installing m 4.5 windowsmartino/maya/pdf/reference... · • since maya 3.0, maya stores hotkey...

INSTALLING MAYA 4.5 FOR WINDOWSWindows 2000 Professional and Windows XP Professional

INSTALLING MAYA 4.5 FOR WINDOWS

Windows 2000 Professional and Windows XP Professional 2002, Alias|Wavefront, a division of Silicon Graphics Limited. Printed in U S A. All rights reserved.

Alias and the Alias|Wavefront logo are registered trademarks and Alias|Wavefront, Conductors, Dispatcher, Trax, IPR,Export Express, Maya Artisan, Maya Cloth, Maya Complete, Maya Fluid Effects, Maya Fur, Maya Live, Maya Paint Effects,Maya Real-Time Author, Maya Shockwave 3D Exporter, and Maya Unlimited are trademarks of Alias|Wavefront, a divisionof Silicon Graphics Limited.

Maya is a registered trademark of Silicon Graphics, Inc., used exclusively by Alias|Wavefront, a division of Silicon GraphicsLimited.

IRIX and Silicon Graphics are registered trademarks and SGI is a trademark of Silicon Graphics, Inc. Lingo is a trademarkand Macromedia, Director and Shockwave are registered trademarks of Macromedia, Inc.

OpenFlight is a registered trademark of Multi-Gen Paradigm Inc.

Wacom is a trademark of Wacom Co., Ltd.

NVidia is a registered trademark and Gforce is a trademark of NVidia Corporation. Inferno and Flame are registeredtrademarks of Discreet Logic Inc. Linux is a registered trademark of William R. Della Croce.

Red Hat is a registered trademark of Red Hat, Inc.

Microsoft, Windows XP, and Windows are trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries.

Mac and Macintosh are trademarks of Apple Computer, Inc., registered in the United States and other countries.

Adobe and Acrobat are trademarks of Adobe Corporation.

UNIX is a registered trademark, licensed exclusively through X/Open Company, Ltd.

All other trade names, trademarks and/or service marks are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respectiveowners.

This document contains proprietary and confidential information of Alias|Wavefront, a division of Silicon Graphics Limited,and is protected by Federal copyright law and international intellectual property agreements and treaties. The contents ofthis document may not be disclosed to third parties, translated, copied, or duplicated in any form, in whole or in part, or byany means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the express prior written consent ofAlias|Wavefront, a division of Silicon Graphics Limited. The information contained in this document is subject to changewithout notice. Neither Alias|Wavefront, a division of Silicon Graphics Limited, nor its affiliates, nor their respectivedirectors, officers, employees, or agents are responsible for punitive or multiple damages or lost profits or any other direct,indirect, special, indirect, incidental, or consequential damages including any damages resulting from loss of businessarising out of or resulting from the use of this material, or for technical or editorial omissions made in this document.

ALIAS|WAVEFRONT � 210 KING STREET EAST � TORONTO, CANADA M5A 1J7

CONTENTS
1 INTRODUCTION
About the CDs shipped with Maya 7

About this book 8

Important notes for customers who upgrade 8

2 SETTING UP YOUR COMPUTER

Examining system capabilities 11

Hardware requirements 11

Disk space 12

Software requirements 13

Setting hardware properties 13

Hardware lock 13

Graphics card 15

Mouse and keyboard 16

Wacom tablet 16

Motion capture devices 16

3 INSTALLING THE SOFTWARE

Installation reference 19

Customer Information 19

Maya Product Configuration 20

Maya Feature Selection 20

Add Maya to System Path and Add Shortcut to Desktop 22

Licensing 23

Finish 23

Installing the Maya Shader Library 24

4 LICENSING MAYA

Understanding licensing 25

Node-locked, floating, and client licenses 26

Changes made by licensing 26

INSTALLING MAYA FOR WINDOWS

3

CONTENTS

Licensing reference 27

Licensing 27

Licensing Type 28

Installing Maya node-locked licenses 28

Installing a node-locked license using OPA 28

Obtaining a floating license for Maya Unlimited 31

Installing a floating license for Maya Unlimited 33

Installing floating licenses via e-mail, fax, or printout 34

Installing floating licenses from the software CD 35

Additional setup for Maya Unlimited floating licenses 37

License management options and license server confirmation 37

Setting up each client 39

Limiting the use of Maya Unlimited product licenses 41

Confirming Maya startup 43

5 COMMON QUESTIONS AND ADVANCED TOPICS

Common questions 45

Extra features of the Maya 4.5 Software kit 49

Uninstalling Maya 50

Tuning Maya interactive performance 51

Files installed by the installation program 52

Additional resources 54

6 TROUBLESHOOTING

Contacting Support Services 55

Installation program error messages 56

Troubleshooting licensing problems 57

Confirming parallel port driver installation 60

Examining a licensing log file 61

Understanding log file error messages 62

Checking for licensing errors with lmtools 64


4

CONTENTS

Stopping and starting license server operation 67

Checking whether the license server is running 67

Checking that a license file is the correct file type 67

Understanding license contents 68

Node-locked licenses 68

Floating licenses 69

INDEX 71


5

CONTENTS


6

1 INTRODUCTION

This book explains how to install and license Maya on Windows 2000Professional or Windows XP Professional.

ABOUT THE CDS SHIPPED WITH MAYA

The Maya shipment includes CDs for all products and operating systems.You must select the appropriate CDs for your purchase and operatingsystem.

CDs used for installation:

• Maya Complete 4.5/Maya Unlimited 4.5 for Windows 2000 Professional, WindowsXP Professional

This CD contains the main Maya software for all Maya packages. Afterinstalling the program, your Maya license specifies which features you canuse. This CD also contains the html files for Maya documentation and theShader Library files, which are Maya scene files consisting of over 60shading networks, including materials and file textures.

• Maya 4.5 Documentation and Lessons CD

This CD contains the Maya documentation files in PDF format for printingand data files for the Instant Maya lessons.


7

INTRODUCTION | 1About this book

ABOUT THIS BOOK

• Chapter 2, “Setting Up Your Computer” describes how to set up Windowsand hardware for Maya operation.

• Chapter 3, “Installing the software” describes how to install Maya software.

• Chapter 4, “Licensing Maya” describes how to license Maya and confirmMaya startup.

• Chapter 5, “Common Questions and Advanced Topics” provides answers tocommon questions, tips on enhancing interactive Maya performance, andother topics related to installation and licensing issues.

• Chapter 6, “Troubleshooting” describes how to troubleshoot installation andlicensing problems. If you see error messages during installation or you can’trun Maya after installation and licensing, see this chapter.

If you are upgrading Maya but your hardware, Windows software, andnetwork have remained the same, you can save time by doing only theinstructions in Chapter 3 and Chapter 4.

IMPORTANT NOTES FOR CUSTOMERS WHO UPGRADE

Keep in mind these important changes:

• Maya 4.5 Complete only supports node-locked licenses. It no longersupports floating licenses.

• Maya 4.5 node-locked licenses are now installed and activated using OnlineProduct Activation (OPA). For details, see “Installing Maya node-lockedlicenses” on page 28.

• Maya 4.5 is not qualified or supported on Windows NT.

• Maya 4.5 for Windows, by default, is now installed in C:\ProgramFiles\AliasWavefront. Previously Maya 4.0, by default, was installed inC:\Aw.

The Shader Library is now installed in drive:\ProgramFiles\AliasWavefront\ShaderLibrary.

Maya preferences are now stored in drive:\Documents andSettings\username\My Documents\maya\4.5\prefs.


8

INTRODUCTION | 1Important notes for customers who upgrade

Maya scripts are now stored in drive:\Documents andSettings\username\My Documents\maya\4.5\scripts.

• Having multiple versions of Maya installed on a machine and adding eachversion’s path to the users environment PATH variable may cause versionconflicts when using standalone programs. In particular rendering fur mayuse the wrong version of the fur renderer and so cause incomplete rendersor not run.

Add only the path that is currently needed for the version of Maya that isbeing run. It is also acceptable not to include the path to Maya at all. Mayashould find the executables.

• Since Maya 3.0, Maya stores hotkey preferences in a new file and a differentformat. The first time you start Maya, it will find and convert saved hotkeypreferences to the new Maya 4 structure. Do not copy hotkey preference filesfrom a prior Maya version to the Maya 4 directory.

• When you install Maya, your required licenses might also be installed foryou. A message during the software installation tells you if the licensesweren’t installed. If your licenses were not installed, and you have Internetaccess, you can use the installation program to find and install your licensesfrom the Alias|Wavefront web site. If your licenses are still not installed,then you must obtain and install your licenses. For details, see Chapter 4,“Licensing Maya.”


9

INTRODUCTION | 1Important notes for customers who upgrade


10

2 SETTING UP YOURCOMPUTER

This chapter describes hardware requirements and how to set up Windows2000 Professional, or Windows XP Professional for Maya. The proceduresrequire administrative account privileges.

EXAMINING SYSTEM CAPABILITIES

The following pages describe system requirements for Maya operation.Before you begin, you can examine your system capabilities using systemdiagnostic tools.

• On Windows 2000 Professional, selectStart > Programs > Accessories > System Tools > System Information.

• On Windows XP Professional, selectStart > All Programs > Accessories > System Tools > System Information.

