feat/conda recipe for 3ds Max and Chaos Corona by oehmends · Pull Request #173 · aws-deadline/deadline-cloud-samples

oehmends · 2026-01-18T12:31:06Z

What was the problem/requirement? (What/Why)

Rendering 3ds Max Corona on AWS Deadline Cloud workers relied on host configuration scripts, leading to long startup times (~15-20 minutes). We also needed packaged environments for additional versions/renderers (3ds Max 2025 and Corona) to simplify deployment.

What was the solution? (How)

Added conda-ready environment recipes for 3ds Max 2025 and Corona renderer so workers can initialize quickly without host configuration scripts.

What is the impact of this change?

Reduced worker startup time from ~15 minutes to ~X minutes
Expanded supported environments (3ds Max 2025 + Corona)
Simplified and standardized setup for Deadline Cloud workers

How was this change tested?

Built the conda recipes
Registered/used the environments in Deadline Cloud
Submitted sample renders and verified startup + completion

Output see log file: log_output_3dsmax-corona_conda.log

Was this change documented?

Updated sample README(s)

By submitting this pull request, I confirm that you can use, modify, copy, and redistribute this contribution, under the terms of your choice.

Signed-off-by: Johannes Oehmen <mail@oehmen.digital>

oehmends · 2026-01-18T12:59:12Z

conda_recipes/3dsmax-2025/README.md

+- POSIX shells cannot export variable names that start with a digit, so `3DSMAX_EXECUTABLE` cannot be set by the `.sh` activation script. The Windows `.bat` sets it, but bash activation relies on the ADSK-prefixed variables instead.
+- The adaptor’s `executable_handler.py` needs to be hotpatched in a Conda environment before the run to fall back to `ADSK_3DSMAX_EXECUTABLE` / `ADSK_3DSMAX_BATCH_EXE` when `3DSMAX_EXECUTABLE` is absent. Keep this in mind if you update or replace the handler.


Please see the reported issue here: aws-deadline/deadline-cloud-for-3ds-max#190

Yup, responded. We can add a second env variable to support conda.

The reason we have 3dsmax HostConfig installation to begin with was so we can get admin access to SMF. We started with a HostConfig script over conda because of the script above. Customers regardless have to open up the SMF instance.

Kudos and thanks for doing this.

leongdl · 2026-01-20T00:19:46Z

Thank you for your contributions, the team and I will take a look.

leongdl · 2026-01-20T04:25:29Z

conda_recipes/3dsmax-2025/recipe/build_win.sh

+mkdir -p "$INSTALL_DIR"
+cmd <<EOF
+setlocal
+rem Use robocopy without ACL/owner copying to avoid access denied; accept codes 0-7 as success.


This comment is interesting, any reason why?

Robocopy defaults to copying ACLs/owner info, which often fails in conda-build/CI because permissions don’t map cleanly. /COPY:DAT /DCOPY:DAT avoids that so the copy is reliable, and robocopy uses exit codes 0–7 for “success with minor differences,” so we treat those as OK

conda_recipes/3dsmax-2025/recipe/build_win.sh

leongdl · 2026-01-20T04:27:26Z

conda_recipes/3dsmax-2025/recipe/build_win.sh

+cmd <<EOF
+setlocal
+rem Use robocopy without ACL/owner copying to avoid access denied; accept codes 0-7 as success.
+robocopy "$(cygpath -w "$SRC_ROOT")" "$(cygpath -w "$INSTALL_DIR")" /E /COPY:DAT /DCOPY:DAT /R:1 /W:1 /NFL /NDL >nul


Does the builder need to install robocopy?

No. robocopy ships with Windows (in System32) and is available by default in Windows environments, including conda-build on Windows.

leongdl · 2026-01-20T04:27:55Z

conda_recipes/3dsmax-2025/recipe/build_win.sh

+export ADSK_3DSMAX_LOCATION="\$CONDA_PREFIX/Autodesk/3ds Max $MAX_VERSION"
+export ADSK_3DSMAX_PYTHON="\$CONDA_PREFIX/Autodesk/3ds Max $MAX_VERSION/Python/python.exe"
+export ADSK_3DSMAX_BATCH_EXE="\$CONDA_PREFIX/Autodesk/3ds Max $MAX_VERSION/3dsmaxbatch.exe"
+export ADSK_3DSMAX_EXECUTABLE="\$CONDA_PREFIX/Autodesk/3ds Max $MAX_VERSION/3dsmaxbatch.exe"


Should this be 3dsmax.exe?

