I have 96GB of RAM.
While running a Pyro Simulation at some point the RAM is filled up completely and it seems to try to use my C Drive for compensation.
Is there a way to get Houdini to use another drive than the system drive for this type of scenario?
Or what would the workflow be instead? Is my pyro sim to big?

I am using the DOP import fields node with a file cache node and deactivated the cache on the dop network node itself which helped a lot as now I am able to get to frame 64 when previously it would fill up my RAM at frame 40.
But now I am out of ideas and RAM for that matter…

With defining HOUDINI_TEMP_DIR global variable you can change your default temp folder to another drive.
Also you can save your caches directly to specify path via caching setting on AutoDopNetwork too.

Hopefully, this helps someone else as I found it hard to understand how too change my Cache drive globally without a full explanation, as when reading other forums I thought I needed to create an Environment Variable as well as change the houdini.env file to make this work.
However, I believe the houdini.env file is for other changes, or possibly maybe does work to redirect the cache, but it seems on other forums hasn't been working for everyone.
You can find it here (C:\Users\*username*\Documents\houdini18.0\houdini.env)

Anyway here's how I changed my cache drive On Windows 10 using Houdini 18

Right-click on “This PC” (My computer on older versions)
Click properties
click advanced system settings
Click Environment Variables

Here is where we will create a new variable to redirect the cache.

Under User Variables (Top Box) Click “New”
Variable name: HOUDINI_TEMP_DIR
Click Browse Directory
Choose whichever drive you want with a folder for your cache
e.g D:\Media Cache\Houdini Cache
Click OK
Click OK

And now it should be redirected.
I would suggest to now also clear your old cache folder to clean up your old drive.

This was possibly super over-explained for some people, but hopefully, it helps others who were confused like I was.
Thanks

Hi,

Bumping up this as I have the same problem.

I cannot define a $CACHE location. It adds it but keeps writing the data on C:\

Steps I did:
- Added this line on houdini.env

- Added on jump.pref

- Then tried adding the last suggestion in setting variable in windows, didn't work either.

Any ideas? thanks