Debian and Maya 5

[axislg]

Any success out there getting Maya 5 running on Debian?

Bother to write up a quick list of the steps to get it running?

Thank you in advance

[user_deleted]

Alias doesn't officially support any Linux distro except Red Hat 9 and Red Hat WS. I don't think you can alter the RPM files with out being in violation of the License and voiding all support. The only other distro besides Red Hat Linux that I found works well with Maya and uses the RPM (Red Hat Package Management) is SuSE Linux since version 9.0. Mandrake which also uses RPM files has some dependency errors when trying to install Maya. Reports vary such as Maya won't install or will install but crashes. Something to do with incompatible library files I think. I haven't heard anyone using WhiteBox Linux with Maya which is based on Red Hat Linux. Fedora is still in development (RC2) so I won't recommend it.

Anyway, if you want a Linux distro that is easy to use (meaning you prefer to use friendly GUI tools over using a Terminal) then use SuSE Linux Professional 9.1. Unlike SuSE Linux Personal the Pro version comes with an additional 64-bit OS on DVD for those that have 64-bit Intel or AMD processors. Basically 5 CDs (32-bit OS and programs), Double sided DVD (Side "A" 32-bit OS and programs, side "B" 64-bit OS), User Manual and Administrator Manual, 90 days tech support included.

[deke-kincaid]

There are a few linux apps that convert RPM files to tar.gz files. I don't see why this would violate the maya license. Also to add to your list, I use maya quite easily with Gentoo with zero modifications to the OS other than installing rpm support. Also I know it is possible to use maya under debian(I just don't know how). Last I knew Assylum in Santa Monica uses Debian for their entire studio with maya and houdini.

[user_deleted]

Beaker,

I prefer to not convert files specially those from proprietory apps when there are better alternatives. I chose SuSE Linux Professional over Red Hat for many reasons. Sure companies like Alias and Softimage state they only officially support their programs on Red Hat but I really hate the way Red Hat feels. Not to mention SuSE Linux Professional 9.1 comes with more included as standard compared to Red Hat's pricing scheme or even any other distro.

Anyway, the program you are trying to think of is called "Alien". Alien converts files from one format to another (ie: rpm to .deb). See link here for more info http://kitenet.net/programs/alien/http://kitenet.net/programs/alien/

[geoffcrowther]

stop with the suse [censored] already.

the question is about debian, not about which distro you prefer.

if he has enough knowledge to install debian it follows that suse was considered and discarded.

also distros are essentially irrelevant. linux == linux. redhat support merely translates to a reference package group irrespective of the packaging system. while it may invalidate support for maya, if you know what you are doing, putting together the necessary packages ought to be doable on most desktop oriented linux distros, as well as including building a linux from scratch straight from source.

now speaking of debian, i'd like to know this my self as well

[user_deleted]

I'd be interested if it could work as well but I still don't consider it irrelevant. When you take into account the cost of the software, maintenance support issues and client projects it is relevant on what Linux distro you use. We are not playing with OSS and instead using highend proprietory software.

[agentex]

I run Maya 5 with a debian unstable distribution and found that I had to remove the prepackaged libc that Alias added to that release in order to get it running. Other than that no problems with the exception of mr bailing on a mi_info reference but hopefully this issue will have been addressed in v6.

[daw]

im trying to run maya 6 on debian unstable, but after dpkg -i all dpkg files (i create .deb files from .rpm, using alien) i run ./Maya6.0 (a script) and i get the Configuration Wizard with no tasks! then i cannot go ahead and run Maya....

Anybody knows why is it happening?

[robert-1]

The same thing happened to me until I installed the license file in /var/flexlm. Possibly this is your problem?

[chandra-1]

On Debian Sarge:

converting the packages with alien succeeds:
alien -k -c *.rpm
and everything installs alright.

It appears that Alias's key generator depends on some C++ library probably left over from the IRIX days

Copying over the licence file manually to /var/flexlm gets rid of the flexlm warning but upon starting Maya from a shell:

/tmp$ maya
/usr/aw/maya5.0/bin/maya.bin: relocation error: /usr/aw/maya5.0/lib/libFoundation.so: symbol errno, version GLIBC_2.0 not defined in file libc.so.6 with link time reference

Looks like it depends on a C++ library that is out of date and it's not staticly compiled. I'm hoping version 6 is more up to date.

[jiann]

I have run Maya fine on Debian since version 3, up to 6. I don't worry about using alien to convert to a deb, but just make sure I have RPM installed in Debian then install the RPM package. As Maya is such a self contained package, I have never really had any dependency problems that weren't easily fixed.

I agree that if you are knowledgable with Linux your distribution choice hardly matters. Linux is Linux no matter who or where you get it from or how it is intalled. As long as you know what you are doing, nothing should really be an issue.

[knecht]

I think Debian is the best linux for using it with maya 6. I have experiece with maya on suse, redhat and debian sarge. And debian is the best (not the easiest) way . . . .

I use the rpm and convert it with
alien -c packetname.rpm
it will create .deb packages

then install them with
dpkg -i filename.deb

you need to install the packages
maya6-0_xxx.deb
awcommon_6.0xxxx.deb

maya will be installed in the folder /usr/aw
you project folders are under your home directory in folder maya/projects

I have made good experience with installing
openmotif_2.1.30xxx.deb
but this is not necessary

you must have installed a 3D graphic driver and openGL !!

here a link for installing maya under debian:
highend2d.com/boards/showflat.php

[knecht]

that obviously semms to be the problem