No, it uses the the 3dsmaxbatch.exe which is the non-gui variant.
https://help.autodesk.com/view/3DSMAX/2025/ENU/?guid=GUID-0968FF0A-5ADD-454D-B8F6-1983E76A4AF9

Yeah I understand, some customers have actual GUI licenses, so they share the GUI licenses with deadline and render with 3dsmax.exe

conda_recipes/3dsmax-2025/recipe/build_win.sh

leongdl · 2026-01-20T04:29:29Z

conda_recipes/3dsmax-2025/recipe/build_win.sh

+set "ADSK_3DSMAX_LOCATION=%CONDA_PREFIX%\\Autodesk\\3ds Max $MAX_VERSION"
+set "ADSK_3DSMAX_PYTHON=%CONDA_PREFIX%\\Autodesk\\3ds Max $MAX_VERSION\\Python\\python.exe"
+set "ADSK_3DSMAX_BATCH_EXE=%CONDA_PREFIX%\\Autodesk\\3ds Max $MAX_VERSION\\3dsmaxbatch.exe"
+set "ADSK_3DSMAX_EXECUTABLE=%CONDA_PREFIX%\\Autodesk\\3ds Max $MAX_VERSION\\3dsmaxbatch.exe"


3dsmax.exe?

No, it uses the the 3dsmaxbatch.exe which is the non-gui variant.
https://help.autodesk.com/view/3DSMAX/2025/ENU/?guid=GUID-0968FF0A-5ADD-454D-B8F6-1983E76A4AF9

conda_recipes/3dsmax-2025/recipe/meta.yaml

conda_recipes/3dsmax-2025/README.md

leongdl · 2026-01-20T04:36:07Z

conda_recipes/3dsmax-2025/README.md

+   1. Install or update the AWS CLI v2 from https://docs.aws.amazon.com/cli/latest/userguide/getting-started-install.html.
+   2. Install or update the Session Manager plugin from https://docs.aws.amazon.com/systems-manager/latest/userguide/session-manager-working-with-install-plugin.html.
+   3. Run the following command, using AWS credentials that have suitable permissions, to start the SSM port forwarding. Replace INSTANCE_ID with the one you launched.
+      1. `aws ssm start-session --document-name AWS-StartPortForwardingSession --parameters "localPortNumber=33389,portNumber=3389" --target INSTANCE_ID`


Local port can also be 3389 to keep things simple and the same.

leongdl · 2026-01-20T04:36:19Z

conda_recipes/3dsmax-2025/README.md

+      1. Computer: `localhost:33389`
+      2. User name: `Administrator`
+   5. Enter the password you set for Administrator after you created the instance. You should now have a remote desktop session to your instance.
+3. Install 3ds Max 2025 on the instance.


Or any other instance actually

leongdl · 2026-01-20T04:37:20Z

conda_recipes/3dsmax-2025/README.md

+3. Install 3ds Max 2025 on the instance.
+   1. Download the 3ds Max 2025 installer for Windows from Autodesk (for example via Autodesk Access).
+   2. Run the installer on the EC2 instance and complete installation using the default settings.
+   3. Optionally install the `deadline-cloud-for-3ds-max` Python package inside 3ds Max if you want the Deadline Cloud integration available on the workstation you use for archiving.


Installing it with 3dsmax and then zipping into a conda is fine, but you will not get the benefit of run time installation that we provide since we release the adapter into our conda channel.

leongdl · 2026-01-20T04:38:07Z

conda_recipes/3dsmax-2025/README.md

+5. Upload the zip to your private S3 bucket. You can use a PowerShell command like
+   `Write-S3Object -BucketName MY_BUCKET_NAME -Key Autodesk_3dsMax_2025_Windows_installation.zip -File Autodesk_3dsMax_2025_Windows_installation.zip`.
+6. Terminate the EC2 instance.
+7. Download the zip file to the `conda_recipes/archive_files` directory in your git clone of the


Have you tried rattler build? We are migrating all of our recipes.

https://github.com/prefix-dev/rattler-build

Good call. Essentially I re-used a lot of the methodology of the maya-2025 recipe which used conda-build for the Win-build I'll check and test it.