HARDWARE REQUIREMENTS

The minimum hardware requirements for running Maya are as follows:

• Pentium processor, at least 200 MHz for Windows 2000 Professional and atleast 300 MHz for Windows XP Professional

• 256 Mbytes RAM, 512 Mbytes or more recommended

• CD-ROM drive

• Mid- to high-performance “workstation” quality hardware-acceleratedOpenGL graphics card (Overlay plane capability is recommended)


11

SETTING UP YOUR COMPUTER | 2Hardware requirements

• an Ethernet card or hardware lock. The hardware lock can be purchasedthrough Alias|Wavefront.

• Three-button mouse with mouse driver software. The Microsoft Intellimouseis not supported in this release.

• Sound card (optional)

• Wacom tablet (optional)

Disk spaceThe following approximate disk space requirements are based on the NTFSdisk format. If you have a FAT disk format, expect slightly larger file sizes.These are default, minimal sizes; you’ll need more space to install optionalselections.

• NTFS: 405 Mbytes for Maya Complete (including 180 Mbytes for Mayadocumentation)

• FAT: 450 Mbytes for Maya Complete (including 205 Mbytes for Mayadocumentation)

• Additional 50 Mbytes for Maya Unlimited

• 30 Mbytes temporary space on the C: drive to start the installation program

• 110 Mbytes for the Shader Library

Tip

Alias|Wavefront certifies combinations of processors, operating systemversions, graphics cards and drivers for operation with Maya. For details,see www.aliaswavefront.com/qual_charts for the latest information.


12

SETTING UP YOUR COMPUTER | 2Software requirements

SOFTWARE REQUIREMENTS

• Windows 2000 Professional with Service Pack 1 or later, or Windows XPProfessional.

• TCP/IP network protocol software (for running Maya batch rendering andother features).

• Web browser. Use Netscape 4.7 or higher, or Internet Explorer 4.0 or higher.

• Graphics card driver. Driver software is available from the manufacturer’sweb site.

• Appropriate driver software for optional hardware.

SETTING HARDWARE PROPERTIES

The following topics describe issues to consider for the hardware you usewith Maya:

• “Hardware lock” on page 13

• “Graphics card” on page 15

• “Mouse and keyboard” on page 16

• “Wacom tablet” on page 16

• “Motion capture devices” on page 16

Hardware lock

Note

Since Maya 3, you can license the software with either a hardware lock (ordongle) on your machine or with an Ethernet Address (network card). Ifyou have a licensed version of Maya with a hardware lock, you cancontinue to use Maya with the hardware lock. If you plan to use theEthernet Address instead of the hardware lock you must contact SalesSupport to relocate it. You will also need to return your hardware lock toAlias|Wavefront. See “Contacting Support Services” on page 55.

The following instructions are necessary only for upgrading customerswho choose to continue using hardware locks.


13

SETTING UP YOUR COMPUTER | 2Setting hardware properties

A hardware lock is an encoded connector that prevents software copyrightinfringement. If you’re installing a node-locked license, plug the hardwarelock into the parallel connector of the computer that will receive the license.

If you’re installing a floating license, plug the hardware lock into the parallelconnector of the computer that will serve licenses to client computers. Youdo not plug a lock into client computers. When you choose a computer tooperate as the license server, make sure it is stable and accessible to theclients in the network.

To learn the difference between node-locked and floating licenses, seeChapter 4, “Licensing Maya.”

Plug the lock into the computer before running the installation program. Becareful not to force the lock into the parallel connector incorrectly. Secure theconnector with the thumb screws so it won’t fall off and interrupt Mayaoperation.

To avoid damaging a lock, exit Maya or stop Maya license server operationbefore removing the lock. For details, see “Stopping and starting licenseserver operation” on page 67.

If you install another Windows program that uses a hardware lock, plug theother lock into the back end of the installed Maya lock. The Maya lock mustdirectly connect to the parallel connector.

You may plug your printer into the hardware lock. In some cases, the lockmight interfere with the flow of data between your computer and yourprinter. If you have trouble printing, temporarily remove the lock and plugthe printer directly into the computer’s parallel connector.

If you lose the lock, you must purchase a new one from Alias|Wavefront.Consider buying insurance for your lock as you would for any valuableproperty.

Use a hardware lock at revision level 2 or greater. Each hardware lock has asticker that lists the revision level, for instance, Alias|Wavefront Rev 2. Ifnecessary, call our Sales Support department to obtain the appropriate lock.

Previous Alias|Wavefront products work with a revision 2 hardware lock.You do not need to attach both locks. If you want to use only one lock, callour Sales Support department.


14


Graphics cardOptions in the Display Properties window of Windows affect the displayperformance of Maya. To learn the correct option settings for graphics cardscertified for Maya usage, see the printed Qualification Chart. For latestinformation, see www.aliaswavefront.com/qual_charts. Also see theReadme file on your installation CD for possible last-minute updates.

Some major graphics card manufacturers have created a single option thatyou can turn on to optimize Maya display performance. If this option exists,it will be available through the Windows Display Properties window.Contact your graphics card manufacturer to see if their latest graphicssoftware provides this option.

If you’re using a card that’s not certified, do the following steps. Some stepsoffer only general guidelines because each manufacturer has a unique set ofdisplay options.

To set your graphics card options:

1 Right-click your desktop, select the Settings tab and click the Advancedbutton.

2 From the Color Palette pull-down menu, select True Color. This specifies 24or 32 bits of color for best color quality in displayed images.

3 Drag the Desktop Area slider to the best display resolution supported byyour hardware. The higher you set the display resolution, the more graphicscard main memory you need. This is called VRAM on some computers.

If your graphics card has VRAM to spare, Maya generally works best at 1280by 1024 resolution. If you’ve selected True Color and your card has only 8Mbytes of VRAM, it will work better at a lower resolution. (At the higherresolution, the card will likely run out of memory, forcing the OpenGLdriver to operate in software mode rather than use hardware acceleration.)

After you install your graphics card driver software, it’s likely that a tabnamed for the card was created in the Display Properties window. The tabhas performance options that vary with each card. On Windows 2000 andWindows XP, click the Advanced button and select the appropriate tab.

Performance options

The following are general suggestions for setting performance options:


15


1 In the Display Properties window, click the tab named for your graphicscard (if available).

2 Turn on the overlay plane feature (if available).

Maya takes advantage of the hardware overlay plane feature available withmost mid- and high-quality OpenGL graphics cards. In brief, overlay planesenable programs to quickly display certain elements of a user interface thatexist on top of other elements, without having to redraw the entire userinterface. Overlay planes are called hardware overlays on some products.

Maya works with four-bit or greater overlay planes, single- or double-buffered. For some graphics cards, overlay planes are available only if youturn off stencil planes operation. Because stencil planes are not required byMaya, you can turn them off.

3 Close the Display Properties window.

Mouse and keyboardUse standard mouse driver option settings. Do not, for example, set themiddle mouse button to work as a double-click of the left button. Also donot map the space bar to a nonstandard action. For example, if you have adual-space bar keyboard, make sure both bars type a space character.

Some vendors offer Windows enhancement software that lets you use yourmouse to activate windows and panels the same way as in IRIX (forexample, XMouse). Be aware, however, that we do not support suchsoftware for use with Maya.

Wacom tabletThe Wacom tablet works the same as with other programs. Using the penand tablet overrides mouse operation. When the pen is out of contact withthe tablet, the mouse becomes operational. Make sure you install the latestdriver software.

Motion capture devicesMaya supports real-time motion capture. Contact your motion captureequipment vendor for details.


16

3 INSTALLING THE SOFTWARE

This chapter describes how to install Maya.

Before you begin:

• Your user account needs administrative privileges.

• Make sure you meet the disk space and other requirements in Chapter 2,“Setting Up Your Computer.”

• You can keep or uninstall previous versions of Maya. However, you mustuninstall if you are updating the same Maya version, such as an evaluationcopy. See “Uninstalling Maya” on page 50.

• Exit all other programs. (Make sure the Taskbar doesn’t list any programs.)

• You must run the installation programs on each computer where you wantto run the software. If you’re going to use a computer to serve licenses, youmust also run the installation program on that computer.

• Read “Installation program error messages” on page 56 if you see errormessages that you don’t understand during installation.

Important

Having multiple versions of Maya installed on a machine and adding eachversion’s path to the users environment PATH variable may cause versionconflicts when using standalone programs. In particular, rendering furmay use the wrong version of the fur renderer and so cause incompleterenders or not run.

Only add the path currently needed for the version of Maya that is beingrun. Under most circumstances Maya will perform correctly if the path isnot set.


17

INSTALLING THE SOFTWARE | 3

To install Maya:

1 Insert the Maya 4.5 Software CD into the target machine and click Install andLicense Maya when the following window appears.

You start the installation process from this window, or perform the othertasks listed. See “Extra features of the Maya 4.5 Software kit” on page 49.

2 Follow the online instructions. For explanations of the main dialog boxes, seethe next topic, “Installation reference” on page 19.

3 Continue with the license setup program after the software installation. Formore information, see “Licensing” on page 23.


18

INSTALLING THE SOFTWARE | 3Installation reference

INSTALLATION REFERENCE

The following explains the main installation dialog boxes.

Customer Informationf

Enter your name and the name of the organization.


19


Maya Product Configuration

Select the Maya product you purchased and then specify either a Full orCustom installation.

Maya Feature Selection

If you selected Custom in the previous step, here you can specify whatfeatures you don’t want to install. Generally, you’ll want to installeverything listed unless you need to save disk space.


