The license server is apparently down (?)

I downloaded Houdini, installed it, but can't run it without a license, which I gathered is “free” for “apprentice.”

All I get are errors, saying “try again later.” It gave a site to get a license key “manually,” but I get a similar error there (license server temporarily unavailable.)

If the license server is down, why send people on a wild goose chase? Am I stuck or out of luck? Shall I just go back to Lightwave? Is the world ending before 2012?

:?:

Hi. I haven't heard of this happening before, give them some time I'm sure it will be sorted out soon.

Maybe watch some of Peter Quint's video tutorials on Vimeo while you are waiting 8)

It's my curse to discover all the worst parts and weakest points of a developer or their product, right out of the gate. It happens over and over again. But because of my curse, I've found the patience to wait a little, and see what else is revealed. :-) Sometimes it's good … other times …

I can't imagine they could go long without a license generator, whatever that is.

You did check apprentice licence server in the install menu didnt you? It defaults to a full paid licence.
I once got caught out with this. Try re-installing and double check that you switch licence servers at installation.

OK, that was it! Thank you. I doubt I would have ever thought of running the installer again.

I also learned that the license generator was down for maintenance last night. So I apparently had two things working against me.

I didn't notice the option during installation to choose a different license, since the default was made for me, which was apparently NOT the Apprentice version. It might be good, since I would guess most people enter the Houdini world these days via the Apprentice version, to change the install default. It isn't all that often you run an installer, so it's not like it's an everyday event. Who knows … if the license generator had been up and running, it might have told me of my need to choose a different license during installation (?).

But then again, I wouldn't have had that little character-building opportunity last night, banging my head against it. LOL