How Houdini licensing worksThe license management system is based on a client/server model with a license server running on one server and the applications running on one or more clients. Generally the server and client are different machines on a network.
The license server software and client application may be installed together on a single machine – this is how it is used for workstation licenses.The license server (sesinetd) keeps track of the licenses and their activity (whether they are checked out or available for use). When a Houdini product needs a license, it communicates with hserver, which is a helper program running on the client.
Hserver communicates with the license server (sesinetd). It is the license server (sesinetd) that grants licenses to valid clients and collects licenses when Houdini applications terminate. If there is no hserver running on the client, Houdini will not start. On Linux and Mac OSX, hserver is started automatically when you start a Houdini application, or it can be started manually. On Windows, both hserver and the license server are started as Services named HoudiniServer and HoudiniLicenseServer respectively.Licensing diagram for a local client and a remote license server:Licensing diagram for a server and client on the same machine. Tools for Houdini licensingThe licensing tools for Houdini are:hkey: A graphical licensing tool for managing licenses. Also known as License Administrator.sesictrl: The non-graphical 'hkey'.
Linux: Ubuntu 7.10 Debian 3.1 and 4.0 (32 and 64-bit) RHEL 4 Fedora Core 6 Memory. 2 GB required. 2-4 GB+ recommended. 4-6 GB+ required for fluid simulations. Multiprocessor systems should be configured with additional RAM. Houdini supports multiprocessor compositing and rendering Processor. Houdini 12.5 includes an Ocean FX Wave tool which deforms geometry into animated oceanscapes using volumes. You can visualize the results in the viewport and either render the geometry as is or export an animated texture to use as a displacement map. The Ocean FX Wave Tank tool goes even further and lets you generate a FLIP fluid simulation.
License AcquisitionThese license acquisition tables list what licenses are checked by Houdini applications through the client helper program hserver.The tables below are based on how the client starts hserver. The column to the left refers to the product or license type that will be requested from the license server. The column on the right refers to the product that the client is asking for (based on the commands):Product NameKeystring NameExecutable Name(s)Houdini FXHoudini-Masterhoudini, houdinifxHoudini CoreHoudini-EscapehoudinicoreHoudini Engine BatchHoudini-Enginehbatch,hythonHoudini Engine Plug-inHoudini-EngineN/A open with plug-inNote that running hbatch -R will request a non-graphics token. It will not attempt to checkout a graphical token.The number in brackets indicates the order in which the licenses are checked for a given application.For more information on running hserver, please refer to the section of the License Management section of the FAQ.Client runs hserver: Licensehoudinifxhoudinicorehbatchhbatch -REngine Plug-inHoudini FXyesnoyes (4)noyes (3)Houdini Corenoyesyes (3)noyes (2)Houdini Enginenonoyes (1)yesyes (1)Client runs hserver -n (i.e.
Non-graphical only): Licensehoudinifxhoudinicorehbatchhbatch -REngine Plug-inHoudini FXnonononoyes (3)Houdini Corenonononoyes (2)Houdini Enginenonoyesyesyes (1)Client runs hserver -n -g (i.e. Relaxed non-graphical): Licensehoudinifxhoudinicorehbatchhbatch -REngine Plug-inHoudini FXyesnononoyes (3)Houdini Corenoyesnonoyes (2)Houdini Enginenonoyesyesyes (1)In order to use the following hserver options you must be running version 8.2.856 and higherClient runs hserver -G (i.e. Graphical only): Licensehoudinifxhoudinicorehbatchhbatch -REngine Plug-inHoudini FXyesnoyes (2)noyes (3)Houdini Corenoyesyes (1)noyes (2)Houdini Enginenonononoyes (1)Client runs hserver -G -g (i.e. Relaxed graphical only): Licensehoudinifxhoudinicorehbatchhbatch -REngine Plug-inHoudini FXyesnoyes (2)noyes (3)Houdini Corenoyesyes (1)noyes (2)Houdini Enginenonoyes (3)yesyes (1)Note: As of Houdini 13.0, the Houdini Batch license has been superseded by the Houdini Engine license. As of Houdini 8.2, the Non-Graphical, Render Script and Select licenses no longer exist.
