Apprentice Users

Apprentice users will not have an account containing licenses so Apprentice users cannot log into the License Administrator (hkey).
When Houdini Apprentice is first launched, the user will be prompted to install the free license.

Indie, Education and Commercial users

Try resetting your password at www.sidefx.com/password/reset.
By resetting the password, it will unify the login credentials for both the website and licensing system.

If you encounter the Render error:"No licenses could be found to run this application. Please check for a valid license server host"?

You need to make sure to have the Render license installed.

If running Houdini Indie or Houdini Apprentice, the render license will be listed as Render (NC) which means non-commercial render.

If you are trying to render using the most recent version of Houdini, the render license must also be at the current version.

For example, if you are trying to render in a Houdini 17.5 session, Mantra will look for a version 17.5 Render license.

Houdini licenses are backwards compatible. This means that you can run older versions of Houdini using the most recent licensed version.

For example, Houdini 17.0 or below will open with a version 17.5 license.

This is true for all Houdini products - FX, Core, Engine, Indie, Apprentice

Steps for moving a locally installed license from one machine to another

Overview

Houdini licenses are registered to both the computer hardware and computer name. To use your licenses on another machine, it is not enough that you uninstall Houdini from the computer.

Returning Licenses

You will need to return the licenses by returning them back to your account at SideFX using the License Administrator or sesictrl.

To use sesictrl:

sesictrl return-license LicenseID

Substitute LicenseID for your license to be returned.

Install licenses on new machine

Once the licenses have been released from the computer, they are returned to your SideFX license account.

They will show on the account as uninstalled license entitlements.

You can then use the License Administrator on the new computer to install the returned licenses.

Done! You have moved your licenses

NOTE:

• You cannot use the web portal to move your licenses.
• Licenses must be moved from the machine with the licenses, using the License Administrator or sesictrl.
• For more information, please see Return licenses.

This usually means that the client helper program, hserver, is not running.

On Windows, verify that you have the service HoudiniServer listed in Services and that it has started. You can go to Services through Control Panel->Administrative Tools. If it's not listed, ensure that there is a program called hserver.exe located in C:\Program Files\Side Effects Software\Houdini Server. In older Houdini versions, the hserver.exe is located in C:/Windows/System32.

On Linux, make sure that hserver is listed in the process list. If not, you can start it by typing hserver when you've sourced the Houdini environment.

In more recent Houdini versions (21.0+), hserver is installed as a systemd service on Linux systems. Ensure that the systemd hserver.service is running or restarted.

You can also use the License Administrator's Services section to start or restart hserver.

Houdini is using a Houdini License Server (sesinetd.exe) and a Houdini License Client (hserver.exe) to verify its licensing. Houdini uses TCP/IP to communicate with these processes, and if it unable to connect to either of them, it prints error messages. There are a few reasons why Houdini is not able to connect to hserver. The most common reasons are:

• Houdini License Server (sesinetd/sesinetd.exe) is not running
• Houdini License Client (hserver/hserver.exe) is not running
• The firewall blocks the communication on ports 1714 and 1715
• If installing the license server and client on the same machine, it could be that Houdini wasn't installed using administrative privileges(root/Administrator).

Note
There was an issue with older builds of Houdini 21.0 and the Launcher not allowing certain web browsers to communicate with the local hserver. Please refer to Something went wrong connecting to hserver: Could not connect, perhaps it is not running for a workaround.

Please rename your computer to something other than localhost.

localhost is a hostname that means this computer. It is reserved for loopback purposes only. It is used to access the network services that are running on the host via the loopback network interface (127.0.0.1).

Upgrades modify the version on an existing license, and extensions modify the expiry date. They are used for Indie, Education, and Commercial rentals or Commercial licenses on the annual upgrade plan (AUP).

Sometimes the upgrades or extensions do not get written properly to the locally installed licenses file.

There are a few ways to have your local licenses file to be synchronized with your SideFX account so your machine properly reflects the account status.

You can use the License Administrator to synchronize the licenses with your SideFX license account.

You can also download and import the .hlic file to your machine to reflect your SideFX account status.

If you have any questions about a license that should have been upgraded or extended and has not, please contact your account manager or support@sidefx.com.

Make sure to have the Render license installed.

If running Houdini Indie or Houdini Apprentice, the render license will be listed as Renderer (NC) meaning non-commercial render.

If you are trying to render using the most recent version of Houdini, the render license must also be at the current version.

For example, if you are trying to render in a Houdini 18.0 session, Mantra will look for a version 18.0 Render license.

Houdini licenses are backwards compatible. This means that you can run older versions of Houdini using the most recent licensed version. For example, Houdini 18.0 or below will open with a version 18.0 license.

This is true for all Houdini products - FX, Core, Engine, Mantra, Indie, Apprentice

Houdini licenses are tied to the machine name and hardware. Rename your computer back to the original name associated with your Houdini licenses.

If you would like to rename your computer, return the all the licenses back to your account at SideFX using the License Administrator.

This will release the licenses from the current machine. They will be placed back into your SideFX licensing account as uninstalled entitlements which can then be installed onto a different computer or different machine name.

Please see How do I return my licenses?

Your Indie or full Commercial Houdini file is saved as Apprentice Non-Commercial (.hipnc):

• Ensure that you don't have any Houdini Digital Assets (hda) saved in non-commercial format (.hdanc).
• The asset could also be saved with the .hda extension but still in non-commercial format.
• An asset in non-commercial format will downgrade your Indie or Commercial Houdini session.
• Any assets in the otls folder will be automatically loaded. It will be a good idea to check in this folder first for any non-commercial assets accidentally saved.

