Batch Rendering License Question

[daniellefetterman]

Hi, newbie here.

If I have a paid login for Maya but want to batch render to some additional machines that have just the unlicensed install on them, is that allowed? These machines would ONLY be used as batch render machines, no GUI. The licensing seems vague as it's hard to find an answer to this.

If the answer is YES can you buy render-only node licenses, if so, where do I get them? They don't seem to sell render-only nodes on autodesk.com.

I have only been able to find this answer thus far:

https://forums.autodesk.com/t5/maya-forum/maya-batch-license/td-p/6595277

Thanks,

Dani

[Christoph_Schaedl]

If you like to batch Render with Arnold you need additional Arnold licenses.

For more Arnold licenses you need to contact a reseller.
https://www.autodesk.com/de/partners/locate-a-reseller

Or geht them here.
https://www.autodesk.com/de/products/arnold/overview?term=1-YEAR&tab=subscription

[daniellefetterman]

Hey Christoph! Thank you for the feedback.

I am not even looking at the renderer yet (arnold/vray) what I am more concerned about is if I make a render pool of about 15 un-used PC machines and install, but don't activate, MAYA 2025 on them, can I use them to batch render a project I created in a licensed version of Maya, assuming I already have bought the 15 copies of arnold. 

I have tested unlicensed Maya installs and they will batch render. So I saw your post below and was hopeful this was legal to do, I'm just hoping I can get additional confirmation so I'm not accused of illegal use of unlicensed software if ever audited. 

Thank you!

[Christoph_Schaedl · Accepted solution]

Yes, you dont need additional Maya licenses for batch rendering. If you dont start Maya it does not need a license.

Alternative would be to use "kick" the standalone Arnold renderer.

[daniellefetterman]

That's good to hear. I think our lead artist is leaning towards VRAY so I'm the lucky one tasked with figuring out how we would get the render farm up. So good to know we can just install maya 2025 on the extra machines in the office and include those machines in the batch rendering, and since we won't be using the MAYA GUI interface, they can stay unlicensed.  

Thank you, Christoph, you're the best!

-Dani

[Stephen.Blair · Accepted solution]

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@daniellefetterman wrote:

Hey Christoph! Thank you for the feedback.

I am not even looking at the renderer yet (arnold/vray) what I am more concerned about is if I make a render pool of about 15 un-used PC machines and install, but don't activate, MAYA 2025 on them, can I use them to batch render a project I created in a licensed version of Maya, assuming I already have bought the 15 copies of arnold. 

I have tested unlicensed Maya installs and they will batch render. So I saw your post below and was hopeful this was legal to do, I'm just hoping I can get additional confirmation so I'm not accused of illegal use of unlicensed software if ever audited. 

Thank you!

---

One license of Maya is not enough for 15 render nodes. You would need two Maya licenses.

Terms of Use | Special Terms | Autodesk

For each Hosted Multi User license or Hosted Single User license you are entitled to install or access as part of Your Multi User subscription or Single User subscription, You and Your Authorized Users may execute Batch functionality on up to ten (10) concurrent computers. For purposes of illustration only:

• 10 Multi-User licenses of Maya or 3ds Max = 100 hosted license rights of Batch
• 10 Single-User licenses of Maya or 3ds Max = 100 hosted license rights of Batch

[daniellefetterman]

Ohh, that's good to know. Did not see that. So they do NOT offer unlimited batch rendering on non-licensed Maya installs, despite having the purchased render licenses.

So two subscriptions would allow for up to 20 non-licensed Maya installs for batch render-only.

Thanks for the clarification. Man, I looked everywhere and missed that. Thanks.

-Dani