Houdini Non-Graphical and Render Script are now included in the Houdini Engine license. Setup the Houdini environment for command lineIf you would like to use the command line to run certain Houdini programs and commands, you must set up what's called an 'environment'. This means that Houdini will be able to find all the directories and programs that it needs in order to run the command you tell it to (for example, sesictrl).Windows. Start menu - All Programs - Side Effects Software - Houdini version - Utilities - Command Line ToolsLinux. cd path to Houdini installation.
source houdinisetup. Example:$ cd /opt/hfs17.5.xxx$ source houdinisetupThis is useful to put into login scripts so you can have the environment setup upon login.Mac. Applications - Houdini - Houdini 17.5.xxx - Utilities - Houdini Terminal 17.5.xxx. The non-graphical License AdministratorThe License Administrator (hkey) is a GUI-based utility.
You can use to perform some of the operations that the License Administrator does. These operations are:. installation of keystrings once redeemed through.
returning of licenses. generation of diagnostic informationThe easiest way to install license entitlements is to run: sesictrl -LYou will be prompted for your licensing email login and password. After you are logged in, you can follow the instructions given to you.To manually install keystrings that have already been generated: sesictrl -I keystringA new keystring begins at the keyword: SERVER, LICENSE, INCREMENT, UPGRADE or EXTEND.For more information on how to have keystrings generated, read the section. Using sesictrl'sesictrl' is a license utility that communicates either with the local hserver or with the (possibly remote) sesinetd license daemon. If you run sesictrl with the '-h hostname' option, sesictrl will contact that host (specified by hostname) for the license information. Otherwise, it will query the local hserver as long as there is an hserver process running.
Usage: sesictrl -h host -I keyinfoInstall a license manuallyUsage: sesictrl -h host -p host -P port -A -L.Redeem license entitlementsEmail and password can be optionally specified with -A. Otherwise,prompts for a login.Entitlement name and quantity can be optionally specified.Otherwise, prompts for selection. For example, entitlement nameand quantity can be:'Houdini FX' '1'Houdini Core 17.5' '3'Render 17.5' 'all'Houdini Core' 'all'Usage: sesictrl -p host -P port -A -d idReturn a license for entitlements(Specify the 8 character license id listed by sesictrl -s.)Email and password can be optionally specified with -A. Otherwise,prompts for a login.Usage: sesictrl -h host -r servername serveridRemove server from license fileUsage: sesictrl -h host options-q Shutdown the existing license manager-Q Shutdown manager without prompting-e days When listing keys, show only keys expiring within N days-a When listing keys, show expired keys as well-i Long List licenses-n Generate server key-s Short list of licenses-p host Specify the http proxy host name for returning licenses. If$HTTPPROXY is set, you do not need to use this option.-P port Specify the http proxy port for returning licenses.-R id Relinquish a license, returning it to the pool-l file Specify log file-v Print sesinetd version-f Generate diagnostic information-V level Specify log level0 = no logging1 = errors2 = messages3 = info4 = debug-z size Specify maximum log file size-u file Specify license log file-W level Specify license log level0 = off1 = on-y size Specify maximum license log file sizesesictrl typically communicates with a sesinetd runningon a remote host. The -h option can be used to specifythe host to contact. Otherwise, sesictrl will query thehserver (if it's running) to find out what the licensehost is.Use sesictrl -help for more options.
