VRay and Arnold Playing Together: Houdini 19

[benfox]

We had both renders working fine with before Houdini 19, but now I can't get them both running without erroring. I have tried a million different iterations of loading Vray and Arnold as packages and/or straight from houdini.env but always get the following error on load when both are loaded together. This error fails any render job on Deadline. I know this isn't just a Vray problem, but just wondering if there are any tips:

Traceback (most recent call last):
File "<stdin>", line 1, in <module>
File "C:/PROGRA~1/SIDEEF~1/HOUDIN~1.657/houdini/python3.7libs\husd\pluginmanager.py", line 83, in __init__
reverse = True )
File "C:/PROGRA~1/SIDEEF~1/HOUDIN~1.657/houdini/python3.7libs\husd\pluginmanager.py", line 28, in __init__
pathvar = 'HOUDINI_HUSDPLUGINS_PATH' )
File "C:/PROGRA~1/SIDEEF~1/HOUDIN~1.657/houdini/python3.7libs\pluginutils.py", line 193, in runFunctions
pathvar=pathvar):
File "C:/PROGRA~1/SIDEEF~1/HOUDIN~1.657/houdini/python3.7libs\pluginutils.py", line 137, in _findFunctions
module = _cacheLoad(filepath, silent=True)
File "C:/PROGRA~1/SIDEEF~1/HOUDIN~1.657/houdini/python3.7libs\pluginutils.py", line 41, in _cacheLoad
obj = loadModule(filepath, silent=silent)
File "C:/PROGRA~1/SIDEEF~1/HOUDIN~1.657/houdini/python3.7libs\pluginutils.py", line 66, in loadModule
exec (code_obj, module.__dict__)
File "C:/Program Files/Chaos Group/V-Ray/Houdini 19.0.657/vfh_home/husdplugins\shadertranslators\vfh_usd.py", line 16, in <module>
import vfh_py
File "C:\PROGRA~1\SIDEEF~1\HOUDIN~1.657\python37\lib\si te-packages-forced\shiboken2\files.dir\shibokensupport\__featu re__.py", line 142, in _import
return original_import(name, *args, **kwargs)
ModuleNotFoundError: No module named 'vfh_py'

shader translator
Traceback (most recent call last):
File "<stdin>", line 1, in <module>
NameError: name 'theTranslators' is not defined

[bdancer]

> This error fails any render job on Deadline

So, does it fail locally as well? Or only on deadline nodes?
Could you pls send me an example of your json/env setup?

[benfox]

Thanks for checking in on this. Yes it gives the exact same error on startup locally, and while it seems to work okay locally the error is marked as a critical error by Houdini so it causes Deadline jobs to fail.
Any help you can offer would be greatly appreciated.
The base Arnold config using houdini.env gives the same result as any json I have tried: (I have left the vray.json package that is installed untouched)

houdini.env example:

PATH = "$PATH;C:\Program Files\Arnold\htoa_19.0.657\htoa-6.1.2.2_r3daebab_houdini-19.0.657.py3\scripts\bin"
HOUDINI_PATH = "C:\Program Files\Arnold\htoa_19.0.657\htoa-6.1.2.2_r3daebab_houdini-19.0.657.py3;&"

This is one version I tried in an arnold.json package (I also renamed the json to zarnold.json to try to get it to run after if that mattered):

{
    "env": [
      {
        "HOUDINI_PATH":
        [
          {
              "value" : "C:/Program Files/Arnold/htoa_19.0.657/htoa-6.1.2.2_r3daebab_houdini-19.0.657.py3",
              "method" : "append"
          }
        ]
      },
      {
        "PATH": [
          {
              "value" : "C:/Program Files/Arnold/htoa_19.0.657/htoa-6.1.2.2_r3daebab_houdini-19.0.657.py3/scripts/bin",
              "method" : "append"
          }
        ]
      }
    ]
  }

[bdancer]

I can't reproduce this on my machine... If you set HOUDINI_DSO_ERROR=2 will it show any errors?

[benfox]

Strange. I tried it on 2 machines and my render farm and get the warning/error each time with the default Vray installation package and Arnold.
I will give the DSO_ERROR variable a try. Thanks for your time.

[4n7]

Did you find a solution to this? I'm also having this issue.
19.0.455 works fine with other renderers, but 19.5.303py39 stops working with Arnold

If I load Arnold OR V-Ray along with 3Delight, Redshift then they all work ok.

