing the license.

7

Yes, so the previous setup was: 1 Houdini Engine, 1 Karma and 1 Mantra, installed locally. That didn’t work.

Then I returned my Houdini Education license on my other computer, installed that on this computer. It ‘worked’ (with another unrelated error).

I’ll try to return that Houdini Education license again and see if your theory about hserver not running holds true or not.