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Sesinetd (license server program)To control the behavior of sesinetd:The file that specifies the behaviour of sesinetd is named sesinetd.options. Hserver (client program)The hserver client helper program communicates with the local or remote sesinetd (license server) program to acquire licenses. In a client/server model, hserver is the client and sesientd is the server.For firewall rules:hserver: TCP port 1714sesinetd: TCP port 1715Controlling hserverA file can control the behaviour of hserver.Linux/Mac OSX: hserver.optWindows: hserver.iniWindowsThe hserver.ini file is located:C:Program FilesSide Effects SoftwareHoudini17.5.xxxhoudinihserver.iniThis file will need to be moved to C:WindowsSystem32 to have an effect on hserver.If you are trying to start hserver from the command line or Houdini Command Line tools, you cannot just type hserver for it to start. You have to use the 'net start' and 'net stop' command, assuming your terminal has sufficient privileges. So for hserver, that would be 'net start HoudiniServer' and 'net stop HoudiniServer' respectively.LinuxThe hserver.opt file is located:/opt/hfs17.5.xxx/houdini/hserver.opt.MacThe hserver.opt file is located:/Applications/Houdini/Houdini17.5.xxx/Frameworks/Houdini.framework/Versions/Current/Resources/houdini/hserver.optHow to use hserverNote: Windows users if starting from the Command Line/Houdini Command Line you must use the net start/stop commands (see Windows section right above) to start the hserver service. Then you can pass options to it as usual. Setup client machineThe easiest setup will be to have a central license server with clients looking to that server for licenses.
Workstation licenses are node locked licenses. They cannot be floated across the network. They are restricted to the machine installed on. License a workstationApprentice and Indie users are only issued workstation (node locked) licenses. These cannot be floated across the network.Commercial clients also may have purchased workstation (node locked) licenses. These cannot be floated across the network.The steps:.Houdini onto the workstation.Houdini onto the workstation.License the computer to run your Houdini product. The easiest method is described below:By starting Houdini for the first time or without a license, you will be prompted to install either:.
Apprentice (free) license. Paid LicenseTo License Indie or a full Commercial product, choose Paid License.
The Houdini will launch.Choose the option Paid License.Select File-Install Licenses (Windows/Linux). On OSX there is no File menu option. On OSX, start the License Administrator and go to the License Administrator menu (top left) and select Install Licenses.Enter your licensing login ID and the password. This will have been sent to you by [email protected]. You will see a list of licenses to which you are entitled. Enter Quantity 1 for each product when installing to the individual computer.
Ensure to install a Render license if you wish to use Mantra.Press the Install button. Return licensesReturning licenses must be initiated by the computer itself. You cannot return licenses through your account on the website. You must use the License Administrator (hkey) or sesictrl.When you return licenses, the licenses are unregistered from the computer name and hardware. They are then put back onto your SideFX licensing account as uninstalled license entitlements.When you return a license, a disable code is calculated and written to your licenses file on the computer.
The disable code is also recorded and added to your account. Upgrade licensesUpgrades are provided to those Commercial licenses with an active support contract (AUP).Once a new point version of Houdini is released, you will be notified of your upgrades. You will need to install the upgrades to your existing licenses if you would like to use the new point release of Houdini.For example, if you have Houdini 17.0 licenses and would like to run Houdini 17.5, it is not enough that you install the Houdini 17.5 software. You will have to install the upgrades to your existing 17.0 licenses. Those licenses will need to be upgraded to 17.5.You will be able to run older versions of Houdini with 17.5 licenses (17.0 and older).You should be able to install 17.5 upgrades onto a 17.0/16.5/16.0 license server. It is, however, recommended to upgrade the license server software to 17.5.Download and install the latest or the latest.To upgrade licenses:.Launch the on the machine with the licenses to be upgraded.Select File-Install Licenses (Windows/Linux). On Mac OSX there is no File menu option.
Start the License Administrator and go to the License Administrator menu (top left) and select Install Licenses.Enter your email and password used for Houdini licensing. If you are having problems logging into your account through the License Administrator, please see the section.Press the Install button.
Note if you don't want to upgrade everything at once, make sure to type 0 in the Quantity box of the License IDs you do not wish to upgrade. No licenses are uninstalled during this process.
This will only upgrade the License IDs which have been selected.This process will generate the keystrings and install your upgrades. The keystrings will be automatically written to the licenses file on the machine.ProblemsSometimes the upgrade keystrings do not get written to the locally installed licenses file but show as redeemed on your account on the web portal.
