Install Autodesk Maya in Linux/Ubuntu

What is Autodesk Maya?

Autodesk Maya is a popular 3D computer animation and modeling software. Maya was originally developed by Alias Systems but is now owned and developed by Autodesk. It is used to create 3D applications, animated movies, 3D video games, and visual effects. The Autodesk Maya application is supported by Linux, Windows, and macOS.

Install Autodesk Maya Dependencies

Autodesk Maya depends on some packages and libraries to work. Follow the below steps to install the relevant dependencies.

To install Autodesk Maya in Linux/Ubuntu you will need to add some libraries. Some of these libraries are not available in the official Ubuntu 20.04 repositories; however, they are available in the Ubuntu 16.04 repository.

To install these libraries in Ubuntu 20.04, you will need to add the Ubuntu 16.04 (Xenial) repository to your Ubuntu repository. Executing the below command in the terminal.

$ echo 'deb http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu xenial main restricted universe multiverse' | sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/xenial.list

Then, to update the Linux/Ubuntu local repository with that of the newly added repository, use the below command in the terminal.

$ sudo apt-get update

Now, install the libraries using the below command.

$ sudo apt-get install -y libtbb-dev libtiff5-dev libssl-dev libpng12-dev libssl1.1 gcc libjpeg62 libcurl14

Now, install the multimedia library files. Using the below command.

$ sudo apt-get install -y libaudiofile-dev libgstreamer-plugins-base0.10-0

Install the graphic library files. Use the below command.

$ sudo apt-get install -y libglw1-mesa libglw1-mesa-dev mesa-utils

Install the Microsoft True Type Core Fonts. Use the below command.

$ sudo apt-get install -y xfonts-100dpi xfonts-75dpi ttf-mscorefonts-installer Fonts-liberation

When the following screen appears, use the tab key to select OK and then press Enter.

Accept the end-user license agreement. Use the tab key to highlight the Yes option and then press Enter.

After accepting the license terms, the required fonts will be installed on your system.

Autodesk Maya also requires some other packages to be installed. Install the packages using the below command.

$ sudo apt-get install -y csh tcsh libfam0 libfam-dev xfstt

The libxp6 package is not available in the Linux/Ubuntu repositories, so you will first need to download its .deb file. Use the below command.

$ cd /tmp

$ wget http://launchpadlibrarian.net/183708483/libxp6_1.0.2-2_amd64.deb

Now, Install the libxp6 package using the below command.

$ sudo dpkg -i libxp6_1.0.2-2_amd64.deb

The installer packages of Maya are in .rpm format. You will need to convert them to .deb format using the Alien program. Use the below command to install Alien program.

$ sudo apt-get install -y alien elfutils

After completing the steps listed above, all the dependencies required to run Maya should be installed, and you can now move on to the next step.

Download Autodesk Maya

To download Maya, follow the steps listed below.

Step 1: Move inside the ~/Downloads directory using the cd command.

$ cd ~/Downloads

Step 2: Use the wget command to download the Autodesk Maya installer.

$ wget http://edutrial.autodesk.com/NET17SWDLD/2014/MAYA/ESD/Autodesk_Maya_2017_EN_JP_ZH_Linux_64bit.tgz

Step3: Create a directory named maya to which the installation files will be extracted.

$ mkdir maya

Step4: Extract the Maya installer to the newly created maya directory using the below command.

$ tar xzf Autodesk_Maya_2017_EN_JP_ZH_Linux_64bit.tgz -C maya/

Convert the Maya .rpm Installer Files into .deb

Step 1: Move inside the maya directory using the cd command.

$ cd maya

Step 2: Convert all the Maya installer files, which are currently in .rpm format, into .deb format. Use the below command.

$ sudo alien -cv *.rpm

The conversion process will take some time. Once the process has completed, you will see the below screen.

Install Autodesk Maya

To install Maya, follow the steps listed below.

Step 1: We converted all the .rpm files into .deb format. Now, we will install them using the below command.

$ sudo dpkg -i *.deb

Step 2: Create a source file by using the below command.

$ echo "int main (void) {return ;}" > mayainstall.c

Step 3: Now, compile it by using the below command.

$ gcc mayainstall.c

Step 4: After compilation, move the binary to the /usr/bin/rpm. But before doing this, create a backup of the /usr/bin/rpm using the below command.

$ sudo mv -v /usr/bin/rpm /usr/bin/rpm.backup

Move the binary to the /usr/bin/rpm using the below command.

$ sudo cp -v a.out /usr/bin/rpm

Now, we will create symbolic links to all the required library files that Autodesk Maya depends on. Use the below commands.

$ sudo ln -s /usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/libtbb.so /usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/libtbb_preview.so.2

$ sudo ln -s /usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/libtiff.so /usr/lib/libtiff.so.3

$sudo ln -s /usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/libcrypto.so /usr/autodesk/maya2017/lib/libssl.so.10

$ sudo ln -s /usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/libcrypto.so /usr/autodesk/maya2017/lib/libcrypto.so.10

Next, we will need to make the setup executable file by using the below command.

$ chmod +x setup

Now, run the maya installer.

$ sudo ./setup

This will initiate the Maya installer wizard. Click Continue.

Select your country or region, and then select the I ACCEPT radio button to accept the license and services agreement. Then, click Continue.

Now, you will enter the license information. Select your license type and then enter the serial number and product key.

When the following screen appears, click Continue to install the selected components.

The installation will be started and once it has completed, you will see the following screen. Click Done to close the wizard.

Post Installation configuration

After the installation is completed, you will need to perform some more configurations. Follow the below steps.

Step 1: Create the /usr/tmp directory.

$ sudo mkdir -p /usr/tmp

Step 2: Set the permission to the directory.

$ sudo chmod 0777 -R /usr/tmp

Step 3: Create a few directories for Maya configuration files.

$ sudo mkdir -p ~/mayac/2017 ~/mayac/2017/syncColor/Shared

Step 4: Fix segmentation fault errors using the below command.

$ echo "MAYA_DISABLE_CIP=1" >> ~/mayac/2017/Maya.en

Step 5: Fix color management errors using the below command.

$ echo "LC_ALL=C" >> ~/maya/2017/Maya.env

Step 6: Set the permission using the below command.

$ sudo chmod -Rfv 0777 ~/mayac

Step 7: Configure fonts for Maya using the below commands.

$ sudo xset +fp /usr/share/fonts/X11/100dpi/

$ sudo xset +fp /usr/share/fonts/X11/75dpi/

$ sudo xset fp rehash

Step 8: Fix the Maya Camera modifier key. Issue the below command.

$ gsettings set org.gnome.desktop.wm.preferences mouse-button-modifier "<Super>"

Step 9: Restore rpm utilities using the below command.

$ sudo rm -v /usr/bin/rpm

$ sudo mv -v /usr/bin/rpm_backup /usr/bin/rpm

Now, run Maya using below command.

$ /usr/autodesk/maya2017/bin/maya.bin

When the following screen appears, click on I Agree, after which Maya will be launched on your system.