20


At a minimum, you must install the following:

• Maya Program Files contains the core Maya software.

• Licensing Support includes files essential to the subsequent licensingprocedure.

The remaining items are optional. If you’re trying to conserve disk space,you can turn them off. For example, if you only want to run the Maya batchrenderer, you can turn off the remaining items.

• Maya Developer Toolkit is software that lets you work with the Maya APIto write, and edit plug-ins.

• Gifts provides files for enhancing your work with various Maya features,including sample shaders, scenes, and presets.

• Documentation provides files for Maya’s online documentation.

The Maya Unlimited components are Cloth, Fur, Live, Fluids and ClothExtras. Cloth Extras provide examples of various cloth property settings andscenes that show example properties.

Choosing a different location for the software installationYou can specify a drive other than C:, for instance, if your drive does nothave enough space. Click the Change button to change the drive and leavethe rest of the path unaltered or to enter a different path.

Note

If you are doing this procedure on a computer that will serve Mayalicenses to other computers but won’t be used to run Maya itself, you cansave disk space by turning off everything except Licensing Support.


21


Add Maya to System Path and Add Shortcut to Desktop

Enable the Add to System Path check box if you want to add the Mayaexecutable directory to your Windows system path. This lets you start Mayaor any of its related programs from any directory. For example, followinginstallation, you can enter maya at the Command Prompt from any directoryto launch Maya, or you could enter fcheck to launch the fcheck image-viewing utility without specifying the launch path.


22


Enable the Add a Shortcut to the Desktop check box if you want to add theMaya shortcut icon to your desktop.

LicensingOnce the software is installed, you are prompted for licensing. If you areproceeding with licensing, for details see Chapter 4, “Licensing Maya.”

Finish

When Maya is completely installed and licensed you can return to theinstallation window to install the Maya Shader Library or plug-ins, or youcan exit the installer.


23

INSTALLING THE SOFTWARE | 3Installing the Maya Shader Library

INSTALLING THE MAYA SHADER LIBRARY

You can either install the Maya Shader Library during the Maya softwareinstallation or install it later on.

To install the Maya Shader Library:

1 During the software installation you will be given the option Install ShaderLibrary.

or

Insert the main Maya software CD into the target machine and click InstallShader Library when the Maya Installation window appears.

2 At the Welcome dialog box, click Next.

3 Read the Read Me dialog box and click Next.

4 If you want to change the destination folder, click the Change button. ClickNext when ready.

By default, the Maya 4.5 Shader Library is installed in drive:\ProgramFiles\AliasWavefront\ShaderLibrary.

5 At the Ready to Install dialog box, click Install.

The Shader Library files are copied to your system. When the Shader Libraryinstallation is finished the Installation Completed dialog box appears.

6 Click Finish when the installation is complete.


24

4 LICENSING MAYA

Once you have completed the Maya installation, you can proceed withlicensing.

UNDERSTANDING LICENSING

We require all customers to install a software license with the software. Alicense is a coded record of your software purchase.

You must install a license if you are:

• installing Maya for the first time

• upgrading to a higher version of Maya

• changing to a new Maya package (for example, from Complete to Unlimited)

• adding additional licenses to a floating-type license

Stop

• If you’re an existing Alias|Wavefront customer, when you installMaya your required licenses might also be installed for you. Amessage during the software installation tells you if the licensesweren’t installed. If your licenses were not installed, and you haveInternet access, you can use the installation program to find andinstall your licenses from the Alias|Wavefront Web Site. If yourlicenses are still not installed, follow the instructions in this chapterto obtain and install your licenses.

• To install node-locked licenses for Maya Complete and MayaUnlimited, use Online Product Activation (OPA). See “Installing anode-locked license using OPA” on page 28 for details.

• Maya 4.5 includes new licensing utilities that are installed inC:\Program Files\Common Files\AliasWavefront Shared


25

LICENSING MAYA | 4Understanding licensing

• relocating Maya to a different computer

Node-locked, floating, and client licensesThere are two types of licenses you can purchase: node-locked or floating.

Node-lockedA node-locked license lets you run Maya only on the computer where thelicense is installed.

FloatingA floating license lets several users run Maya from any computer on thesame network. For example, if you install a license for five users on yournetwork, up to five users can run Maya at one time.

Each user’s computer—called a client—gets a floating license from acomputer that serves licenses—called the license server. The license servercan also serve itself a license.

Changes made by licensing

Maya Unlimited licensing—floatingThe licensing process for Maya Unlimited floating licenses adds your newMaya 4.5 license text to the bottom of the license file(C:\FlexLM\aw_servername.dat). The process leaves all other licenses intact,including licenses for prior Maya versions. It will only comment out existingMaya 4.5 licenses if the new license supersedes the existing license. If theincoming Maya 4.0 or 4.5 license does not supersede the existing Maya 4.5license, a message will appear and no new license will be installed.

See “Obtaining a floating license for Maya Unlimited” on page 31.

Maya Complete or Maya Unlimited node-locked licensingUse the OPA (Online Product Activation) licensing process for MayaComplete or Maya Unlimited node-locked licenses. See “Installing a node-locked license using OPA” on page 28 for details.


26

LICENSING MAYA | 4Licensing reference

LICENSING REFERENCE

The following explains the main licensing dialog boxes.

Licensing

After the Maya installation is complete, select the Proceed to Licensingoption in the Maya Licensing dialog box and click Next.

or

Select Skip Licensing and rerun Install and License Maya later when youwant to install the license.


27

LICENSING MAYA | 4Installing Maya node-locked licenses

Licensing Type

Specify the type of license and follow the corresponding online instructions.

Node-Locked For a local license file you must use OPA (Online Production Activation).For more information, see “Installing a node-locked license using OPA” onpage 28.

Floating Client Enter the server name.

Floating Server Enter or search for the license. If you choose to request a license, it will guideyou through the process of requesting a license.

INSTALLING MAYA NODE-LOCKED LICENSES

The following explains how to use Alias|Wavefront’s Online ProductActivation (OPA) to request and obtain an activation key (or license) fornode-locked Maya Complete and Maya Unlimited (Windows only).

Installing a node-locked license using OPAYou will receive a serial number from Alias|Wavefront after purchasingMaya. After installing Maya and entering the serial number, you can obtainan activation key using the OPA method. See “To obtain an activation key(license) using OPA:” on page 29 for details. If you did not receive a serialnumber, then contact your local sales office. You need a serial number inorder to proceed with licensing using OPA.


28


To obtain an activation key (license) using OPA:

1 After installing Maya and selecting Node Locked as your licence type, youshould see a dialog box with a message like this:

2 Read the message and click the Next button.

3 When you complete the install, start Maya.

(Windows 2000 Professional) Select Start > Programs > AliasWavefront >Maya 4.5 > Maya (Complete or Unlimited) 4.5.

(Windows XP Professional) Select Start > All Programs > AliasWavefront >Maya 4.5 > Maya (Complete or Unlimited) 4.5.

or

If you created a shortcut to Maya when prompted during installation,double-click the shortcut on your desktop.


29


4 You are prompted to enter your serial number. Enter it and click Next.

5 You need to request an activation key (license) either online using a webbrowser or by e-mail, phone, or fax. Select the desired option and click Next.

If you have more than one Hardware ID, the Hardware ID field becomes adrop-down list for the multiple ID values.


30

LICENSING MAYA | 4Obtaining a floating license for Maya Unlimited

6 Follow the online instructions to obtain your activation key.

7 Once you’ve received your activation key, restart Maya and enter theactivation key at the prompt. This automatically installs the node-lockedlicense and restarts Maya.

OBTAINING A FLOATING LICENSE FOR MAYA UNLIMITED

To obtain your license, you must send a request to Alias|Wavefront withyour system ID and the products you wish to license. The simplest methodfor sending your request is using the Maya 4.5 Software CD.

To obtain a license using the Maya 4.5 Software CD:

1 On the machine you want to license, insert the CD and click Install andLicense Maya. After the Maya installation is complete, select the Proceed toLicensing option in the Maya Licensing dialog box and click Next.

or

If Maya was already installed, the installer detects this and displays theProduct Maintenance dialog box. Select the Modify or License option andclick Next. Then select License in the License or Modify dialog box and clickNext.

2 In the License Type dialog box, select Floating Server and click Next.


31

LICENSING MAYA | 4Obtaining a floating license for Maya Unlimited

3 In the Server Licenses dialog box, select Request a License and click Next.

4 Record your computer system ID, which is displayed in the Request aLicense dialog box. You need to provide it with your license request.

5 To proceed with the license request, click Open Browser to connect to ourWeb-based SPAR form (Software Product Activation Request) at:

www.aliaswavefront.com/spar/

6 Complete the SPAR form and click Finished.

Alias|Wavefront will process your request and provide you with the licenseby fax, e-mail, or mail as specified.

Note

If your ID value is not displayed, you can find it by following steps 1 to 4in “To obtain a license without using the Maya 4.5 Software CD:” on page33.

Note

If you do not have the Maya 4.5 Software CD, use the following instructions.


32

LICENSING MAYA | 4Installing a floating license for Maya Unlimited

To obtain a license without using the Maya 4.5 Software CD:

Before beginning, Maya must be installed on your machine.

1 Select Start > Programs > AliasWavefront > Common Utilities > FLEXlmLicense Utilities.

2 In the LMTOOLS window, click the System Settings tab.

3 If you have a hardware lock (dongle) record the FLEXID6 or FLEXID7 value,if shown. Otherwise, record the Ethernet Address value. The value yourecord is your system ID. You’ll need to provide this on your SPAR form.

