ID 412369 - Windows: Crash on trying to spawn subprocesses when running as a different user

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  3. Katana

Problem summary

On Windows, Katana crashes on startup when trying to launch it via the "Run as a different user" option.

This seems to happen while trying to start the katanaCleanup utility during startup. If this is bypassed by setting KATANA_KEEP_TMPDIR to 1, Katana is able to launch, but fails to render, indicating that there is a problem launching the renderboot process.

NOTE: On Linux, launching in GUI mode as a different user seems to fail due to graphics issues or TP 218505 - Linux log file /tmp/katana.log doesn't work well for multiple users rather than an issue with spawning processes. No crashes in batch mode when running as a different user on Linux, image renders successfully.

Customer reported version
Katana 3.2v2

Customer reported platform
Windows 7

Steps to reproduce

  1. In Windows Explorer, navigate to C:\WINDOWS\system32.
  2. Hold Shift and right-click on cmd.exe.
  3. Select "Run as a different user".
  4. In the command line window that appears, run "C:\Program Files\Katana3.2v2\bin\katanaBin.exe" or "C:\Program Files\Katana3.2v2\bin\katanaBin.exe" --batch

Expected behaviour
Katana launches.

Actual behaviour
After outputting to the console [INFO LicenseCheck]: Interactive License OK, Katana crashes and the crash reporter window appears.

In batch mode, [INFO MAIN]: Crash handling is disabled. is output to the console, then Katana quits.

If KATANA_KEEP_TMPDIR is set to 1 before starting a batch render of a Katana project, the following render error is printed to the console:

[INFO python.RenderLog]: Running command: 'C:\Program Files\Katana3.2v2\bin\renderboot' -geolib3OpTree 'C:\Users\Foundry\AppData\Local\Temp\katana_tmpdir_14352\geolib3000003.optree' -renderer arnold -renderMethodType diskRender -renderMethodName diskRender -renderTime 1.0 -useID 0 -sequenceID None -katanaRoot 'C:\Program Files\Katana3.2v2' -tempDir 'C:\Users\Foundry\AppData\Local\Temp\katana_tmpdir_14352' -pluginDsoPath 'C:/Program Files/SolidAngle/KtoA-2.4.0.3-kat3.2-windows/Libs' -assetPlugin File -fileSequencePlugin FileSeq -geolib3RuntimeMode sync -resolutionsTable 'C:\Users\Foundry\AppData\Local\Temp\katana_tmpdir_14352\Resolutions\FoundryResolutions.xml'
[INFO python.RenderLog]: Render process failed to start with error code:-1
[INFO python.RenderLog]: CommandLineRender Error: doRender problem
[INFO python.RenderLog]: Reason = Render process failed to start with error code:-1
[ERROR python.MainBatch]: Rendering Error: Render failed with a rendering error: An error occurred in preRender....
[ERROR python.MainBatch]:     (Error node: Render)
[ERROR python.MainBatch]:     Exiting with error code: -1

Workaround
Setting KATANA_KEEP_TMPDIR=1 in the command line before running the Katana executable allows the application to launch. 

However, rendering will not work.

Reproduced by support

This bug has been reproduced in:
Katana 3.2v2 - Windows 10
Katana 3.1v1 - Windows 10
Katana 3.0v1 - Windows 10
Katana 2.6v3 - Windows 10
Katana 2.5v1 - Windows 10

Unable to reproduce bug in:
Katana 3.2v2 - CentOS 7.7

Earliest version tested
Katana 2.5v1 - Windows 10
- This issue appears to be in all versions of the product on Windows

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