Media encoder licence error when running After Effects in render only mode

[sabitoff]

We're trying to setup a set of cloud server machines, which will encode videos for us.

Our steps:

- Install AE and ME

- Setup watch folder

- Sign out of creative cloud

- Turn on render only mode using the ae_render_only_node.txt file

- Launch ME

The files are then dropped into the watch folder and encoded as expected. All good.

However, after some time if this cloud machine is fired back up, we get the following error when ME tries to launch:

"AMT Subsystem Error: Thank you for using Adobe Media encoder. The grace period for this product has expired. In order to continue using Media Encoder, please purchase a Creative Cloud subscription".

So I have a couple of questions, if anyone could answer them:

1) Am I right in believing that no licence (for neither AE nor ME) is required to run this setup?

2) If so, how do I set this up so it doesn't complain about the licence?

Thanks

[Mylenium · Accepted solution]

The issue is probably in the little word "cloud". The AE render license is only meant to be run on local machines based o na fixed network configuration, so as soon as somthing in your virtualized instances changes, the licensing system no longer works correctly. If at all, you will have to use a conventional approach using fixed binding and making sure the VM instances are the same every time. Anything beyond that would require some specific licensing trickery, which is of course possible at extra cost, but will require you to contact a sales representative for enterprise licensing.

Mylenium