My Houdini Master and all the other products were working properly at first; but today when I went to use to install new non-commercial license it will not install license so I can use it. I keep getting the same error. Can't install license. Has anyone else had this problem? I even tried to install manually by obtaining the new non-commercial keys but that told me " This may not have installed because you already have a license key.

Please help.

I'm having some problems as well. My workstation doesn't have a net connection so I use SESI's license page. I tried to get a new one today and the keys seem to be invalid. Nothing has changed on my end, so maybe the license generator is wonky?

I just figured out all my licenses have expired; but, I thought it said that you could use the “Apprentice software indefinitely. My licenses expired on January 25, 2005 and I forgot this is February 10, 2005. It will not let me install the new licenses it gave me for my machine. So the only way I got it to work was by ”Changing the date on my computer back to dates that were before Jan. 25th and it worked perfectly. But I am still baffled because the "Apprentice program is suppossed to be indefinite to use.

You need to aquire a new license every 30 days. Setting back the clock is not a great solution obviously. Do you get an error message other than this when you try to install the new license?

Key 1:
Install Error: Invalid license key specified
ERROR: Key installation failed
Key 2:
Install Error: Invalid license key specified
ERROR: Key installation failed

I've already tried generating the license again, thinking that maybe I had mistyped the server code, but nope.

Well I'll tell you like this; this is the solution that I had to come up with on my own; besides when I changed the date on my computer I also had to go to start>control panel>Administrative tools>services> and restart the Houdini license client and houdini license server. Furthermore, what is baffling me is that I know somebody in this community has have to had this happen before but, know one has helped us or directed us to a recent post. I know even though they said this could be indefinite they also said they can stop renewing at anytime. Could this be it? And why?

I have check every possible problem and plus did a search on google to see if anyone has had this problem. I have to do the temporary solution for now and figure out the sidetracks later. I'm pretty shore if we keep searching we will find out why this is happening. Good luck.

CSIL-specific notes

In order to access the Web from the CSIL, you will have to set up your favorite web browser to use an HTTP proxy. The proxy server is proxy.sfu.ca port 8080. You will have to enter your ACS (CSIL) username and password to get through the proxy.
Houdini

Houdini lives in /usr/local/pkg/Houdini/Houdini_v7.0/ on the CSIL lab graphics workstations. In order to run Houdini, you first have to set up the Houdini working environment:

% cd /usr/local/pkg/Houdini/Houdini_v7.0
% source houdini_setup

The Houdini apprentice edition that we are using requires a per-person, per-machine 30-day (renewable) license. Because of security restrictions on the CSIL network, the normal licensing procedure does not work. Please follow the instructions below for now. We are looking into ways of making this easier in the future.

(1) Save this script to your home directory and give it execute permissions (chmod +x houdini_start.csh). This script will set up your Houdini environment, start the Houdini license server, and register the the license you will obtain in step 2.

(2a) run

% ./hkey
Go to the menu ->, and in the window, click on , then and quit.

(2b) To obtain your license to run Houdini on a particular machine, run sesictrl -n to obtain the name and ID code of the machine you will use. The required code is the 8-digit code at the end of the program output. Visit this web site, enter the name and code and submit it. You will get three lines of text that look something like this:

SERVER foo.csil.sfu.ca f1356200 d7348b0hg8fef2b43c9ma4dffg5d1w3242w4b16e65c67
LICENSE Generic Houdini-Master-NonCommercial 5.5 1 14-feb-2003 +.+.+.+ foo.csil.sfu.ca defyc369 e7915f745d6me6s54mb73sm557m70s654fm74s67d1443
LICENSE Generic Render-NonCommercial 5.5 1 14-feb-2003 +.+.+.+ foo.csil.sfu.ca 79gd5859 2d41ae5654n1sanb4f5fnordt346ot5ns9r9b34cccb97

Copy and paste these three lines (not these ones, but the ones you got from the aforementioned website!) to a text file and save it in your account. Make sure the long lines are not broken up into multiple lines.

(3) Run the start script from step 1 with the name of the file you saved the license data to. For example, if you saved the data to license_emerald.txt in step 2, run houdini_start.csh license_emerald.txt.

(4) To verify that everything worked, run the command sesictrl -i and look at the output. It should show something like this:

—– SERVER foo.csil.sfu.ca ——–
Lic 18a52112: 1 “Houdini-Master-NonCommercial 5.5” Generic 18-feb-2003 +.+.+.+
1 licenses free

Lic 4fe1da85: 1 “Render-NonCommercial 5.5” Generic 18-feb-2003 +.+.+.+
1 licenses free

(5) To start Houdini, just type houdini.