If this is the case, you can manually install the keystrings using the License Administrator. The upgrade keystrings will begin with the word UPGRADE (in all capital letters).For example:This is an upgrade keystring to upgrade from 17.0 to 17.5 UPGRADE 3e6d2c49 17.0 17.5 735c45f6 WwkCSHzzEHKIPdfWll7f2hRRjZWugeFx0ySrtalsAECN@cARK6oKmf2Should you have any issues installing your upgrades, please contact. Move licenses to another computerIf you need to move your licenses to a different machine, follow the section to return your license back to your account at Side Effects Software.Returning the License ID will unregister the products (keystrings) from the computer name and hardware and they will be put back into your account as unredeemed entitlements which can then be installed to a different system. You may then redeem the licenses as normal onto the new machine.Each time you return a License ID, that License ID's Return Count will be reduced by 1. All License IDs have a default Return Count of 3. If you need to reset this counter please contact.
Extend licensesOnce finance has confirmed payment for your temporary licenses, you will be issued extensions to the full term listed on your invoice. Once the extensions have been installed, the new expiry date should be listed on the installed licenses.To extend your license expiry date.Launch the on the machine with the licenses to be upgraded.Select File-Install Licenses (Windows/Linux). On Mac OSX there is no File menu option. Start the License Administrator and go to the License Administrator menu (top left) and select Install Licenses.Enter your email and password used for Houdini licensing. If you are having problems logging into your account through the License Administrator, please see the section.Press the Install button.This process will generate the keystrings and install your license extensions. The keystrings will be written to the licenses file on the machine automatically.
Your licenses should have a new expiry date.ProblemsSometimes the extension keystrings do not get written to the locally installed licenses file but show as redeemed on your account on the web portal. If this is the case, you can manually install the keystrings using the License Administrator. The extension keystrings will begin with the word EXTEND (in all capital letters).For example:This is an extension keystring to extend the license rental from March 14, 2019 to March 14, 2020 EXTEND 3e6d2c49 13-mar-2019 13-mar-2020 915f251a bd8a7ee103745dafb6ad98b3f5b27e0da656c509c0819Should you have any issues installing your expiry date extensions, please contact. Firewall setupThe following TCP/IP ports are used for Houdini. HoudiniLicenseServer (sesientd): TCP port 1715. HoudiniServer (hserver): TCP port 1714To test port connectivity to the license server portWindowsOpen the PowerShell and type the name or the IP address of the license server.If you have Apprentice, Indie or Commercial workstation licenses, the license server/IP address will be your local machine.
If you connect to a remote license server, you will use that machine name or IP address.Test-NetConnection license-server-name-or-IP -Port 1715If the client program HoudiniServer (hserver) cannot communicate with the HoudiniLicneseServer(sesinetd) you will see a message similar to:WARNING: TCP connect to computer-or-IP:1715 failedLinux or OSXIf you have Apprentice, Indie or Commercial workstation licenses, the license server/IP address will be your local machine. If you connect to a remote license server, you will use that machine name or IP address.In a Terminal type:nc -v license-server-name-or-IP 1715If the client program HoudiniServer (hserver) can communicate with the HoudiniLicneseServer(sesinetd) you will see a message similar to:Connection to computer-name 1715 port tcp/. succeeded! HTTP ProxyThe Houdini License Administrator can be told to use an HTTP proxy to access the internet if your site is configured this way. Find out your HTTP proxy host name and port by looking at your web browser's settings. Select File - Preferences.
In the License Administrator. Turn on the toggle to use an HTTP proxy, and enter the proxy host name and portThese settings will be saved for the next time you use the License Administrator.If you require a login to use Proxy at your site, the HTTP Proxy in the License Administrator will not work. You will need to follow the section. Licensing across networks (including VPN)Ensure that your license IP masks are set to match your network type (class B, class C, or a specific list of subnets). If not, contact. They will instruct you to return your licenses so that they can be rekeyed.Obtaining licenses requires two processes. One being the actual 'checkout' of the license, which is handled by the IP mask of the license installed.
The second being the ability to read from the license server itself. Setup License Server LoggingIf you would like to be able to have a log of license activity or to debug a problem you may have with the license server, you can setup logging on the license server.Windows. Create a file named sesinetd.options in C:Windowssystem32. Enter the following options in sesinetd.options: -V 2 -z 25000000 -l C:sesinetd.log.
