How to set up Autodesk Arnold license

Autodesk Support

Apr 24, 2023

Products and versions covered

Issue:

This article shows how to setup Autodesk Arnold license.

Causes:

Annual subscriptions for Arnold 5 (aka Arnold 2018 as shown in the Autodesk Account) use Autodesk License framework and are issued as network/floating licenses (multi-user).
Autodesk Network License works with the Network License Manager (NLM) running on a server distributing licenses to one or more client machines where Arnold plugin runs, e.g. MtoA, MAXtoA, C4DtoA etc. The NLM can also run on the same machine where the plugin is installed and where the rendering runs.

Arnold 6 (aka Arnold 2020) introduces single-user licenses. See Introducing Arnold Single-user. Monthly, annual, and multi-year single-user subscriptions of Arnold 6 are available on the Autodesk e-store. These do not require a license server. With a new single-user subscription, you just sign in with your Autodesk ID using the Arnold License Manager.



Example of Arnold single-user license as shown in the Autodesk Account. Note the version 2020 specified.


Example of Arnold multi-user license as shown in the Autodesk Account. Note both version 2018 (Arnold 5) and 2020 (Arnold 6) are available.
Tip: Generating a license for Arnold 2020 will also include Arnold 2018.


Example of Arnold perpetual multi-user license as shown in the Autodesk Account. Note perpetual license are locked to a specific version--2018, which works with plugins based on Arnold 5, e.g. MtoA 3.3.0.2.
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Consult the Arnold-Plugin Version Reference page to see which version of Arnold is compatible with which plugin (MtoA, MAXtoA, C4DtoA etc.).

Solution:

Arnold 5 (aka Arnold 2018)


Step 1 - Get the Network License Manager (NLM)

Identify a machine which would act as license server. Then, download the NLM from this page for the corresponding OS.

 

Step 2 - Get the Arnold license file

Generate the Arnold license file from the Autodesk Account: Generate a Network License File in Autodesk Account (Video)

 

Step 3 - Install and Configure the NLM

Install and configure the NLM on the server following the steps indicated here, depending on the OS used:

Step 4 - Set up the ADSKFLEX_LICENSE_FILE Environment Variable

An Environment Variable is needed for Arnold to know where to pull a license. The below steps s needs to be done on the workstation where C4DtoA will run.
Note: To avoid licensing errors during network congestion create a FLEXLM_TIMEOUT environment variable.
  • Mac/Linux: 
  1. Use a text editor to create a flexlmrc.txt file. Its content should look like below, except with the name or IP address of your license server:
ADSKFLEX_LICENSE_FILE=@SERVER_HOSTNAME_OR_IP
 
If the license server is on the same machine as Arnold, the flexlmrc file will look like this:
 
ADSKFLEX_LICENSE_FILE=@localhost
  1. Save the txt file anywhere on the machine.
  2. Open a Terminal window and type open ~ to open the Home folder.
  3. Drag and drop the flexlmrc.txt file there.
  4. Type cd ~ to move the terminal to the Home folder.
  5. Finally run mv flexlmrc.txt .flexlmrc to make the file a configuration file.

Step 5 - Confirm Arnold is working

Run a simple render (or batch render) with Arnold - if no watermarks are shown, Arnold is then pulling the license from the server correctly.
 

Arnold 6 (aka Arnold 2020 and newer)

First, find your license type. Then follow the below steps depending on your scenario/license type:

 

Single-user license

See Signing In to Activate Single-User Arnold.

 

Switching from multi-user to a new single-user license

See how to switch to single-user licensing.

 

Multi-user license (new install)

Do the following in order: 
  1. Setting up the Autodesk Network License Manager.
  2. Connecting to a Network License Server.

 

Multi-user license (upgrade from previous Arnold)

If you already have an existing NLM serving license for a previous version of Arnold (e.g. Arnold 5 aka Arnold 2018) to your workstations/render farm, follow these steps:
  1. Generate a new license file to get Arnold 6. See Generate License File.
  2. Configure your NLM with the new license file. See Configure your NLM.
  3. On your workstation/render nodes, install an Arnold plugin (MtoA, MAXtoA, etc.) compatible with Arnold 6. Refer to this version table reference.
  4. The Arnold License Manager which comes included with the latest version of the plugin will automatically detect the existing ADSKFLEX_LICENSE_FILE variable and will link your Arnold 6-based plugin to your license server.

See this playlist to learn how to use the Arnold License Manager.

Products:

Arnold;

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