If I use Arnold AND V-Ray, then V-Ray, Redshift and 3Delight lose textures in the Solaris viewport

V-Ray nightlies (any/latest), Arnold 6.1.3.2 (r2bc6797), 3Delight 2.9.7, Redshift 3.5.08

0:00:01 806MB | [htoa_op] USD shader translation registration
shader translator
Traceback (most recent call last):
File "<stdin>", line 1, in <module>
File "/mnt/sw/houdini/hfs19.5.303/houdini/python3.9libs/husd/pluginmanager.py", line 79, in __init__
PluginManager.__init__( self,
File "/mnt/sw/houdini/hfs19.5.303/houdini/python3.9libs/husd/pluginmanager.py", line 23, in __init__
self.myPlugins = pluginutils.runFunctions(
File "/mnt/sw/houdini/hfs19.5.303/houdini/python3.9libs/pluginutils.py", line 191, in runFunctions
for fn in findFunctions(dirname, fn_name, path_dirs=path_dirs,
File "/mnt/sw/houdini/hfs19.5.303/houdini/python3.9libs/pluginutils.py", line 139, in _findFunctions
module = _cacheLoad(filepath, silent=True)
File "/mnt/sw/houdini/hfs19.5.303/houdini/python3.9libs/pluginutils.py", line 41, in _cacheLoad
obj = loadModule(filepath, silent=silent)
File "/mnt/sw/houdini/hfs19.5.303/houdini/python3.9libs/pluginutils.py", line 68, in loadModule
exec (code_obj, module.__dict__)
File "/mnt/sw/vray/vray_adv_52024_houdini19.5.303_6646b51_22159/vfh_home/husdplugins/shadertranslators/vfh_usd.py", line 16, in <module>
import vfh_py
File "/mnt/eng/sw/houdini/hfs19.5.303/python/lib/python3.9/site-packages-forced/shiboken2/files.dir/shibokensupport/__feature__.py", line 142, in _import
return original_import(name, *args, **kwargs)
ModuleNotFoundError: No module named 'vfh_py'

shader translator
Traceback (most recent call last):
File "<stdin>", line 1, in <module>
NameError: name 'theTranslators' is not defined

shader translator
Traceback (most recent call last):
File "<stdin>", line 1, in <module>
NameError: name 'theTranslators' is not defined

preview shader translator
Traceback (most recent call last):
File "<stdin>", line 1, in <module>
File "/mnt/sw/houdini/hfs19.5.303/houdini/python3.9libs/husd/pluginmanager.py", line 79, in __init__
PluginManager.__init__( self,
File "/mnt/sw/houdini/hfs19.5.303/houdini/python3.9libs/husd/pluginmanager.py", line 23, in __init__
self.myPlugins = pluginutils.runFunctions(
File "/mnt/sw/houdini/hfs19.5.303/houdini/python3.9libs/pluginutils.py", line 191, in runFunctions
for fn in findFunctions(dirname, fn_name, path_dirs=path_dirs,
File "/mnt/sw/houdini/hfs19.5.303/houdini/python3.9libs/pluginutils.py", line 139, in _findFunctions
module = _cacheLoad(filepath, silent=True)
File "/mnt/sw/houdini/hfs19.5.303/houdini/python3.9libs/pluginutils.py", line 41, in _cacheLoad
obj = loadModule(filepath, silent=silent)
File "/mnt/sw/houdini/hfs19.5.303/houdini/python3.9libs/pluginutils.py", line 68, in loadModule
exec (code_obj, module.__dict__)
File "/mnt/sw/vray/vray_adv_52024_houdini19.5.303_6646b51_22159/vfh_home/husdplugins/shadertranslators/vfh_usd.py", line 16, in <module>
import vfh_py
File "/mnt/eng/sw/houdini/hfs19.5.303/python/lib/python3.9/site-packages-forced/shiboken2/files.dir/shibokensupport/__feature__.py", line 142, in _import
return original_import(name, *args, **kwargs)
ModuleNotFoundError: No module named 'vfh_py'

preview shader translator
Traceback (most recent call last):
File "<stdin>", line 1, in <module>
NameError: name 'thePreviewTranslators' is not defined

preview shader translator
Traceback (most recent call last):
File "<stdin>", line 1, in <module>
NameError: name 'thePreviewTranslators' is not defined