4 Close the LMTOOLS window.

5 Using your Internet browser, complete the SPAR form atwww.aliaswavefront.com/spar and click Finished when you’re done.

or

Complete the printed SPAR form that comes with your software shipmentand fax or mail it to the location listed on the back of the form.

Alias|Wavefront will process your request and provide you with the licenseby fax, e-mail, or mail as specified.

INSTALLING A FLOATING LICENSE FOR MAYA UNLIMITED

If you’re an existing customer with valid maintenance, the Maya 4.5 SoftwareCD should install the Maya 4.5 license when the Maya 4.5 software isinstalled. If your licenses were not installed, and you have Internet access,you can have the installation program automatically find and install yourlicenses from the Alias|Wavefront Web Site. However, if you have obtainedyour valid Maya 4.5 license from Alias|Wavefront, you can follow theinstructions for “Installing floating licenses via e-mail, fax, or printout” onpage 34 for either node-locked or floating licenses.

Note

Maya Complete and Maya Unlimited node-locked customers shouldreceive a serial number which will allow them to use OPA which is fasterand more convenient. For details, see “Installing a node-locked licenseusing OPA” on page 28.


33


PrerequisitesBefore you install licenses, make sure you have done the following:

• installed Maya 4.5 software (you must at least have Maya licensing softwareinstalled)

• obtained your license in an e-mail or fax from Alias|Wavefront

• rebooted your machine if you intend to use a hardware lock provided byAlias|Wavefront (otherwise, ignore this prerequisite)

• For floating licenses the server and clients must each have a C: drive in orderfor the licenses to be served properly.

• Recommendation—To avoid confusion, we recommend you set the options onyour license directory (C:\FlexLM) to show all files and full file extensions.In the My Computer window or Windows Explorer window, select Tools >Folder Options and click the View tab. Turn on Show all files and turn offHide file extensions for known file types.

Installing floating licenses via e-mail, fax, or printoutIf you’re a new customer, we recommend you use the Maya 4.5 Software CDto install your license. See “To install the licenses using the Maya 4.5Software CD:”

If you don’t have the Maya 4.5 Software CD, then you can follow theinstructions “To install licenses using the License Installer program:”. (Thisprogram was installed when Maya was installed on your machine.)

Note

If you are installing Maya 4.5 on a machine that has a license serverrunning on it, you will need to install new server software and rebootbefore Maya 4.5 clients can check out licenses.

Note

For floating licenses, perform these steps on the machine that runs the licenseserver process.


34


Installing floating licenses from the software CD

To install the licenses using the Maya 4.5 Software CD:

1 After the Maya installation is complete, select the Proceed to Licensingoption in the Maya Licensing dialog box and click Next.

or

If Maya was already installed, the installer detects this and displays theProduct Maintenance dialog box. Select the Modify or License option andclick Next. Then select License in the License or Modify dialog box and clickNext.

2 Specify either the Floating Server or Floating Client option, click Next andthen follow the online instructions.

Floating Client You will be prompted to enter the name of the server serving floatinglicenses.

Floating Server You will be prompted to enter or search for your license.

To install licenses using the License Installer program:

1 You should have already obtained a license from Alias|Wavefront. If not,see “Obtaining a floating license for Maya Unlimited” on page 31. You don’tneed to understand the contents of the license to do this procedure, but fordetails, see “Understanding license contents” on page 68.

2 From the Start menu, select:

Programs > AliasWavefront > Common Utilities > Install License (Windows2000 Professional)

All Programs > AliasWavefront > Common Utilities > Install License(Windows XP Professional)

This displays the A|W License Installer window.

3 Cut and paste the license you received from Alias|Wavefront into the Cutand paste OR type Product License(s) here text box. If you received the licensevia fax, carefully type the license in; use upper and lower case letters exactlyas shown because the license won’t work if you’ve made a typing error.


35


or

In the OR, enter the path and filename here text box, specify the path andfilename of the license you received by e-mail. If your organization uses afilename or path for the license file that’s different from the default, thenclick the Advanced button to specify the path and filename. (Most customersuse the default filename and path.)

The A|W License Installer program installs licenses into the defaultAlias|Wavefront license file. For floating licenses, the default is:C:\FlexLM\aw_servername.dat, where servername is the machine name of thelicense server.

The A|W License Installer program does not remove prior licenses, but itmight comment out license information that is superseded by the newlicense.

4 Click Install.

5 Open the Alias|Wavefront license file on your computer and confirm thatthe A|W License Installer installed the license information correctly. If not,contact our Support Services department.

This completes licensing for this computer. Continue with “Additional setupfor Maya Unlimited floating licenses” on page 37 and “Confirming Mayastartup” on page 43.

Note

If you store your license file somewhere other than the default location,then you need to point Maya to this in the maya.env file by updating theMAYA_ALT_EN variable. For details, see Using Maya: Essentials.


36

LICENSING MAYA | 4Additional setup for Maya Unlimited floating licenses

ADDITIONAL SETUP FOR MAYA UNLIMITED FLOATINGLICENSES

To install a floating license, you must start the license server process, thenset up each client computer that obtains a license from the server.

License management options and license server confirmation

To set options and start the license server:

1 (Windows 2000 Professional) Select Start > Programs >AliasWavefront\Maya 4.5 > License Maya > FLEX License Manager Tool.

(Windows XP Professional) Select Start > All Programs >AliasWavefront\Maya 4.5 > License Maya > FLEX License Manager Tool.

2 In the LMTOOLS window, click the Service/License File tab and select theConfiguration using Services option.

3 Click the Configure Services tab.

4 Turn on Use Services.

5 Turn on Start Server at Power Up.

Note

• For floating licenses the server and clients must each have a C:drive in order for the licenses to be served properly.

• Your Windows-based license server can serve licenses to IRIX orLinux workstations. This capability requires that both computerscan access each other through your TCP/IP network. See “To setup an IRIX client:” on page 40 for instructions.

• You can also use a UNIX machine to serve Maya 4.5 licenses toWindows-based client machines. See Installing Maya 4.5 for IRIX formore information.

• Any existing Maya 4.0 (or earlier) license server must be upgradedto serve Maya 4.5 license correctly.


37


6 Check that the values shown are correct:

Path to the lmgrd.exe file is:

C:\Program Files\Common Files\AliasWavefront Shared\Licensing\etc

Path to the license file is: C:\FlexLM\aw_servername.dat, where servernameis the name of the license server machine.

7 Click Save Service.

8 Click the Start/Stop/Reread tab and click Start Server.

To confirm the license server operation:

1 Click the Server Status tab.

2 Click Perform Status Enquiry.

If the license server is up, the window displays:

servername:license server UP(MASTER)

where servername is the license server computer name. The text area shouldalso list the products/features and the number of logins you have.

3 Close LMTOOLS.

Important!

The path to the lmgrd.exe file has changed since the last version. You mustchange this path on existing servers that have been upgraded.

Note

The path to the debug log file is optional and can be left blank.


38


Setting up each clientTo set up each client, you must add information to each client computer’saw_servername.dat file. You can run Maya locally on the license servercomputer using its existing aw_servername.dat file, so you don’t need to dothe following steps on the server.

Instructions are provided for both Windows-based and UNIX-based clients.

To set up a Windows 2000 Professional, or Windows XP Professionalclient:

1 On each client machine, choose Start > Run.

2 In the Open text box, type the following:

notepad c:\FlexLM\aw_servername.dat

where servername is the name of the license server computer. For example, ifyour license server computer’s name is myserver, the file is aw_myserver.dat.If the file does not exist, confirm its creation when prompted.

3 Type or copy the first line from the license text provided byAlias|Wavefront.

For example, from a server using an Ethernet Address:

SERVER server 00c04f8ef647 7111

or from a server using a FLEXID:

SERVER server FLEXID=7-b1234a12 7111

4 Change the word server in the first line to match your machine name. Forexample, if the machine is myserver, it would appear like this:

SERVER myserver 00c04f8ef647 7111

5 On the second line, type the following:

USE_SERVER

Your file should now look like the following example:

SERVER myserver 00c04f8ef647 7111USE_SERVER

The SERVER and USE_SERVER lines tell the client which computer servesthe licenses.


39


6 Press Enter to leave a blank line at the end.

7 Select File > Save.

8 Close Notepad.

To set up an IRIX client:

1 Make sure the Windows-based license server and IRIX client can access eachother through your TCP/IP network.

2 Copy the license file C:\FlexLM\aw_servername.dat from the Windows-basedlicense server to the /var/flexlm directory on each IRIX or Linux client (whereservername is the machine name of the Windows-based license server).

You must copy the whole file.

3 If there are DOS control characters in the license file, remove them by typingthe following command in a UNIX shell:

tounix /var/flexlm/aw_servername.dat

Note

You can copy this aw_servername.dat file to the C:\FlexLM directory on theother clients.

Tips

• You can copy this aw_servername.dat file to the /var/flexlmdirectory on the other clients.

• You can use an IP Address instead of the name of the server if youplan to run your license across different platforms. For example, alicense file named aw_myserver.dat on a client machine that isreferencing the IP address would look like this:

SERVER 10.0.0.10 00c04f8ef647 7111USE_SERVER


40

LICENSING MAYA | 4Limiting the use of Maya Unlimited product licenses

LIMITING THE USE OF MAYA UNLIMITED PRODUCT LICENSES

Some users on your network might not need to use all the Maya featuresavailable to them. You can disable availability of optional licenses forspecific users to ensure that those who need them have them on demand.