(6) When you are done, do killall sesinetd hserver to stop your license daemons. This is to prevent them from causing problems for other Houdini users.

If your license runs out (30 days) or you log into a different machine, you will have to repeat steps 2-6. Otherwise, you should only have to do steps 3, 5 and 6.
AL

Our license generator was indeed having problems generating licenses. We believe the problem is fixed now. Sorry for the inconvenience.

Hmm, at the moment it's still spitting out the same license for me.

Yes, others are experiencing the same licensing issue. Houdini's licenseing server is not fixed and the replie up above to fix this is too complex for me. I wish I understood what Verdell32 was talking about. I am not a tech. person in this area. I am going through withdrawls from Houdini though.

I would just like to thank Lucas for writing back because your input on the situation is more valuable than mine. I am a programmer myself; I am currently attending college to obtain my “Computer Science Degree” so I know things go wrong from time to time. I would appreciate it if you could let us know when the license server is back up. My license expired on January 25th and I didn't find out until the other day because I use so many packages: Maya 6, 3D Studio Max 7, Lightwave 8.5, Cinema 4D , and for a time Houdini, etc.

Thanks to everyone who had input on this topic.

I just renewed my apprentice license today and it was fine …

I still can not renew my license.

Still getting the error

Key 1:
Install Error: Invalid license key specified
ERROR: Key installation failed
Key 2:
Install Error: Invalid license key specified
ERROR: Key installation failed

Why is this?

We store all the apprentice licenses we've generated in a database, and if an apprentice license is requested and a matching one is found in the database, it sends back the one in the database instead of generating a new one. So, even though the license generator is generating valid licenses now, we were still storing and handing out the invalid licenses that were in the database.

I believe I've deleted all the apprentice licenses from the database that were generated with the bad generator. You should hopefully be able to get a valid license now.

Sorry again for the inconvenience.

Sorry Lucas,
It did not due the trick for me. I tried installing it manually as well and
got this:

Key 1:
ERROR: key installation failed.
This SERVER key may not have installed properly
because you already have a server key installed



I know it is free for the apprentice and appreciate the ability to use such great software, I just really enjoy Houdini and wish to use it more until I have the ability to purchase Escape if anything, when I save up for it.
Thank you for working on this and will just hope and waite until I can use Houdini again.

I remember something that if hserver detects a time skew then it might think that you're trying to subvert the licensing system and cease to work. If you don't have your computer clock set correctly, I'd make sure to set it correctly and then reboot your computer.

Hey mozzenus, perhaps you could post your hkey diagnostic info. From the Start menu, choose Side Effects Software > … > License Administrator. In the top menu, choose View > Diagnostic Info. Copy and paste that here.

I started this thread discussion and today my license renewed. So my problem is now fixed. I hope everyone who had the same problem as I did; I hope you get up and running soon.

Thanks again.

There is so much information, it will take an entire page but here it goes. The strange thing is that the Houdini License Administrator shows a valid license and all green for functioning. I just get the error from above.

Diagnostic Output:
==================
If you are having licensing problems, please save this information and email it
to support@sidefx.com.

License Administrator output:
=============================
Generated on: Wed Feb 16 04:23:49 2005
Local host name: HOMEDESKTOP
Local server code: d6e2738b
Local ip address: 127.0.0.1
License server name: homedesktop
License server server code: d6e2738b
Server ip address: 127.0.0.1
License server is running: Yes
May read licenses from server: Yes
Has SERVER license: Yes
License server version: 7.0.142
May modify server from this machine: Yes
License Administrator version: 7.0.142
Http proxy host: (none)
Using standalone mode: Yes
Can retrieve http://license.sidefx.com/index.php: [license.sidefx.com] Yes

