3dsmax2018 - Installing on render machines with no video card...

[jacksc02]

Has anyone had any luck getting max2018 to work on render machines that don't have video cards?
The install works as expected but every time max starts it crashes instantly. I have tried all of the various graphics modes but nothing works!

[vlado]

There should be *some* kind of video, no? At least on-board Intel? Have you tried connecting through remote desktop?

Best regards,
Vlado

[jacksc02]

There is some kind of onboard video. I can view the machines through VNC/remote desktop.
Any other version of max I can view an opened max session just not 2018.
I installed a video card in one of the render nodes and 2018 opens as expected.

[vlado]

I guess it would be something to report to Autodesk then...

Best regards,
Vlado

[Deflaminis]

Set the renderer on those machines to nitrous software.

[jacksc02]

Thanks Deflaminis,
I have already tried that and it just crashes without showing the viewport.
I have tried all of the suggestions on the Area about removing the prosound.dlc and turning the "welcome" screen off in the 3dsmax.ini file.

Any other thoughts?

[Deflaminis]

My best suggestion is when it crashes to put your email address in it and send it to me in a PM, or record the report number and post it here and I will search it for you to see where it's crashing. The nitrous software should work but maybe it's crashing somewhere else...

[Oleg_Budeanu]

What about other versions of 3dsmax? 2016, 2017. If they crash as well, then it is something about system or drivers. I am working in 2016 and on Amazon EC2 virtual node with virtual video card it works fine in software mode.

[vlado]

I am working in 2016 and on Amazon EC2 virtual node with virtual video card it works fine in software mode.

That's interesting. How is that working for you? Sorry for deraling the thread, but you're first person that I know that does it and I'm curious about details.

Best regards,
Vlado

[Syclone1]

That's interesting. How is that working for you? Sorry for deraling the thread, but you're first person that I know that does it and I'm curious about details.

Best regards,
Vlado

My IT people at the main office have tried to push me in to using some "virtual" servers and I keep saying no as I didnt think its a viable option for our line of work. They are also pushing for cloud based rendering and I know Vlado is experimenting with it but unfortunately the "labs" site is blocked here and they wont open the url (they are overly paranoid here) so I cant show the people that matter.

[Oleg_Budeanu]

That's interesting. How is that working for you? Sorry for deraling the thread, but you're first person that I know that does it and I'm curious about details.

Best regards,
Vlado

Well, i'm not saying that this works perfect But it does not crash.
Just start up any instance capable of loading 3dsmax, install 2016 3dsmax in trial and change viewport driver to nitrous software.
There are graphical issues, but overall you can check camera movement or change objects properties. But it is not convenient for usual work of course.
Done that for a personal project I am working on when my notebook was not enough to render.

[Deflaminis]

Today update1 for 2018 was released and this fix was included. MAXX-34697 Viewports Crash when opening files with no GPU (on ECS machines for example)

[jacksc02]

I have tried the update for 2018 but it doesn't fix the issue.
I have sent the crash report off but I haven't received a report number at this stage. If I get one I will PM you

[jacksc02]

Annoyingly I still haven't received a report number.

[Deflaminis]

Can you email me your report email address please? I can look it up from my end. Alfred.DeFlaminis@autodesk.com. Thanks!