Hi,

I have this asset that has its fur groomed using interactive xgen. Upon batch rendering on the farm, the fur sometimes goes completely missing or gets stretched at random frames.

stretches at random frames

I am using Maya 2017 update 4 with MtoA 1.4.2.3 ( Arnold core 4.2.16.4 ). The xgenToolkit is the default that ships with Maya

At frames where the fur goes completely missing ( usually the first frame of the sequence ) I can see these errors -

01:09:58 6389MB | initializing 83 nodes ...
01:09:58 6389MB | [proc] procedural_DD6970A856A30E3E01328: loading /usr/apps/solidangle/mtoa_1.4.2.3/mtoa/2017up4//procedurals/xgenSpline_procedural.so
01:09:58 6389MB | [proc] procedural_DD6970A856A30E3E01328: successfully initialized plugin: /usr/apps/solidangle/mtoa_1.4.2.3/mtoa/2017up4//procedurals/xgenSpline_procedural.so
01:09:58 6389MB ERROR | Failed to load sample 0.
01:09:58 6389MB ERROR | Failed to load spline data from the procedural parameter.
01:09:58 6389MB ERROR | [proc] procedural_DD6970A856A30E3E01328: error in user init from /usr/apps/solidangle/mtoa_1.4.2.3/mtoa/2017up4//procedurals/xgenSpline_procedural.so
01:09:58 6389MB | [proc] procedural_DD8E350C56A31737F36F7: loading /usr/apps/solidangle/mtoa_1.4.2.3/mtoa/2017up4//procedurals/xgenSpline_procedural.so
01:09:58 6389MB ERROR | Failed to load sample 0.
01:09:58 6389MB ERROR | Failed to load spline data from the procedural parameter.
01:09:58 6389MB ERROR | [proc] procedural_DD8E350C56A31737F36F7: error in user init from /usr/apps/solidangle/mtoa_1.4.2.3/mtoa/2017up4//procedurals/xgenSpline_procedural.so
01:09:58 6389MB | [proc] procedural_DD7A15D256A3124E53D27: loading /usr/apps/solidangle/mtoa_1.4.2.3/mtoa/2017up4//procedurals/xgenSpline_procedural.so
01:09:58 6389MB ERROR | Failed to load sample 0.
01:09:58 6389MB ERROR | Failed to load spline data from the procedural parameter.
01:09:58 6389MB ERROR | [proc] procedural_DD7A15D256A3124E53D27: error in user init from /usr/apps/solidangle/mtoa_1.4.2.3/mtoa/2017up4//procedurals/xgenSpline_procedural.so
01:09:58 6389MB | [proc] procedural_DD9D152156A31AD9A8C9E: loading /usr/apps/solidangle/mtoa_1.4.2.3/mtoa/2017up4//procedurals/xgenSpline_procedural.so
01:09:58 6389MB ERROR | Failed to load sample 0.
01:09:58 6389MB ERROR | Failed to load spline data from the procedural parameter.
01:09:58 6389MB ERROR | [proc] procedural_DD9D152156A31AD9A8C9E: error in user init from /usr/apps/solidangle/mtoa_1.4.2.3/mtoa/2017up4//procedurals/xgenSpline_procedural.so
01:09:58 6389MB | [proc] procedural_DD83BBE656A314A95FB19: loading /usr/apps/solidangle/mtoa_1.4.2.3/mtoa/2017up4//procedurals/xgenSpline_procedural.so
01:09:58 6389MB ERROR | Failed to load sample 0.
01:09:58 6389MB ERROR | Failed to load spline data from the procedural parameter.
01:09:58 6389MB ERROR | [proc] procedural_DD83BBE656A314A95FB19: error in user init from /usr/apps/solidangle/mtoa_1.4.2.3/mtoa/2017up4//procedurals/xgenSpline_procedural.so
01:09:58 6389MB | [proc] procedural_DD6909C456A30E24E280E: loading /usr/apps/solidangle/mtoa_1.4.2.3/mtoa/2017up4//procedurals/xgenSpline_procedural.so
01:09:58 6389MB WARNING | procedural_DD6909C456A30E24E280E_curves: varying user-data count wrong! (found 392 expected 336) -- disabling user-data 'wparamcoord'
01:09:58 6389MB | [proc] procedural_DD6909C456A30E24E280E: loaded 1 nodes (1 objects, 0 shaders)
01:09:58 6389MB | [proc] procedural_DD685C3A56A30DFA84449: loading /usr/apps/solidangle/mtoa_1.4.2.3/mtoa/2017up4//procedurals/xgenSpline_procedural.so
01:09:59 6500MB WARNING | ignoring parameter points on procedural_DD685C3A56A30DFA84449_curves (found: nans or infs)
01:09:59 6500MB ERROR | [curves] procedural_DD685C3A56A30DFA84449_curves: invalid number of points (found 0, expected 674460)
01:09:59 6398MB | [proc] procedural_DD685C3A56A30DFA84449: loaded 1 nodes (0 objects, 0 shaders)
01:09:59 6398MB | [proc] procedural_DDA8521F56A31D980CB9E: loading /usr/apps/solidangle/mtoa_1.4.2.3/mtoa/2017up4//procedurals/xgenSpline_procedural.so
01:09:59 6401MB WARNING | procedural_DDA8521F56A31D980CB9E_curves: varying user-data count wrong! (found 392 expected 336) -- disabling user-data 'wparamcoord'
01:09:59 6398MB | [proc] procedural_DDA8521F56A31D980CB9E: loaded 1 nodes (1 objects, 0 shaders)
01:09:59 6398MB | [proc] procedural_DD8DDC2756A317223FAC4: loading /usr/apps/solidangle/mtoa_1.4.2.3/mtoa/2017up4//procedurals/xgenSpline_procedural.so
01:09:59 6495MB WARNING | ignoring parameter points on procedural_DD8DDC2756A317223FAC4_curves (found: nans or infs)
01:09:59 6495MB ERROR | [curves] procedural_DD8DDC2756A317223FAC4_curves: invalid number of points (found 0, expected 461468)
01:09:59 6409MB | [proc] procedural_DD8DDC2756A317223FAC4: loaded 1 nodes (0 objects, 0 shaders)
01:09:59 6409MB | [proc] procedural_DD69178756A30E283EA89: loading /usr/apps/solidangle/mtoa_1.4.2.3/mtoa/2017up4//procedurals/xgenSpline_procedural.so
01:09:59 6539MB WARNING | ignoring parameter points on procedural_DD69178756A30E283EA89_curves (found: nans or infs)
01:09:59 6539MB ERROR | [curves] procedural_DD69178756A30E283EA89_curves: invalid number of points (found 0, expected 1029258)
01:09:59 6429MB | [proc] procedural_DD69178756A30E283EA89: loaded 1 nodes (0 objects, 0 shaders)
01:09:59 6429MB | [proc] procedural_DD8E318856A3173717E44: loading /usr/apps/solidangle/mtoa_1.4.2.3/mtoa/2017up4//procedurals/xgenSpline_procedural.so
01:09:59 6473MB WARNING | procedural_DD8E318856A3173717E44_curves: varying user-data count wrong! (found 355528 expected 266646) -- disabling user-data 'wparamcoord'
01:09:59 6435MB | [proc] procedural_DD8E318856A3173717E44: loaded 1 nodes (1 objects, 0 shaders)
01:09:59 6435MB | [proc] procedural_DD6857EA56A30DF976AD3: loading /usr/apps/solidangle/mtoa_1.4.2.3/mtoa/2017up4//procedurals/xgenSpline_procedural.so
01:09:59 6558MB WARNING | procedural_DD6857EA56A30DF976AD3_curves: varying user-data count wrong! (found 956018 expected 819444) -- disabling user-data 'wparamcoord'
01:09:59 6453MB | [proc] procedural_DD6857EA56A30DF976AD3: loaded 1 nodes (1 objects, 0 shaders)