Installed licenses:
LicID Platform Product Ver Avail Expiry
—– ——– ——- — —– ——
e0991a20 Generic Houdini-Master-NonCommercial 7.0 0/0 27-jul-2004
+.+.+.+
=== This license has expired ===
49172945 Generic Houdini-Master-NonCommercial 6.1 0/0 31-aug-2004
+.+.+.+
=== This license has expired ===
410ac897 Generic Houdini-Master-NonCommercial 7.0 0/0 14-sep-2004
+.+.+.+
=== This license has expired ===
f66620d7 Generic Houdini-Master-NonCommercial 7.0 0/0 23-nov-2004
+.+.+.+
=== This license has expired ===
14374ff9 Generic Houdini-Master-NonCommercial 6.1 0/0 24-dec-2004
+.+.+.+
=== This license has expired ===
5334b178 Generic Houdini-Master-NonCommercial 6.1 0/0 01-feb-2005
+.+.+.+
=== This license has expired ===
7e21b6de Generic Houdini-Master-NonCommercial 7.0 0/0 10-feb-2005
+.+.+.+
=== This license has expired ===
2479eb04 Generic Render-NonCommercial 7.0 0/0 27-jul-2004
+.+.+.+
=== This license has expired ===
f9f59204 Generic Render-NonCommercial 6.1 0/0 31-aug-2004
+.+.+.+
=== This license has expired ===
303baf17 Generic Render-NonCommercial 7.0 0/0 14-sep-2004
+.+.+.+
=== This license has expired ===
4517857b Generic Render-NonCommercial 7.0 0/0 23-nov-2004
+.+.+.+
=== This license has expired ===
7105221d Generic Render-NonCommercial 6.1 0/0 30-nov-2004
+.+.+.+
=== This license has expired ===
2456e4bb Generic Render-NonCommercial 6.1 0/0 01-feb-2005
+.+.+.+
=== This license has expired ===
ab77e893 Generic Render-NonCommercial 7.0 0/0 10-feb-2005
+.+.+.+
=== This license has expired ===
8b3b4111 Generic Houdini-Select-NonCommercial 6.1 0/0 28-dec-2004
+.+.+.+
=== This license has expired ===
3cedc27c Generic Houdini-Halo-NonCommercial 6.1 0/0 28-dec-2004
+.+.+.+
=== This license has expired ===
bc3841db Generic Houdini-Escape-NonCommercial 7.0 0/0 28-jul-2004
+.+.+.+
=== This license has expired ===
601a5761 Generic Houdini-Escape-NonCommercial 6.1 0/0 09-sep-2004
+.+.+.+
=== This license has expired ===
f5628f61 Generic Houdini-Escape-NonCommercial 7.0 0/0 14-sep-2004
+.+.+.+
=== This license has expired ===
5860cd4a Generic Houdini-Escape-NonCommercial 6.1 0/0 30-nov-2004
+.+.+.+
=== This license has expired ===
35aa62f5 Generic Houdini-Escape-NonCommercial 7.0 1/1 15-mar-2005
+.+.+.+

sesictrl -i output:
===================
—– SERVER homedesktop ——–
Lic e0991a20: 0 “Houdini-Master-NonCommercial 7.0” Generic 27-jul-2004 +.+.+.+