Thanks! Rattler should work on Windows.

conda_recipes/3dsmax-2025/README.md

leongdl · 2026-01-20T04:41:24Z

conda_recipes/3dsmax-2025/README.md

+
+Run that PowerShell script during fleet/bootstrap setup to ensure the required runtimes are available on the worker.
+
+PowerShell snippet (for convenience if the repo isn’t available):


Question - this installation does not install adsklicense service. While I know and understand Autodesk cloud rights, I think we have to past a disclaimer here. Its an important part of providing the sample and usage legitimately.

Right. If you have an example for it other than mentioning it in the recipe/meta.yaml I'd be happy for your input. See

deadline-cloud-samples/conda_recipes/3dsmax-2025/recipe/meta.yaml

Line 26 in 3fd8036

about:

Yup - we have a standard messaging regarding cloud rates on our user guide to link to the auto desk documentation:
https://www.autodesk.com/support/technical/article/caas/sfdcarticles/sfdcarticles/Subscription-Benefits-FAQ-Cloud-Rights.html

And we had our blog here:
https://aws.amazon.com/blogs/media/how-to-use-3ds-max-with-service-managed-fleets-on-aws-deadline-cloud/

Note: Autodesk 3ds Max has its own licensing requirements separate from AWS. Confirm you have the appropriate licenses before proceeding. See additional details on [Autodesk Cloud Rights for 3ds Max](https://www.autodesk.com/support/technical/article/caas/sfdcarticles/sfdcarticles/Subscription-Benefits-FAQ-Cloud-Rights.html).

leongdl · 2026-01-20T04:44:22Z

conda_recipes/3dsmax-2025/README.md

+
+PowerShell snippet (for convenience if the repo isn’t available):
+
+```powershell


This is a host config script, maybe move this section to 3dsmax_conda_host_config.ps1?

Something is odd too, we have done internal Conda tests and I remember we had to add some Windows Registries (auto desk) related for this to work properly. I'm surprised it is not in the sample.

It definitely makes sense to put this into a separate file to make the Readme lighter.

I'd be curious which Registry keys you had to add. If it's anything Version (2025/2026) specific, it would only make sense to set those in the conda environment itself.

I don't have the old prototypes handy, let me search for it. It was some time ago when we encountered challenges with 3dsmax + Conda.

oehmends

Happy to amend the Readme and rattler-build. Let me know if there are further questions!

oehmends · 2026-01-20T19:53:35Z

conda_recipes/3dsmax-2025/README.md

+5. Upload the zip to your private S3 bucket. You can use a PowerShell command like
+   `Write-S3Object -BucketName MY_BUCKET_NAME -Key Autodesk_3dsMax_2025_Windows_installation.zip -File Autodesk_3dsMax_2025_Windows_installation.zip`.
+6. Terminate the EC2 instance.
+7. Download the zip file to the `conda_recipes/archive_files` directory in your git clone of the


Good call. Essentially I re-used a lot of the methodology of the maya-2025 recipe which used conda-build for the Win-build I'll check and test it.

oehmends · 2026-01-20T20:03:07Z

conda_recipes/3dsmax-2025/README.md

+
+Run that PowerShell script during fleet/bootstrap setup to ensure the required runtimes are available on the worker.
+
+PowerShell snippet (for convenience if the repo isn’t available):


Right. If you have an example for it other than mentioning it in the recipe/meta.yaml I'd be happy for your input. See

deadline-cloud-samples/conda_recipes/3dsmax-2025/recipe/meta.yaml

Line 26 in 3fd8036

about:

oehmends · 2026-01-20T20:12:37Z

conda_recipes/3dsmax-2025/README.md

+
+PowerShell snippet (for convenience if the repo isn’t available):
+
+```powershell


It definitely makes sense to put this into a separate file to make the Readme lighter.

I'd be curious which Registry keys you had to add. If it's anything Version (2025/2026) specific, it would only make sense to set those in the conda environment itself.

conda_recipes/3dsmax-2025/recipe/build_win.sh

oehmends · 2026-01-20T20:16:37Z

conda_recipes/3dsmax-2025/recipe/build_win.sh

+mkdir -p "$INSTALL_DIR"
+cmd <<EOF
+setlocal
+rem Use robocopy without ACL/owner copying to avoid access denied; accept codes 0-7 as success.