Location of the otls folder

Windows: C:\Users\your-username\Documents\houdini{{latest_houdini_version}}\otls

OSX: /Users/your-username/Library/Preferences/houdini/{{latest_houdini_version}}/otls

Linux: /home/your-username/houdini{{latest_houdini_version}}/otls

The SERVER code is used to generate the SERVER keystring which installs when you license Houdini. This is to authenticate the hardware to run Houdini licenses.

Sometimes these virtual network adapters change how Houdini chooses the primary network device on each reboot, causing the server code to change.

• Open the Command Prompt.
• Type: ipconfig /all
• Check if you have any virtual or VPN devices in your network adapters (for example, one could be Hyper-V Virtual Ethernet Adapter).
• Try disabling the device and reboot a few times to ensure that the server code remains consistent.

This is due to an unsupported operating system.

This error has most often been seen on those running CentOS 6.x and trying to run Houdini 18.0, including the license server. You will need to upgrade the operating system.

There is no installer for Houdini 18.0 (including license server) for CentOS 6.x.

Please refer to the System Requirements.

For Education and Commercial users

Temporary licenses are first issued. Once payment is confirmed, license extensions are issued for the full duration of the invoice.

You will need to install your license extensions for the new expiry date to be applied.

If you have any questions, please contact your account manager or sales@sidefx.com.

OSX has a feature in that it will allow remote network routers to change the machine name.

Houdini licenses are dependent on the machine hardware and machine name. If the machine name changes, this will invalidate the licenses.

Apprentice, Indie and Commercial Workstation licenses will look to the local machine.

Apprentice users:

Launch the License Administrator and select File->Change Server and press the Local Server button. Ensure it matches your current machine name.

Indie or Commercial Workstation users:

Launch the License Administrator and select File->Change Server and press the Local Server button.
Ensure that the server name matches the machine name associated with your licenses.

If the machine name is different, you will need to rename your machine back to the original to what the licenses were registered with.

If you want to change your machine name, you will need to release the licenses first: FAQ

Builds prior to 18.5.462 are known to have issues specifically when using Houdini with VPN.

Try upgrading your Houdini build to a recent Daily Build. Also include to install the license server component if you're using a local license server.
Bug fixes are routinely added and are included in these more up-to-date builds.

It is a good idea to periodically check our change log for bug fixes and features released when it comes to the Licensing category. You can even specify the build numbers you would like to check between.

For Windows users:

Check that your antivirus software or firewall is allowing communication between sesinetd.exe and hserver.exe.
These two programs will need to be whitelisted.

For OSX users:

Sometimes remote network routers will change the machine name.
If your licenses installed locally to the machine and the machine name changes, they will become invalid.
If you would like to use sidefx.com to host your licenses, please refer to our Login-Based Licensing FAQ.

To fix:

1. Launch the License Administrator.
2. Select File->Change License Server.
3. Ensure the license server(s) your machine is set to use is correct machine name associated with your licenses.
4. You may need to rename your computer back to the original name your licenses are assigned to.

For all users:

Sometimes you may have an issue where the machine is set to look only to sidefx.com for licenses but you have licenses installed locally.
Use the License Administrator to look to your machine for licenses.
If you would like to use sidefx.com to host your licenses, please refer to our Login-Based Licensing FAQ.

1. Launch the License Administrator.
2. Select File->Change License Server.
3. Ensure the license server(s) your machine is set to use is correct machine name.

Please refer to this FAQ.

The free Houdini license is for running Houdini Engine for Unreal and Unity, not Houdini.

Houdini Engine is a non-graphical version of Houdini FX. It does not allow you to open the Houdini interface. It will let you take existing (pre-made) Houdini Digital Assets, (you can get these at Orbolt.com), and load them into UE5 or Unity.

You can learn more about how Houdini Engine for Unreal and Unity works here.

If you try and open the Houdini interface without purchasing the Houdini FX or Houdini Core license, it will prompt you to install the free Houdini-Apprentice license.

If you are an Apprentice user, the License Administrator File->Login function will not work. This is reserved for Indie and full Commercial Houdini users.

The easiest solution would be to remove the current licenses file and launch Apprentice to go through the licensing process once again.

Most likely something is blocking the connection to the local or remote sesinetd.exe license server program. We have seen issues with security software such as Avast and AVG blocking Houdini. Please check your security software and please whitelist sesinetd.exe (TCP port 1715) and hserver.exe (TCP port 1714).

Ensure that the services HoudiniServer and HoudiniLicenseServer are in the running state in services.msc.

One way to test is through the Power Shell:

netstat -an | findstr 1715

The above command tests if the license server daemon is listening on the port.

Next launch the Command Line Tool shipped with Houdini (hcmd.exe) and type:

sesictrl ping

or

sesictrl ping http://machine-name:1715

Please substitute your machine name above where it says machine-name.

If this does not report back Successfully pinged, please check your antivirus/firewall settings.

Please watch your email for a message from licensemanager@sidefx.com notifying you that your license entitlements are available to redeem.

The licenses will be visible (and available to redeem) on the requested Start Date.

In order to update your email*:

1. Log into www.sidefx.com with your username

2. Click the top-right profile icon

3. Select “My Profile”

4. Click the gear icon to edit your information

5. Click "Update Email"

This will help ensure that the following items are kept associated with your most up-to-date email address:

• Licensing permissions

• Email notifications about your licenses

• Release emails

• Forum posts

• History of completed tutorials

*If you have also moved companies, please contact your SideFX Account Representative to associate your details with the appropriate account.