Maya Cloth has a similar feature called simulation licenses; see Appendix B,“Cloth Licenses” in Using Maya: Cloth.

Example

Suppose your network has several Maya Complete licenses, but only oneUnlimited license. To prevent some users from using the Unlimited license,you may control which users receives the Unlimited license.

To control Maya product availability for a user:

1 Log on to the user’s account.

2 From the Start menu, select Settings > Control Panel.

3 Double-click the System icon.

4 Click the Advanced tab.

5 Click the Environment Variables button.

6 Click the New button in the user variables box.

7 In the Variable Name text box, type MAYA_LICENSE.

8 In the Variable Value text box, type the appropriate setting from thefollowing table.

Tip

To control the Maya product users can launch, you can include a line in theuser’s Maya.env file as in this example:

MAYA_LICENSE =complete

For details on how to set up the Maya.env file, see Using Maya: Essentials.


41

LICENSING MAYA | 4Limiting the use of Maya Unlimited product licenses

9 Click OK twice.

MAYA_LICENSE setting Effect on Maya

complete Runs Maya Complete only

unlimited Runs Maya Unlimited only

Note

If Maya license is set to Complete and there are no Complete licensesavailable, even if there are Unlimited licenses, the software will not run,but will display a “No Licenses Available” message.


42

LICENSING MAYA | 4Confirming Maya startup

CONFIRMING MAYA STARTUP

Start Maya to confirm installation.

To confirm you installed Maya correctly:

Start Maya from the Start menu by selecting:

(Windows 2000 Professional) Start > Programs > AliasWavefront > Maya4.5 > Maya (Complete or Unlimited)

(Windows XP Professional) Start > All Programs > AliasWavefront > Maya4.5 > Maya (Complete or Unlimited)

or

If you created a shortcut to Maya when prompted during installation,double-click the shortcut on your desktop.

The main Maya window opens.

The display of the main Maya window confirms you’ve installed Maya. If anerror message appears instead of the Maya window, it’s possible you have alicensing problem. See “Troubleshooting licensing problems” on page 57.

If the Online Product Activation dialog box appears, Maya was unable tofind a suitable license. See “To obtain an activation key (license) using OPA:”on page 29.


43

LICENSING MAYA | 4Confirming Maya startup


44

5 COMMON QUESTIONSAND ADVANCED TOPICS

This chapter includes an assortment of topics related to installation andlicensing:

COMMON QUESTIONS

InstallationQ What happens if I exit the installation program prematurely?

A This leaves your system in the state it was in before you began installation.

Q Must I use the Maya uninstall program to uninstall Maya?

A No. You can either use the Maya uninstall program or WindowsAdd/Remove Programs. For details, see “Uninstalling Maya” on page 50.

Q Does Maya affect the Windows Registry?

A Yes. Some configuration data is stored in the Registry.

Note

To exit the installation procedure, select the Exit the Installer option in theMaya installation window. If you use the Windows Task Manager to endthe Maya Installation task or if your system crashes, your system may notbe in the same state it was before you began the installation.


45

COMMON QUESTIONS AND ADVANCED TOPICS | 5Common questions

Q I had a prior 4.5 version of Maya as a beta customer. How do I overwrite myprevious beta copy with the official release?

A You cannot overwrite your previous version. You must uninstall the oldversion then install the new version. To do this, follow this book’sinstructions for installing and licensing the software. When the installationprogram asks whether you want to uninstall the existing version beforeinstalling this one, click Yes.

Q I am using a hardware lock for licensing. Can I move the hardware lock toanother computer?

A Yes. To move the lock from one node-locked computer to another, stopMaya and remove the lock from the existing computer. Attach the lock andinstall Maya on the other computer. Copy the previous computer’s aw.datfile to the new computer. Start Maya on the new computer.

To move a lock from one floating license server to another, stop the licenseserver software (page 67) and remove the lock. Attach the lock to the newserver computer, then install Maya on that computer. Move the old server’saw_servername.dat file to the new computer. Change the servername in theaw_servername.dat filename of the new server. Update the contents of eachclient computer’s aw_servername.dat file with the name of the new servercomputer. Start the license server software (page 67), then have all users onthe network start Maya again.

Q I recently installed Maya without one of the components, specifically, MayaHelp Files. How do I add it now?

A Follow this book’s instructions for installing the software, see “To installMaya:” on page 18. When the installation program detects that Maya isalready installed, the Maintenance dialog box appears. Select Modify orLicense and click Next. Then select Modify and click Next. When the Maya

Important

To avoid damaging the lock, make sure you stop Maya (for node-lockedlicenses) or license server operation (for floating licenses) before removingthe lock.


46


4.5 Feature Selection dialog box appears, select the desired features and thenproceed with the rest of the installation. Make sure you specify the sameinstallation location as in the prior installation.

Q How do I move my Maya 4.5 software to a different disk location?

A Uninstall Maya. For instructions, see“Uninstalling Maya” on page 50. THenreinstall Maya and when the dialog box appears, specify the new installationlocation. When the Maya Product Configuration dialog box appears, selectthe appropriate product and then select Custom. Click the Change button tospecify a different location. Then proceed with the rest of the installation.

Operation and licensingQ Can I run two copies of Maya at the same time on my computer?

A Yes. If your computer gets its Maya license from a license server, it uses onlyone license even if you run multiple copies of Maya.

Q How do I stop Maya when I can’t exit?

A The Windows Task Manager lets you end a task that for some reason nolonger responds to your commands. To display the Task Manager, press theCtrl-Alt-Delete keys. Under normal circumstances, avoid quitting Mayaoperation with the Task Manager. You’ll likely lose some of your work. QuitMaya instead by selecting File > Exit from the main Maya menu.

Q How do I find out which version of Maya I have?

A From Maya’s main menu, select Help > Product Information or look at theshortcut icon on your desktop.

Q How long does it take Maya to start?

A This depends on the speed of your computer. In any case, Maya should startwithin one minute.

Q Can I run Maya on Windows 95, 98, or ME?

A Maya 4.5 has been tested and verified to run on Windows 2000 Professionaland Windows XP Professional, so no, it will not run on Windows 95, 98, orME.


47


Q Can I run Maya on Windows NT?

A Maya should install and run on NT, but has not been tested or verified inany way. Use at your own risk and subject to Alias|Wavefront’s supportguidelines.

Q What do I do if I see errors when I try to start Maya?

A See Chapter 6, “Troubleshooting.”

Q How can I find the name of the computer I want to use as the license server?

A From the Windows Start menu of that computer, select:(Windows 2000 Professional) Programs > Command Prompt(Windows XP Professional) All Programs > Command PromptIn the Command Prompt window, enter hostname.

Other issuesQ What do I do if I lose the hardware lock?

A You must purchase a new license from Alias|Wavefront. Consider buyinginsurance for your lock as you would for any valuable property.

Q What do I do if the hardware lock falls off or is removed while Maya isrunning?

A Reconnect it immediately after disconnection and Maya operation shouldcontinue undisturbed. If the lock is off for more than five minutes, Mayaquits and displays Lost connection to dongle or License manager, exiting.... Yourwork has been saved to the file lostlock.ma. For a node-locked license, reattachthe lock, restart the computer, and start Maya again. For a floating license,reattach the lock to the license server computer, stop and start the licenseserver software (page 67), then have all users on the network start Mayaagain.

Q How do I specify pathnames?

A In contrast to IRIX, Windows doesn’t distinguish upper- and lowercaseletters in file and directory names. Windows requires back slashes (\) ratherthan forward slashes (/) as path separators. However, Maya allows use offorward slashes in many prompts or data boxes where you enter path andfilenames.


48

COMMON QUESTIONS AND ADVANCED TOPICS | 5Extra features of the Maya 4.5 Software kit

EXTRA FEATURES OF THE MAYA 4.5 SOFTWARE KIT

The Maya Installation window displays soon after you insert the Maya 4.5Software CD. Besides letting you install the Maya software, the window hasmenu items for these tasks:

Install Shader Library—Launches the Shader Library installation process.See “Installing the Maya Shader Library” on page 24.

Install Plug-Ins—Displays the Maya Plug-Ins window. Point to a plug-in toview a brief description of it.

View the ReadMe—Displays a ReadMe file that may include last-minuteinstallation details not available at the time this book was printed.

Explore the Maya CD—Launches Windows Explorer and displays thecontents of the CD which provides a way to see what files are included.

Uninstall Maya—See “Uninstalling Maya” on page 50 for details.

Exit the Installer—Exits the Maya Installation window, however, it doesn’tquit installation. To quit installation, you must also exit the Maya setupwindow.


49

COMMON QUESTIONS AND ADVANCED TOPICS | 5Uninstalling Maya

UNINSTALLING MAYA

In general, you can keep or uninstall Maya at your discretion. However, youcannot install over a previous instance of the same version (such as Maya 4.5beta); you must first uninstall Maya.

To uninstall Maya:

1 From the Windows Start menu, select:

(Windows 2000 Professional) Programs > AliasWavefront > Maya 4.5 >Uninstall Maya

(Windows XP Professional) All Programs > AliasWavefront > Maya 4.5 >Uninstall Maya

or

Settings > Control Panel and double-click the Add/Remove Programs icon.Select Maya 4.5 and click Remove.

