Help Desk

How do I install Houdini on Linux?

The installer must be run using sudo.

Note:

  • Make sure that the install file is not located in root's home folder (/root) as this will give you permission errors during the install process.
  • Install the License Server component if:
    • installing for Houdini Indie or Houdini Apprentice.
    • the computer is a license server to serve licenses to client machines, or
    • a Workstation (nodelock, not using a remote license server) is installed.
  • If the computer is a client machine and will use a remote license server, you do not need to install the License Server component.

Download:

Download the latest Production or Daily build of Houdini.

To install:

  1. Open a Terminal.
  2. Unpack the downloaded tar.gz archive.
    $ tar -xvf houdini-20.5.550-linux_x86_64_gcc11.2.tar.gz
    // This should create a directory called houdini-20.5.550-linux_x86_64_gcc11.2
  3. Go into the unpacked directory and run the houdini.install script using sudo.
    $ cd houdini-20.5.550-linux_x86_64_gcc11.2
    $ sudo ./houdini.install
    Alternatively, you can also double click on the houdini.install file with your mouse. It will run the installer in a terminal.

    HOUDINI 20.5.550 INSTALLATION
    Enter a number to toggle an item to be installed.
    INSTALL
    1. Houdini yes
    2. Desktop Menus for Houdini yes
    3. Symlinks in /usr/local/bin no
    4. Symlink /opt/hfs/20.5 to install directory yes
    5. License Server no
    6. Avahi (Third-party) no
    7. SideFx Labs no
    8. Houdini Engine for Maya no
    9. Houdini Engine for Unreal no
    10. HQueue Server no
    11. HQueue Client no
    D. Change installation directory (/opt/hfs/XX.X.XXX)
    F. Finished selections, proceed to next step
    Q. Quit (no installation will  be attempted)
    4. If installing for a license server, or Houdini Apprentice or Houdini Indie, make sure to install the License Server component (option 5 in the image above) in the installer.
    5. The licensing menu may appear during the installation process if no installed licenses can be detected.
    * If you are installing Apprentice, choose "Install Houdini Apprentice license. * If you are installing a commercial product, choose I have a paid license for Houdini.

    For more information about licensing Houdini please refer to Licensing a Houdini product

    To launch Houdini from the Terminal, type the following:

    1. $ cd /opt/hfs20.5
    2. $ source houdini_setup
      // This should setup the Houdini environment for you.
    3. $ houdini