Lic 49172945: 0 “Houdini-Master-NonCommercial 6.1” Generic 31-aug-2004 +.+.+.+

Lic 410ac897: 0 “Houdini-Master-NonCommercial 7.0” Generic 14-sep-2004 +.+.+.+

Lic f66620d7: 0 “Houdini-Master-NonCommercial 7.0” Generic 23-nov-2004 +.+.+.+

Lic 14374ff9: 0 “Houdini-Master-NonCommercial 6.1” Generic 24-dec-2004 +.+.+.+

Lic 5334b178: 0 “Houdini-Master-NonCommercial 6.1” Generic 01-feb-2005 +.+.+.+

Lic 7e21b6de: 0 “Houdini-Master-NonCommercial 7.0” Generic 10-feb-2005 +.+.+.+

Lic 2479eb04: 0 “Render-NonCommercial 7.0” Generic 27-jul-2004 +.+.+.+

Lic f9f59204: 0 “Render-NonCommercial 6.1” Generic 31-aug-2004 +.+.+.+

Lic 303baf17: 0 “Render-NonCommercial 7.0” Generic 14-sep-2004 +.+.+.+

Lic 4517857b: 0 “Render-NonCommercial 7.0” Generic 23-nov-2004 +.+.+.+

Lic 7105221d: 0 “Render-NonCommercial 6.1” Generic 30-nov-2004 +.+.+.+

Lic 2456e4bb: 0 “Render-NonCommercial 6.1” Generic 01-feb-2005 +.+.+.+

Lic ab77e893: 0 “Render-NonCommercial 7.0” Generic 10-feb-2005 +.+.+.+

Lic 8b3b4111: 0 “Houdini-Select-NonCommercial 6.1” Generic 28-dec-2004 +.+.+.+

Lic 3cedc27c: 0 “Houdini-Halo-NonCommercial 6.1” Generic 28-dec-2004 +.+.+.+

Lic bc3841db: 0 “Houdini-Escape-NonCommercial 7.0” Generic 28-jul-2004 +.+.+.+

Lic 601a5761: 0 “Houdini-Escape-NonCommercial 6.1” Generic 09-sep-2004 +.+.+.+

Lic f5628f61: 0 “Houdini-Escape-NonCommercial 7.0” Generic 14-sep-2004 +.+.+.+

Lic 5860cd4a: 0 “Houdini-Escape-NonCommercial 6.1” Generic 30-nov-2004 +.+.+.+

Lic 35aa62f5: 1 “Houdini-Escape-NonCommercial 7.0” Generic 15-mar-2005 +.+.+.+
1 licenses free




hserver -l output:
==================
Hostname: HOMEDESKTOP
Uptime: 0:05:38
License Server: homedesktop
Server Version: sesinetd7.0.142
Version: Houdini7.0.142
ReadAccess: +.+.+.*
WriteAccess: +.+.+.*

932 of 1278 Mb available
CPU Usage: 5% load
0 active tasks (1 slots)



licenses file:
==============
## Side Effects Software License File
#
# For license information, please contact:
# Side Effects Software Inc.
# 477 Richmond St. West, Suite 1001
# Toronto, Ontario, Canada
# M5V 3E7
# licensemanager@sidefx.com
# http://www.sidefx.com [sidefx.com]
#
# NOTE: This file may be modified by the licensee
#

# Key installed 18:41:35 06/26/04
SERVER little-key d6e2738b e3577348b3095ddfbd2e200d47d2cdc90b39ad807aa2e

# Key installed 18:41:38 06/26/04
LICENSE Generic Render-NonCommercial 7.0 1 27-jul-2004 +.+.+.+ little-key \
2479eb04 souAhR3XukVKRMfuAxAtwpfSkKa0LtMLWf@zn4dHgmPAusxcZgWWBL3

# Key installed 18:41:40 06/26/04
LICENSE Generic Houdini-Master-NonCommercial 7.0 1 27-jul-2004 +.+.+.+ \
little-key e0991a20 \
W4H@hGShoAao2PzZryxd5Y8juXt85pkRHxWK6w9OBxZydqAL9dmgiA0

# Key installed 14:11:54 06/28/04
LICENSE Generic Houdini-Escape-NonCommercial 7.0 1 28-jul-2004 +.+.+.+ \
little-key bc3841db \
zKuligJ2Jprk4ZdWn7A1hqh6BwcaJqEquZLkEyNTAO09nlArmmfRK62

# Key installed 19:42:00 07/30/04
LICENSE Generic Render-NonCommercial 6.1 1 31-aug-2004 +.+.+.+ little-key \
f9f59204 k0ec8U@dMl4eZlymg1SO9bKJRMlyB9KE5EZCIfwTAw7diRW2DJClo72

# Key installed 19:42:02 07/30/04
LICENSE Generic Houdini-Master-NonCommercial 6.1 1 31-aug-2004 +.+.+.+ \
little-key 49172945 \
7n4mN96HtFtlOg6Tp56ih+Y+snpenD1E2ucrGHXy+kXZYwYiXNoV1+3

# Key installed 21:01:41 08/09/04
LICENSE Generic Houdini-Escape-NonCommercial 6.1 1 09-sep-2004 +.+.+.+ \
little-key 601a5761 \
O41d4A3+biyDsp81X8nCAUNHWg5OIpyxMSzFGtK9ZVgxbUO6Lovaob0

# Key installed 20:35:29 08/12/04
LICENSE Generic Render-NonCommercial 7.0 1 14-sep-2004 +.+.+.+ little-key \
303baf17 DEiOHHqimyM6WA6oxOQOzhCWxgOuc2OEPuIvMbFLeNNxukw7rz@tO50

# Key installed 20:35:32 08/12/04
LICENSE Generic Houdini-Master-NonCommercial 7.0 1 14-sep-2004 +.+.+.+ \
little-key 410ac897 \
9EkGBqqs6YpqN3xpQWpJ@8wleb3OwIOrcnkGYNXaQkXNZ1xYpmHdRq1

# Key installed 20:57:49 08/12/04
LICENSE Generic Houdini-Escape-NonCommercial 7.0 1 14-sep-2004 +.+.+.+ \
little-key f5628f61 \
yWsc2aR9iQG3e4FrlBUHIB36JN44kuf03KF0xmHjUboEBBXkUmUw+50