2 Click Yes when prompted to confirm you want to uninstall/remove thisproduct. A progress bar is displayed.

Note

As the uninstall program removes files, you may want to see a dialog boxthat asks you if you want to remove shared files that are no longer used byany programs If so, then instead of step 1 above, select Start > Settings >Control Panel, double-click the Add/Remove Programs icon, select Maya4.5 and then select Change (instead of Remove). When prompted with theProgram Maintenance dialog box, select Remove and proceed with theuninstall.

The shared files, such as installkey, and flexlm, are typically for licensemanagement. In most cases you can delete them. If you’re uncertainwhether you need the files, don’t delete them. They don’t occupy muchdisk space.


50

COMMON QUESTIONS AND ADVANCED TOPICS | 5Tuning Maya interactive performance

Results of uninstall

Uninstalling Maya removes files that it originally installed, Maya directoriesand appropriate Maya keys and values from the Windows Registry. It doesnot remove any user’s home Maya directory (or subdirectories) or other filesthat users create, even if they are in Maya directories.

If you are uninstalling Maya permanently and the uninstall program doesn’tremove all expected directories, you can manually delete the directories.

TUNING MAYA INTERACTIVE PERFORMANCE

The following sections describe options you can adjust to tune interactiveperformance. For details on other performance issues, see the Maya 4.5Release Notes.

To improve interactive performance:

1 Right-click your Windows 2000 Professional, or Windows XP Professionaldesktop and select Properties from the pop-up menu. This displays theDisplay Properties window that’s also available through the Control Panel.

2 Click the tab named for your graphics card (if available) in the DisplayProperties window.

• Many hardware vendors provide a single setting that will tune one or moreaspects of the graphics card. Check to see if there is a Maya setting.

• Set the option for highest frame-to-frame refresh speed (if available). Theoption varies by manufacturer. Here are a few examples:

• Turn off Synchronize Buffer Swap to Vertical Sync.

• Turn on Higher Frame Rate Performance (Don’t sync to screen refresh).

In some cases, setting the option won’t improve speed and might worsen thedisplay of moving objects. If this occurs, change to the previous setting.

Note

If you are developing Maya plug-ins or modifying examples from theDeveloper’s Kit, be sure to copy or store them in another location.


51

COMMON QUESTIONS AND ADVANCED TOPICS | 5Files installed by the installation program

3 In the Display Properties window, clickthe Effects tab (Windows 2000Professional), or Appearance > Effects tab (Windows XP Professional).

4 Turn off Show window contents while dragging.

When you drag windows, you’ll see an outline of the window rather thanthe window contents. This speeds up window dragging.

Recommended settings for qualified graphics cards can be found at:www.aliaswavefront.com/qual_charts.

Maya menu itemsThe following Maya menu items enhance the speed at which you display ormanipulate objects. See also the Using Maya: Essentials book for details.

• Shading > Dense Wireframe Acceleration

• Shading > Backface Culling

• Display > NURBS Smoothness > Rough

FILES INSTALLED BY THE INSTALLATION PROGRAM

The installation program installs many directories and files under thedirectory you chose during installation. This section lists directory contentsin case Maya is not working and you suspect a user accidentally removedessential files. If you install Maya in the default location, the software islocated at C:\Program Files\AliasWavefront\Maya4.5.


52

COMMON QUESTIONS AND ADVANCED TOPICS | 5Files installed by the installation program

The directories under Maya4.5 include folders and files such as theexecutable code, developer’s kit, online documentation, and built-in scripts.Contents vary depending on the items you chose to install. You don’t needto understand the contents of these directories, but do not modify them.Maya uses the directories and their contents during operation.

Under the AliasWavefront directory is a COM directory with subdirectoriesand files for licensing operations.

Each user on a computer has a Maya home directory that contains his or herprojects directory, preferences, and other Maya files. By default, Maya sets auser’s home directory to the user’s profile directory, typically at:

C:\Documents and Settings\username\My Documents\maya\4.5

where username is the user’s login name.


53

COMMON QUESTIONS AND ADVANCED TOPICS | 5Additional resources

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

• www.aliaswavefront.com provides information on various Maya issues.

• www.microsoft.com provides information on various Windows issues.

• www.globetrotter.com provides details on licensing and hardware locks.

• The web site of your graphics card manufacturer usually provides details oninstallation and performance issues.


54

6 TROUBLESHOOTING

This chapter describes how to troubleshoot installation and licensingproblems.

CONTACTING SUPPORT SERVICES

North America Hours: Monday to Friday, 9:00 am to 8:00 pm ESTSingle Incident Support Service:Toll-free from U.S. and Canada: 800-747-9208Elsewhere in the Americas: 416-874-8881Maintenance Customers:Toll-free from U.S. and Canada: 877-927-7478Elsewhere in the Americas: 416-362-8670Fax: 416-369-6138E-mail: [email protected]

Europe Hours: Monday to Friday, 9:00 CET to 18:30 CET

Single Incident Support Service & Maintenance Customers:Toll-free from Germany: 0800-1827660Toll-free from UK: 0800-7318923Toll-free from France: 0800-902295Toll-free from Italy: 800-780809All others (toll call): +32 9 266 12 34Fax: +32 9 266 12 30E-mail: [email protected]

Asia-Pacific Please contact your local reseller for support service.


55

TROUBLESHOOTING | 6Installation program error messages

INSTALLATION PROGRAM ERROR MESSAGES

This section explains error and status messages that might occur as you runthe Maya installation program. Self-explanatory messages are not included.For details on error messages that might occur when you start or run Maya,see “Troubleshooting licensing problems” on page 57.

This program requires VGA or better resolution.

You need a newer monitor or graphics card for good display quality ofMaya.

Unable to create the MAYA_INSTALL_LOCATION key in the Windows registry.

Call our Support Services department. You can still install and run Mayaeven if you see this message.

Unable to install the Sentinel parallel port driver. Please refer to the manual for instructions on installing this driver.

When the licensing procedure works correctly, it installs a parallel portdevice driver that communicates with your computer’s parallel connectorwhen the hardware lock is installed. This is necessary for correct licenseoperation. Because the procedure failed to install the device driver, you mustinstall it as described in “Confirming parallel port driver installation” onpage 60.

Note

You might see a message that tells you a newer version of mfc42.dll,msvcrt.dll, or mscrt.dll is available. The message then asks if you want toinstall the newer version. You’ll generally want to install the newer versionof these C runtime libraries. However, you can choose not to install thenewer version without impeding installation.

If you’re not sure what to do, make a backup copy of the library beforeinstalling the new version. These libraries are in the location specified byyour SYSTEM ROOT system variable. This variable is set at restart timebased on where it finds the system files. By default, the location isC:\Winnt\system32 (Windows 2000 Professional), orC:\Windows\system32 (Windows XP Professional).


56

TROUBLESHOOTING | 6Troubleshooting licensing problems

TROUBLESHOOTING LICENSING PROBLEMS

If the Maya main window appears after you install licenses and start Maya,you typically don’t have a license problem. If the Maya main windowdoesn’t appear, one of the following error messages is likely to appear:

No license suitable to run this version of MayaError setting license default.Unable to locate a license server for Maya.Cannot find any aw*.dat files in C:\flexlm\.Your hardware lock is unsupported (revision #n). Contact Alias|Wavefront. Your work has been saved to the file named lostlock.ma.No licenses found for your FLEXid flexid

For the message that appears, do the steps under the appropriate headingthat follows. In each case, do the steps sequentially until the problem issolved. If you’ve tried all steps or you see an error message not listed, writedown the exact error message and call our Support Services department.

Note that the last message in the above list might occur as you run theLicense Installer software, not as you run Maya.

No license suitable to run this version of Maya

or

Only the OPA installation window appears

1 Make sure you restarted the appropriate computer (or computers) after youinstalled Maya.

2 If you are using a FlexLM Hardware Lock, make sure you attached thehardware lock correctly. See “Hardware lock” on page 13 for installationdetails.

3 If you tried to run Maya on a client or server, make sure the time and dateon the client and server are correct and synchronized. If the time and date ofthe client differs from the server by more than a half hour, the client mightnot be able to get a license.

4 Review the licensing procedure to make sure you completed all the steps.


57


5 On the appropriate node-locked computer or license server computer, makesure the parallel port is operational. A quick way to check this is to plug aprinter into the parallel port connector and print something.

6 Do the steps in “Confirming parallel port driver installation” on page 60.

7 Do the steps in “Examining a licensing log file” on page 61.

8 Do the steps in “Checking for licensing errors with lmtools” on page 64.

Error setting license default

Do the steps under the heading No license suitable to run this version of Maya.

Unable to locate a license server for Maya

Verify that the USE_SERVER line is below the SERVER line in the clientlicense file. For an example, see “Setting up each client” on page 39.

or

1 Stop and start the license server software as described in “Stopping andstarting license server operation” on page 67.

2 Do the steps in “Checking for licensing errors with lmtools” on page 64.

3 Restart the license server computer.

Cannot find any aw*.dat files in C:\flexlm\

1 From My Computer or Windows Explorer, verify that the C:\FlexLM\directory contains the file aw.dat or aw_servername.dat.

If this file doesn’t exist, you’ll need to redo the licensing procedure asdescribed in Chapter 4.

2 Do the steps in “Checking that a license file is the correct file type” on page67.

Note

This message occurs only with floating licenses.


