To run V-Ray, you have to:
Overview
This guide provides steps on installing V-Ray for Houdini.
Trial users should refer to the Trial installation of V-Ray for Houdini, as the process differs from the one shown here.
The V-Ray installer can be unpacked from a zip file.
Download the latest V-Ray for Houdini installer
Please check the system requirements before installation. The V-Ray installer automatically removes any previous V-Ray for Houdini versions. If you experience problems, you can manually uninstall the previous versions to perform a clean install.
Watch video instructions for installing V-Ray for Houdini:
Running the Installer
Before running the installation, make sure your OS account has administrative privileges.
Run the installer. Windows / macOS / Linux may ask you for permission to run the installer with administrator privileges. Please confirm.
Information on How to run the MacOS installer safely on macOS Catalina and later can be found on the Installation of Chaos Cloud Rendering Client App page or in Apple's How to open an app that hasn’t been notarized or is from an unidentified developer article.
Welcome
Carefully read the End User License Agreement and the Global Consumer Privacy Policy. Click the I accept buttons if you agree to the terms.
Proceed to click the Install button. If you need to customize your V-Ray installation, click the Advanced button.
Install Directories
Advanced settings
Here, you can specify the installation paths. Please check if the default folders are correct.
The V-Ray installer automatically sets default paths, which are configured for the latest version of Houdini. If you use an earlier version of Houdini, please be aware that you may have to manually add the correct paths for your specific version.
Licensing
In this step, you can specify whether the Chaos License Server runs locally or on another machine.
Local – This option installs the License Server on your machine. For a walkthrough, see the Chaos License Quick Start Guide page.
Remote – This option allows you to configure your Chaos product for floating licenses in a local network. Fill in the IP address of the Chaos License Server in your network in the Primary License Server field. Please leave the port 30304 unchanged. For more details on this setup, see the License Server Deployment page.
Chaos License Server Options
At this step, you can choose where to install the Chaos License Server:
Windows default path: C:\Program Files\Chaos\VRLService
macOS default path: /Application/Chaos/VRLService
Linux default path: /usr/Chaos/VRLService
Migrate data during installation – When enabled, it transfers all of your settings made with earlier versions of Chaos License Server, such as proxy settings, etc. Disabling this option makes a clean install of Chaos License Server with any custom settings from previous installations reset to their defaults.
Add firewall exception – When enabled, the default licensing port (TCP 30304) can pass the firewall. If you disable it at this step, you must manually add firewall exceptions later. This option is available for Windows OS only.
Chaos Telemetry
V-Ray installation is successful.
Participate in the improvement decisions for future versions of V-Ray. No intelligence property is violated when agreeing to participate in the feedback program. Chaos does not gather scenes, assets, materials, etc. For more information, see the Chaos Telemetry page.
Anonymized Telemetry – Includes the most used product functionality and/or parameter values. The data is not personally identifiable and is not tied to the user's individual account.
Personalized Telemetry – Includes the most used product functionality, parameter values, but also contains personally identifiable information tied to an individual user's license. This helps Chaos tailor and optimize the product for better personal use.
Next Step
Go to step 2 to activate your Chaos License.