If I look in the env vars I see the following

HOUDINI_PATH /mnt/sw/houdini/hfs19.5.303/packages/kinefx:/mnt/sw/vray/vray_adv_52024_houdini19.5.303_6646b51_22159/vfh_home:/mnt/sw/3delight/3DelightNSI-2.9.7-Linux-x86_64/3delight/Linux-x86_64/houdini/19.5:/mnt/sw/arnold/htoa-6.1.3.2_r2bc6797_houdini-19.5.303:/mnt/sw/redshift/3.5.08/redshift4houdini/19.5.303:/mnt/sw/redshift/3.5.08/redshift4solaris/{REDSHIFT_PLUGIN_VERSION}:&

PYTHONHOME /mnt/sw/houdini/hfs19.5.303/python

PYTHONPATH /mnt/sw/vray/vray_adv_52024_houdini19.5.303_6646b51_22159/appsdk/python39

Not sure if it's the python paths that are causing the issue?

I added this question on the Arnold forum too
https://forums.autodesk.com/t5/arnol.../td-p/11451491

[bdancer]

There is only one solution for this - you have to carefully setup all the variables and make sure they don't override each other or Houdini paths.

[4n7]

Thanks, Arnold is only setting HOUDINI_PATH, if I prepend it or append it I have the same issue. I have a ticket open with them so see if they have any suggestion

[bdancer]

When I was checking such issues last time I remember Arnold also setting PATH.
I was doing smth like this in houdni.env (V-Ray was loaded with .json package file):

# Add Arnold
ARNOLD_ROOT="C:/install/houdini/arnold/htoa-6.1.2.0_re046489_houdini-19.0.589.py3"
PATH="${PATH};${ARNOLD_ROOT}/scripts/bin"
MY_HOUDINI_PATH="${ARNOLD_ROOT};${MY_HOUDINI_PATH}"

# Other stuff here

HOUDINI_PATH="${MY_HOUDINI_PATH};&"​

[4n7]

Thanks, I think you're onto something there...

This is on linux so I'm only setting the HOUDINI_PATH in the arnold packages file. I don't see the HOUNDINI_PATH in the V-Ray packages but it is being set, and I don't see PATH in the arnold packages file, but it is being set.

HOUDINI_PATH /mnt/sw/houdini/hfs19.5.303/packages/kinefx:/mnt/sw/vray/vray_adv_52024_houdini19.5.303_6646b51_22159/vfh_home:/mnt/sw/arnold/htoa-6.1.3.2_r2bc6797_houdini-19.5.303:&

PATH /mnt/sw/arnold/htoa-6.1.3.2_r2bc6797_houdini-19.5.303/scripts/bin:/mnt/sw/houdini/hfs19.5.303/python/bin:/mnt/sw/vray/vray_adv_52024_houdini19.5.303_6646b51_22159/vfh_home/bin:/mnt/sw/vray/vray_adv_52024_houdini19.5.303_6646b51_22159/appsdk/bin:/mnt/sw/houdini/hfs19.5.303/bin:/mnt/sw/houdini/hfs19.5.303/bin:/mnt/sw/houdini/hfs19.5.303/houdini/sbin:/home/antg/.local/bin:/home/antg/bin:/usr/local/bin:/usr/bin:/bin:/sbin:/usr/local/sbin:/usr/sbin

If I add PATH into the arnold packages then it adds another entry at the end, so I'll check with them where this gets added. Where does the V-Ray HOUDINI_PATH come from?

[bdancer]

> Where does the V-Ray HOUDINI_PATH come from?

From vray_for_houdini.json. Refer to https://www.sidefx.com/docs/houdini/ref/plugins.html

[4n7]

ah, I was confused, I see that the lowercase 'path' in the supplied vray packages json is now deprecated and the sidefx doc shows 'hpath' (the other renderers packages files specify HOUDINI_PATH).

I was confused to the two PATH and path entries in the json, I guess this is why they've decided to change it.


EDIT: maybe I need to spend more time reading this guide as switching the 'path' to 'hpath' doesn't load V-Ray.

[blackcrownvisuals]

I am having the same issue using vray 6 for 19.5.605 on 19.5.605.
I set my renderer via json, no .bashrc
They both work simultaneously in the same session, meaning one after the other I got a render with no error.
The error comes when rendering on Deadline. I am linux user here, so no windows involved at all.