58


Your hardware lock is unsupported (revision #n)...

1 Make sure your hardware lock is either at revision level 2 or higher or a “6series” lock. The lock has a sticker that says the revision level, for instanceAlias|Wavefront Rev 2. If not, contact our Sales Support department to obtainthe appropriate lock.

2 If two or more hardware locks are plugged into the parallel connector, makesure the Maya lock is plugged directly into the connector. Plug the otherlocks into the back end of the installed Maya lock.

3 Restart the computer where the lock is plugged in.

The Product Activation window does not appear

If you were expecting the Online Product Activation window to appearwhen you started Maya (so that you can enter your serial number oractivation number) and it does not and Maya does not run, you should selectStart > Programs > Alias|Wavefront > Maya 4.5 > Online ProductActivation.

If it still doesn’t open:

• you may have a damaged or incomplete install. Try reinstalling Maya.

• you may have one or more environment variables that affect licensing set.Check your environment variables and your Maya.env file forMAYA_LICENSE or MAYA_ALT_EN settings.

• check for the existence of files in C:\FlexLM that begin with “aw” and endwith the “.dat” extension. It is possible that you have a corrupt or expiredlicense file that is misleading Maya that you are attempting to connect to alicense srever which prevents Online Product Activation from launching.

The main Maya view port doesn't open, but the Script Editor does

This is usually due to incorrect OpenGL drivers on the machine. Check thatthe qualified graphic drivers are installed. This will likely happen with astock Windows XP configuration.

No licenses found for your FLEXid flexid

• You don’t have any licensing information in the license file.


59


or

• If the licensing information originates in an e-mail or other file of an IRIXcomputer and you transfer the file to the Windows computer, you musttransfer it in ASCII mode rather than binary. Otherwise the file will containadditional control characters at line endings that the License Installer won’trecognize, and you’ll see the preceding error message.

You can use Notepad to examine the contents of the file on the Windowscomputer to make sure it has no added control characters.

Confirming parallel port driver installationA Sentinel driver enables communication between a node-locked computerand its parallel port, or between the license server computer and its parallelport. The parallel port’s connector is where the hardware lock is attached.

The installation program installs the Sentinel driver unless it already existson your computer. To make sure the driver was installed, do the followingsteps on the computer where the hardware lock is attached.

To check Sentinel driver installation:

1 Using My Computer or Windows Explorer, open the Sentinel directory thatexists where you installed the Maya software.

By default, the Sentinel directory is installed in C:\Program Files\Common Files\AliasWavefront Shared\Sentinel.

2 Open Setupx86.exe.

This starts the Sentinel Driver Setup Program.

3 Select Functions > Configure Sentinel Driver.

If no entry for a parallel port is listed in the window, click Cancel and installthe Sentinel Driver as follows.

To install the Sentinel driver:

1 Open Setupx86.exe to restart the Sentinel Driver Setup Program.

2 Select Functions > Install Sentinel Driver.

3 In the path text box, specify the location of the files needed by the SentinelDriver Setup program to activate the Sentinel driver.


60


The Setup program shows the path where it thinks these files are located.This normally is the correct path. If so, click OK. If you installed Maya in itsdefault location, you’ll find the files in:

C:\Program Files\Common Files\AliasWavefront Shared\Sentinel

4 Click OK when prompted to restart the system.

5 From the Windows Start menu, select Shutdown.

6 Select Restart the computer and click Yes.

Examining a licensing log fileIf you start Maya and either of the following error messages appears insteadof the Maya main window, you can create and examine a licensing log file tolearn the nature of the error:

No license suitable to run this version of Maya

or

Error setting license default.

For a node-locked license, do the following steps on the computer where themessage appears. For a floating license, do the following steps on the licenseserver computer.

To examine the license error log file:

1 From the Start menu select:

(Windows 2000 Professional) Programs > Accessories > Command Prompt

(Windows XP Professional) All Programs > Accessories > Command Prompt

2 At the Command Prompt, enter:

set FLEXLM_DIAGNOSTICS=2

3 To repeat the failed attempt to start Maya, use the full path:

install_path\maya

where install_path is the path to which you installed the Maya software. Forexample, if you installed Maya on drive C:, the path would be C:\ProgramFiles\AliasWavefront\Maya4.5\maya.


61


Because you entered set FLEXLM_DIAGNOSTICS=2 in a prior step, theattempt to start Maya creates a licensing log file that is evident onscreenwhen you start Maya. Do not accept the error message; instead, click the logwindow and scroll down to the errors.

4 Find the message in the following topic, “Understanding log file errormessages,” and do as instructed.

Ignore other information in the file. If the message isn’t listed, call ourSupport Services department.

5 Exit Notepad.

6 Close the Command Prompt window.

Understanding log file error messagesThe most common error messages are explained below. If multiple errorsexist, only the first one found is listed in the log file. In the followingexplanations, license file refers to the aw.dat file for node-locked licenses, andaw_servername.dat (on the server) for floating licenses.

Important

If you didn’t uninstall the prior version of Maya before doing theinstallation procedure, the installation program appends the Maya 4.5directory after the existing Maya directory in the path system variable.

So if you start Maya or a related program from a Command Prompt, thesystem searches for the program from the older Maya software before theMaya 4.5 software. To run the Maya 4.5 software (as you are trying to do inthis step), you must reverse the contents of the path system variable.

Error Possible solutions

FLEXLM checkout error: Invalid (inconsistent) license key. The license key and data for the feature do not match. This usually happens when a license file has been altered.

Check the license file for a typing mistake inthe password, expiration, or license version.If you obtained an evaluation license forMaya, also check the spelling of eval or eduin the VENDOR_STRING.


62


FLEXLM checkout error: Feature has expired...

Either the current date is later than theexpiration date or there’s a typing mistake inthe expiration date.

FLEXLM checkout error: Invalid date format in license file

Check the license file’s expiration date for anincorrect format, for example, may-4-2001.The correct format is 4-may-2001.

FLEXLM checkout error: Invalid

License File syntax.

Check the entire license file for a typingmistake.

FLEXLM checkout error: No such

feature exists.

Check the license file’s spelling of thecomponents, package, and feature lines.

FLEXLM checkout error: Future license

file format or misspelling in license

file.

Check the license file’s spelling of VENDORor any part of the stringHOSTID=FLEXID=number. Also check thatyou didn’t make any syntax errors, such astyping a \ instead of / at the end of a line.

FLEXLM checkout error: No SERVER lines in license file.

For a node-locked license, check that thelicense file’s License Count is uncounted.

FLEXLM checkout error: Maya license in file appears to be corrupted.

Check the entire license file for a typingmistake.

FLEXLM checkout error: The hostid of this system does not match the hostid specified in the license file.

Check that the license file’s Host ID or ServerHost ID matches your system ID. See“Checking for licensing errors with lmtools”on page 64.

or

Check that the hardware lock is plugged intothe parallel connector correctly. See“Hardware lock” on page 13.


63


Checking for licensing errors with lmtoolsLicensing sometimes fails because your licensing software is using thewrong Host ID (or Server Host ID) for the hardware lock plugged into yournode-locked or license server computer. The Host ID (or Server Host ID) fora hardware lock is printed on a sticker on the lock.

For node-locked or floating licenses, you can use the lmtools program tocheck that your licensing software is using the correct Host ID (or ServerHost ID). For floating licenses only, you can additionally use an lmtoolsprogram to check for errors not listed in “Understanding log file errormessages” on page 62.

Do the following steps on the license server computer or on a computer thathas a node-locked license.

To check license errors with lmtools:

1 On the machine you want to license, choose Start > Run.


drive:\Program Files\Common Files\AliasWavefront Shared\Licensing\bin\lmtools.exe

where drive is the hard drive where you installed Maya.

3 In the LMTOOLS window, click the System Settings tab.

FLEXLM checkout error: License server does not support this feature.

Check the license file to see if the feature hasexpired, the license server has not yetstarted, or the version is higher than thehighest supported version.

or

Try using the computer’s IP address insteadof the hostname.

FLEXLM checkout error: Clock difference too large between client and server.

Make sure the time and date on the clientand server are correct and synchronized. Ifthe time and date of the client differ from theserver by more than a half hour, the clientmight not be able to get a license.


64


4 Record the FLEXID7 value, if shown. Otherwise, record the EthernetAddress value. The value you record is your system ID.

5 In Notepad, open your license file (C:\FlexLM\aw.dat oraw_servername.dat).

6 Find “HOSTID=” in your license file and compare it to your recorded systemID.

If these ID numbers do not match, validate that you installed the correctlicense. Otherwise, you need to obtain a new license for your recordedSystem ID.

Note—A Host ID that contains FLEXID=7-0 or FLEXID=6-0 means thehardware lock is not plugged into the parallel connector correctly.

7 If you are checking for floating licensing errors, also click the Server Statustab and do the following:

Turn on Display Everything and click Perform Status Enquiry.

8 Examine the status information that appears. For example:

License server status: 7111@servernameLicense file(s) on servername:

C:\FlexLM\aw_servername.dat:

servername: license server UP (MASTER) \

Vendor daemon status (on servername):

sgiawd: UP

where servername is the name of the license server computer.

In short, the status information shows whether the license server is up andrunning, and whether each feature line in aw_servername.dat has no errorsand the license count is correct.