# Key installed 16:55:18 10/21/04
SERVER homedesktop d6e2738b 24ba16b1b5c35abda8f6ea406ce1912cae8636284adec1

# Key installed 16:55:20 10/21/04
LICENSE Generic Render-NonCommercial 7.0 1 23-nov-2004 +.+.+.+ homedesktop \
4517857b N9ldEWQe9SWQUNplI++vQFlErYGS5fYp2z04@36XqCRP5krutJD3Uo0

# Key installed 16:55:23 10/21/04
LICENSE Generic Houdini-Master-NonCommercial 7.0 1 23-nov-2004 +.+.+.+ \
homedesktop f66620d7 \
JCYj34lvIv9hhSyECnF0ow@54@CiV4ONEJmTHbAp8oRVw6hdVpQAyZ0

# Key installed 18:58:09 10/29/04
LICENSE Generic Render-NonCommercial 6.1 1 30-nov-2004 +.+.+.+ homedesktop \
7105221d 2y3ILtmjlnnwZKXy0uHbgbD1EadC@3AFqMU3jvCp@WpTst3aAnfb5V1

# Key installed 18:58:11 10/29/04
LICENSE Generic Houdini-Escape-NonCommercial 6.1 1 30-nov-2004 +.+.+.+ \
homedesktop 5860cd4a \
hsdClPmLt1eRecNEMleTcPyisx2yl9dBO0drpOygEK9ag08vorG0MW0

# Key installed 07:18:33 11/24/04
LICENSE Generic Houdini-Master-NonCommercial 6.1 1 24-dec-2004 +.+.+.+ \
homedesktop 14374ff9 \
bXlfv6EnFFpJeFHQ1fGL5Ahp7TESi3ppZXrJLWFOzpDD8Wqqd4FO8t1

# Key installed 22:46:20 11/26/04
LICENSE Generic Houdini-Select-NonCommercial 6.1 1 28-dec-2004 +.+.+.+ \
homedesktop 8b3b4111 \
KlwbzQztB+N6ONHunnHMH4G+XKbK3RqW+X8C@ltYPPKgDws96HJfJ32

# Key installed 22:47:24 11/26/04
LICENSE Generic Houdini-Halo-NonCommercial 6.1 1 28-dec-2004 +.+.+.+ \
homedesktop 3cedc27c \
vKFIUm4lLLvtf3rITDZdvD3v4ZdK4lfcw8TMTz9lUdw1Qtj6GKM2zW3

# Key installed 16:17:22 01/02/05
LICENSE Generic Render-NonCommercial 6.1 1 01-feb-2005 +.+.+.+ homedesktop \
2456e4bb LiZnU1gJ7o7NfypgmKgNa2fTmXN85GSp7ZwU@hZo8soghV0DpbFr5v3

# Key installed 16:17:24 01/02/05
LICENSE Generic Houdini-Master-NonCommercial 6.1 1 01-feb-2005 +.+.+.+ \
homedesktop 5334b178 \
sYfx9LC791B2RbECKBW@EKv5ls@G3T+IrXbesFiHftaCYpb3mtDxIi1

# Key installed 20:58:19 01/10/05
LICENSE Generic Render-NonCommercial 7.0 1 10-feb-2005 +.+.+.+ homedesktop \
ab77e893 PnScu8R+pNBGALV8JGR5tAChFVyOfNvOLFqW1yJVI9t8NUoLMi200T3

# Key installed 20:58:21 01/10/05
LICENSE Generic Houdini-Master-NonCommercial 7.0 1 10-feb-2005 +.+.+.+ \
homedesktop 7e21b6de \
0A5JlvTZ2@3+KwC1wBKZ@a6wH+iqmP@aPiSWM+UItEFXcwgA4X@Dha1

# Key installed 15:33:41 02/11/05
LICENSE Generic Houdini-Escape-NonCommercial 7.0 1 15-mar-2005 +.+.+.+ \
homedesktop 35aa62f5 \
lUXdNjyiaWloYsoq+wmrzAznM3SqqhV1FjBisNmFKTwt5Z3NyyODhN3

There was a problem with the license server from end of day Thursday February 10 to late Friday February 11. We have now positively correlated to users redeeming licenses and having problems to these dates. The license server would issue garbage licenses that would corrupt the license file.

We are busy rectifying corrupt licensces for those on support first and then will work on the apprentice user licenses today, Wednesday. We found 15 potential cases, more than half were apprentice users.

-jeff

Hi, just wanted to say my license is working fine now.

Very good then. Thank-you Luke and Zubin for the fix.


-jeff