Robocopy defaults to copying ACLs/owner info, which often fails in conda-build/CI because permissions don’t map cleanly. /COPY:DAT /DCOPY:DAT avoids that so the copy is reliable, and robocopy uses exit codes 0–7 for “success with minor differences,” so we treat those as OK

oehmends · 2026-01-20T20:24:43Z

conda_recipes/3dsmax-2025/recipe/build_win.sh

+cmd <<EOF
+setlocal
+rem Use robocopy without ACL/owner copying to avoid access denied; accept codes 0-7 as success.
+robocopy "$(cygpath -w "$SRC_ROOT")" "$(cygpath -w "$INSTALL_DIR")" /E /COPY:DAT /DCOPY:DAT /R:1 /W:1 /NFL /NDL >nul


No. robocopy ships with Windows (in System32) and is available by default in Windows environments, including conda-build on Windows.

oehmends · 2026-01-20T20:41:32Z

conda_recipes/3dsmax-2025/recipe/build_win.sh

+export ADSK_3DSMAX_LOCATION="\$CONDA_PREFIX/Autodesk/3ds Max $MAX_VERSION"
+export ADSK_3DSMAX_PYTHON="\$CONDA_PREFIX/Autodesk/3ds Max $MAX_VERSION/Python/python.exe"
+export ADSK_3DSMAX_BATCH_EXE="\$CONDA_PREFIX/Autodesk/3ds Max $MAX_VERSION/3dsmaxbatch.exe"
+export ADSK_3DSMAX_EXECUTABLE="\$CONDA_PREFIX/Autodesk/3ds Max $MAX_VERSION/3dsmaxbatch.exe"


No, it uses the the 3dsmaxbatch.exe which is the non-gui variant.
https://help.autodesk.com/view/3DSMAX/2025/ENU/?guid=GUID-0968FF0A-5ADD-454D-B8F6-1983E76A4AF9

oehmends · 2026-01-20T20:41:53Z

conda_recipes/3dsmax-2025/recipe/build_win.sh

+set "ADSK_3DSMAX_LOCATION=%CONDA_PREFIX%\\Autodesk\\3ds Max $MAX_VERSION"
+set "ADSK_3DSMAX_PYTHON=%CONDA_PREFIX%\\Autodesk\\3ds Max $MAX_VERSION\\Python\\python.exe"
+set "ADSK_3DSMAX_BATCH_EXE=%CONDA_PREFIX%\\Autodesk\\3ds Max $MAX_VERSION\\3dsmaxbatch.exe"
+set "ADSK_3DSMAX_EXECUTABLE=%CONDA_PREFIX%\\Autodesk\\3ds Max $MAX_VERSION\\3dsmaxbatch.exe"


No, it uses the the 3dsmaxbatch.exe which is the non-gui variant.
https://help.autodesk.com/view/3DSMAX/2025/ENU/?guid=GUID-0968FF0A-5ADD-454D-B8F6-1983E76A4AF9

conda_recipes/3dsmax-2025/recipe/meta.yaml

conda_recipes/3dsmax-2025/recipe/build_win.sh

oehmends requested a review from a team as a code owner January 18, 2026 12:31

oehmends added 2 commits January 18, 2026 13:35

feat: add 3ds Max conda recipe

b655472

Signed-off-by: Johannes Oehmen <mail@oehmen.digital>

feat: add 3ds Max for Corona conda recipe

3fd8036

Signed-off-by: Johannes Oehmen <mail@oehmen.digital>

oehmends force-pushed the feat/conda-recipe-3dsmax-corona branch from 53602c4 to 3fd8036 Compare January 18, 2026 12:36

oehmends mentioned this pull request Jan 18, 2026

Bug: Conda activation on Windows fails due to bash-incompatible 3DSMAX_EXECUTABLE env var; adaptor depends on legacy name aws-deadline/deadline-cloud-for-3ds-max#190

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oehmends commented Jan 18, 2026

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oehmends commented Jan 20, 2026

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		- POSIX shells cannot export variable names that start with a digit, so `3DSMAX_EXECUTABLE` cannot be set by the `.sh` activation script. The Windows `.bat` sets it, but bash activation relies on the ADSK-prefixed variables instead.
		- The adaptor’s `executable_handler.py` needs to be hotpatched in a Conda environment before the run to fall back to `ADSK_3DSMAX_EXECUTABLE` / `ADSK_3DSMAX_BATCH_EXE` when `3DSMAX_EXECUTABLE` is absent. Keep this in mind if you update or replace the handler.


		Run that PowerShell script during fleet/bootstrap setup to ensure the required runtimes are available on the worker.

		PowerShell snippet (for convenience if the repo isn’t available):


		PowerShell snippet (for convenience if the repo isn’t available):

		```powershell

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Was this change documented?

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oehmends commented Jan 18, 2026 •

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