License server status—The number 7111 is a fixed number that representsthe TCP port used internally by the licensing software. If you see a numberother than 7111, make sure that you intend for that port number to be used.Otherwise, open the file aw_servername.dat and change the number to 7111.

License file(s) on servername—Check that the path to the license file iscorrect.


65


servername—The next line of the status information shows the license serveris up. If the license server isn’t up, you’ll see an error message that beginslike this:

lmgrd not running: Cannot connect to license server.The server (lmgrd) has not been started yet, or the wrong port@host or license file is being used, or the port or hostname in the license file has been changed...

If you see this message, confirm the license server is up and ensure thepathname to the server’s aw_servername.dat file is correct.

Vendor daemon status (on servername)—The final two lines show whetherthe vendor daemon is up. The vendor daemon connects the license server toan application, in this case Maya. You can’t directly start the vendor daemonwhen it’s down. When you stop and start the license server software, thedaemon starts also. If the license server is down, stop and start the licenseserver software as described in “Stopping and starting license serveroperation” on page 67. If the problem persists, restart the license servercomputer.

Other information—Below the status information is a list of features in theaw_servername.dat file and whether the clients can use the features. Anexample follows:

Feature usage info:Users of MayaUnltdf: (Total of 3 licenses available)

This example indicates that three floating Maya Unlimited licenses areavailable.

If the aw_servername.dat file has a typing error, you’ll see something similarto this example:

Users of MayaUnltdf: (Error: 3 licenses unsupported by license server)

Check aw_servername.dat for a typing error.

9 If doing the following procedure doesn’t fix the problem, call our SupportServices department and keep the information from the preceding stepshandy.


66

TROUBLESHOOTING | 6Stopping and starting license server operation

STOPPING AND STARTING LICENSE SERVER OPERATION

This section summarizes how to use the FlexLM License Manager to stopand start the license server software. Do the steps on the license server.

To use FlexLM License Manager:

1 Choose Start > Run.


drive:\Program Files\Common Files\AliasWavefront Shared\Licensing\bin\lmtools.exe

where drive is the hard drive where you installed Maya.

3 In the LMTOOLS window, Service/License File tab, make sureConfiguration using Services is turned on.

4 Click the Start/Stop/Reread tab and click the Stop Server and then the StartServer buttons.

Checking whether the license server is runningYou can use the Windows Task Manager to tell whether the license server isrunning. Do the following steps on the license server computer.

To check license server status:

1 Press Ctrl-Alt-Delete on your keyboard.

2 Click Task Manager.

3 Click the Processes tab.

If lmgrd.exe and sgiawd.exe are in the list of processes, the license server isup. If neither are in the list, the license server is down. If only one is in thelist, the license server is partially up. In this case, restart the computer.

Checking that a license file is the correct file typeThe aw.dat or aw_servername.dat file must be a .dat or FLEXLM license file.The following procedure shows how to check and correct the file type.


67

TROUBLESHOOTING | 6Understanding license contents

To check and correct the file type:

1 From My Computer or Windows Explorer, right-click aw.dat oraw_servername.dat and select Properties from the pop-up menu.

2 In the Properties window, check that the file type is either .dat or FlexLMLicense file.

3 If not, select Tools > Folder Options.

4 Select the View tab.

5 Turn off Hide file extensions for known file types and click OK. You’ll likelysee that aw.dat or aw_servername.dat file has an extension other than .dat, forexample, .txt.

6 Right-click the filename and select Rename from the pop-up menu.

7 Change the file extension to .dat.

You’ll be prompted that if you change a filename extension, the file maybecome unusable.

8 Click Yes. (The file won’t become unusable.)

The file now has the correct .dat extension for licensing operation.

UNDERSTANDING LICENSE CONTENTS

This section explains the license contents in detail. Understanding thecontents is helpful if you manually entered the license into a text file fromfax or mail and you’re looking for a typing error.

Note that a license can include multiple software components and copies ofMaya. The term license therefore refers to an entire license or an individualentry of a license, depending on the context.

Node-locked licensesIf you order node-locked licenses, you receive a license for each computerwhere you install Maya. The main elements of a node-locked license forMaya Unlimited follow.


68


Feature Name—is the Maya product package you purchased.

License Version—shows the version number of the Maya package.

Expiration—shows when the license expires. The word “permanent”appears if there is no expiration date for the license. Product evaluationlicenses have actual expiration dates.

Password—is an encryption string that prevents copyright infringement.

Vendor String—indicates you have a timed-out, evaluation, or educationallicense. If not present, it means that you have a permanent license.

HOST ID—is your computer’s system ID, obtained either from yourEthernet card or from a hardware lock attached to your machine.

Floating licensesIf you order floating licenses, you receive a single license for the licenseserver computer. The main elements of a floating license for Maya Unlimitedfollow:

HOST ID

Expiration

Vendor String

Password

Feature NameLicenseVersion

FEATURE MayaUnltd sgiawd 4.500 permanent uncounted \ B6E45D3737BA VENDOR_STRING=xxx HOSTID=FLEXID=7-b2857edd


69


Server—is a placeholder where you must insert your actual server name.

Server Host ID—is your computer’s system ID, obtained either from theMAC Address of your Ethernet card or from a hardware lock attached toyour machine.

For example:

Port Number—is a fixed number that represents the TCP port usedinternally by the licensing software.

Password—is an encryption string that prevents copyright infringement.

Feature Name—is the Maya product package you purchased.

Vendor String—indicates you have a timed-out, evaluation, or educationallicense. If not present, it means that you have a permanent license.

License Version—shows the version number of the software.

Expiration—shows when the license expires. An expiration of permanentmeans there is no expiration date for the license. Product evaluation licenseshave actual expiration dates.

License Count—is the number of floating licenses you ordered.

Using an Ethernet Address 00c04f8ef647

Using a FLEXID FLEXID=7-b1234a12

Server

Password

LicenseVersion

Host IDYour servername here

License

ExpirationCount

PortNumber

SERVER server FLEXID=7-b1234a12 7111VENDOR sgiawd /usr/aw/COM/etc/sgiawdFEATURE MayaUnltdf sgiawd 4.500 permanent 1 432B9293FFAD3F3726A6 \

SUPERSEDE="MayaUnltdf" \ISSUED=6-jun-2001VENDOR_STRING=xxx

VendorString

FeatureName


70

AN

IMA

TIO

N

INDEX
Aadditional resources 54administrative privileges 17AliasWavefront directory 53
Bbatch renderer

minimum software 21

CCDs

shipped with Maya 7certified hardware 15clients

setting up 39COM directory 53components

adding after installation 46computer name

finding 48confirming

installation 43Maya installation 43

Ddefault directory

Maya 4.5 installation 8directories

under Maya4.5 53directory, installation

changing 21disk space

minimum required 12display performance 15

Documentation 21

Eending Maya

on Windows with TaskManager 47

error messagesupon starting Maya 57

Expiration 69, 70exploring

the Maya CD 49

Ffeatures

installation 20file extensions

showing 34files

installed 52FLEX ID 69Flexlm License Manager 67flexlm uninstall 50FLEXLM_DIAGNOSTICS 61floating licenses

installing 37understanding 69

GGifts 21graphics cards

driver software 13

Hhardware

requirements 11hardware locks

correct revision 14disconnected 48losing 48moving to anothercomputer 46

host namefinding 48

Iinstallation

confirming 43installation directory

changing 21installation program

error messages 56exiting 49files installed 52selecting features 20

installkey uninstall 50interactive performance

tuning 51

LLicense Count 70license management options 37license server

checking up or downstatus 67

stopping, starting, andchecking 37, 67

License Version 69, 70


71

INDEX

licenseschecking for errors withlmtools 64

error log file 61, 62installing floating 37overview 25prerequisites 34server and client 26understanding floating 69understanding node-locked 68

licensing 23Licensing Support 21lmtools 64location, Maya

changing 21log file

licensing errors 61, 62

MMaya 21

changing disk location 47running multiple copies 47

Maya Completefloating licenses 8node-locked licenses 8

Maya Developer Toolkit 21Maya Gifts 21Maya Help Files 21Maya Licensing 21Microsoft

Intellimouse 12motion capture 16mouse

driver settings 16simulating IRIX 16

Nnode-locked licenses 8

understanding 68

OOnline Product Activation

(OPA) 8OPA (Online Product

Activation) 28overwriting the prior Maya

version 46

Pparallel connectors 14parallel port driver

confirming installation 60Password 69, 70pathnames

in Windows 48performance

tuning 51Plug-ins

installing 49port number

license server 70prefs

directory location 8printers

using hardware lock with 14

QQualification Chart 12questions and answers 45

quittinginstallation 49

RReadme

viewing 49Registry

Windows 45

Sscripts

directory location 8Sentinel driver

confirming installation 60Server Host ID 70server name

finding 48server placeholder in license 70setup complete 23Shader Library

directory location 8installing 49

shortcutclicking 43

shortcut icon 22showing

all file extensions 34starting

Maya 43startup

duration 47Maya error messages 57

Status buttonlmtools 65

stencil planes 16


72

INDEX

stopping and startinglicense server 67

Support, contacting 55system

examining capabilities 11requirements 11

system pathadding Maya to it 22

Ttroubleshooting

licensing 55True Color 15tuning

performance 51

Uuninstalling 49

VVendor String 69, 70version

finding Maya 47versions

previous 26VRAM 15

WWacom tablet 16Windows

Registry 45Windows 95 47Windows 98 47

Windows ME 47Windows NT 48


73

INDEX


74