Arnold 6 render via batch render has watermark

[Parmenides]

When I render a scene in Maya 2020 and Arnold 6 using the batch option I get a watermark.  I have a multi-license and Maya 2019.2 doesn't render with watermarks.

According to the only documentation I could find, it seems you should only have to login with your Autodesk account. 

I hope I don't have to set up another license server. I would rather have a root canal. 

[jonesm]

As far as I know you have to obtain another licence for Arnold 6 for Maya and host it on 1 of the machines on your network. The licence you have for Arnold for Maya 2019.2 will not work with Maya 2020.

[Parmenides]

Thanks, but there is nowhere to obtain another license. If you go to the Autodesk account it just sends you to Solidangle site to download from the public download page.  I was told that it will see your license from you being logged into your Autodesk account.  I don't see anywhere to input an Arnold serial number.

I have uninstalled Maya 2020, reinstalled and then reinstalled Arnold. Still get watermarks.   

[jonesm]

I'm working with an academic licence and you get the Arnold licence free with your Subscription, not sure about commercial licence, you may have to add this to your sub at an extra cost.

I'm not on 2020 yet but as a workaround that worked for me with 2019.2, instead of doing a Render-Batch Render do a Render-Render Sequence this will render your frames in the render window and capture the frames at the same time

When setting up licencing for my lab I made a workflow, it might be of some use to you:

Setup Arnold network Licence Manager on Server PC::

1. Install NLM by launching maya installer - Install tools and utilities
2. Launch NLM using shortcut on desktop
3. Get Licence file from: https://registeronce.autodesk.com/prodreg
4. Under System Settings tab get Hostname and Ethernet data for use in lic file generation in link above
5. Save Lic file to same directory as NLM
6. Save debug.log file to C:\ProgramData\FNP_DIR\debug.log
7. Right click on debug.log file - goto properties - security - edit - give all rights to all users.
8. Under Config Services tab enter new service name and browse to lmgrd, lic file and debug log file
9. Click use services and start service at startup - Save Service
10. Go to Start/Stop/Reread tab - Start Server
11. Go to Server Status tab and Perform Status Enquiry
12. Open Maya - rendering submenu -
1.  Arnold - RLM licencing - Connect to licence server
2. Under Autodesk (NLM) enter @Anonymous*** where ********** is the name of the PC that is hosting the server
13. Make sure there is a firewall rule opening inbound connections on ports 2080, 27000-27009
14. Client side - open Maya - Arnold - RLM licensing -Connect to licence server
15.  Under Autodesk (NLM) enter @Anonymous.***.***.** where **.***.***.**  is the IP of the PC that is hosting the server - This will set an environment variable to the licence service

[Parmenides]

Thanks for the info the question isn't about setting up the server. I have the license server set up for Arnold on Maya 2019.2 and it works fine.   The issue is with Arnold 6 and Maya 2020 which no longer requires the license server. Supposably all you have to do is log in to Maya and it can be seen.  But this isn't working, I still get a watermark. There are no clear instructions. 

[damaggio]

not much help i suppose but i highly recommend Vray next só you never have to worry about issues like this, plus a more advanced renderer.... i know , it’s an extra cost , but is worth it. 

best regards Paramenides.

[Stephen.Blair]

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@Parmenides wrote:

Thanks for the info the question isn't about setting up the server. I have the license server set up for Arnold on Maya 2019.2 and it works fine.   The issue is with Arnold 6 and Maya 2020 which no longer requires the license server. Supposably all you have to do is log in to Maya and it can be seen.  But this isn't working, I still get a watermark. There are no clear instructions. 

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From: https://docs.arnoldrenderer.com/x/TYcfBg

Arnold 6 requires a new license file. 

If you have an active subscription, an Arnold 2020 entitlement will be added to your Autodesk account. That may take a few days.

When you see Arnold 2020 listed, you can generate a new network license file.

Signing In is for single-user licenses, not network/multi-user licenses.

[jonesm]

No worries, good to know the licencing has changed for Maya 2020 for future reference.

[Parmenides · Accepted solution]

I finally received the license file. Took 7 days to show up.  

Note: to anyone else trying to add Arnold 2020 to your license server, make sure you update the license server to at least 11.16. earlier versions won't let you run 2018 & 2020 together.