Restart the HoudiniLicenseServer serviceRefer to the sectionThe above will put the logfile in C.You can set the logfile to a different location.Linux. Logging is setup automatically. The file is /var/log/sesinetd.log.Mac.Edit the sesinetd.options file located in: /Applications/Houdini/Houdini17.5.xxx/Frameworks/Houdini.framework/Versions/Current/Resources/houdini/sbin.Append the location of the logfile you wish to use (ie. /var/log/sesinetd.log) to the existing line in the file. Manually install licensesFrom the license server machine (or from a client that has write-access to the license server):. Open the License Administrator (hkey). Select File - Manually Enter Keys.
Copy and Paste each keystring into a text box using Ctrl+V and press OKMake sure you copy the entire keystring. Failing to do so will cause Houdini not to function.Each keystring needs to be entered on a separate line in the License Administrator GUI.A new keystring begins at the keyword: SERVER, LICENSE, INCREMENT, UPGRADE or EXTEND.
Reinstall licensesSometimes the licenses file may get deleted, the disk may get reformatted, or the operating system may get reinstalled. In such cases, the licenses will be removed from the computer. To reinstall the licenses, the computer name must be the same as the original name for which the licenses have been issued. Then you can use License Administrator to reinstall the lost keys. Open the License Administrator (hkey). Select File - Install Licenses. Log in.
In the dialog click on the 'Licenses' tab. Select the checkboxes for the licenses that you want to reinstall (this table lists all the missing non-expired licenses that match your computer name). Select the checkbox to reinstall the SERVER key as well (just in case it is missing too). Press Install buttonThis should reinstall the selected licenses on your computer. If you don't have the internet connection, you will need to reinstall the licenses by manually entering the keys. Reinstall the SERVER keySometimes the SERVER key may become invalid if you change the computer name or upgrade your hardware. Changing the computer name is not advisable unless all the licenses have been returned.
Most common reason for invalid SERVER key, then, is hardware upgrade that changes the server code (server id).To install a new valid SERVER key for your computer, please follow these steps:. Open the License Administrator (hkey). Select File - Install Licenses.
Log in. In the dialog box click on the 'Licenses' tab. Select the checkbox to reinstall the SERVER key. Press Install buttonThis should reinstall the new SERVER key for your computer.
How to run sesinetd on a different TCP portAs of Houdini 17.0 you can run the license server on a different port than the default 1715.You will need to specify the port number in the file.Clients connect to the license server with host:portnumberFor example, add the -p option to the existing sesinetd.options file (or create one if there is none).V 2 -z 1048576 -m +.+.,192.168.,10.,172.p 27056Note your -m switch may be different if running a custom subnet mask in your keystrings. In this example we are listing the default LAL subnets.You will need to restart the HoudiniLicenseServer service (sesinetd) for it to listen on the new port.The client machine will then use the License Administrator to connect to the server name:port or use hserver to make the change:hserver -S servername:27056. Running older Houdini versionsHoudini is backwards compatible. Older versions of Houdini will run with the most recent license.For example, if you have a Houdini 17.5 license, you will be able to open Houdini 17.5 and older (17.0, 16.5, 16.0 etc.).If installing older versions of Houdini, make sure to not install the licensing component as it will overwrite the latest licensing mechanism. You will need to have the latest license server software and licenses.
Installing older versions will overwrite this.If you do overwrite the latest licensing software then you just have to reinstall the latest Houdini version again. Silent install/uninstallFor silent installs run the installer with /? For documentation: houdini-17.5.xxx-win64.exe /?The /Registry option ('Yes' or 'No', default 'Yes') controls whether or not the installer will create Registry keys when installing Houdini. This mostly impacts whether or not the version of Houdini will show up in the Add/Remove Programs list.It is recommended to use the defaults unless you have specific needs, such as installing Houdini on a shared network path. You cannot cannot define the 'License Server Path' with the /Registry option.To set the License ServerLinux and Mac:There is an environment variable called SESILMHOST to set the license serverWindows:The best solution is to modify the registry:reg add 'hklmsoftwareSide Effects SoftwareHoudini' /v LicenseServer /t regsz /d server-name /fTo uninstall:Run the uninstall.exe located in Program Files - Side Effects Software - houdini 17.5.xxx.Type /? For optionsType /S for silent.