and at the end of log I see these errors

Error: line 1: XGen: Invalid binary stream. Expect a Header tag.
Error: line 1: XGen: Invalid binary stream. Expect a Header tag.
Error: line 1: XGen: Invalid binary stream. Expect a Header tag.
Error: line 1: XGen: Invalid binary stream. Expect a Header tag.
Error: line 1: XGen: Invalid binary stream. Expect a Header tag.

The frames at which fur strand renders stretched there are no 'Failed to load sample' or invalid binary stream errors but the number of points are still invalid.

00:33:27 6766MB | initializing 83 nodes ...
00:33:27 6766MB | [proc] procedural_DDC0872A56A32380FFC5A: loading /usr/apps/solidangle/mtoa_1.4.2.3/mtoa/2017up4//procedurals/xgenSpline_procedural.so
00:33:27 6766MB | [proc] procedural_DDC0872A56A32380FFC5A: successfully initialized plugin: /usr/apps/solidangle/mtoa_1.4.2.3/mtoa/2017up4//procedurals/xgenSpline_procedural.so
00:33:28 6846MB WARNING | procedural_DDC0872A56A32380FFC5A_curves: varying user-data count wrong! (found 956018 expected 819444) -- disabling user-data 'wparamcoord'
00:33:28 6785MB | [proc] procedural_DDC0872A56A32380FFC5A: loaded 1 nodes (1 objects, 0 shaders)
00:33:28 6785MB | [proc] procedural_DDAB78E956A31E5D04F8C: loading /usr/apps/solidangle/mtoa_1.4.2.3/mtoa/2017up4//procedurals/xgenSpline_procedural.so
00:33:28 6870MB WARNING | procedural_DDAB78E956A31E5D04F8C_curves: varying user-data count wrong! (found 674460 expected 599520) -- disabling user-data 'wparamcoord'
00:33:28 6796MB | [proc] procedural_DDAB78E956A31E5D04F8C: loaded 1 nodes (1 objects, 0 shaders)
00:33:28 6796MB | [proc] procedural_DDAF993156A31F5EE6A9B: loading /usr/apps/solidangle/mtoa_1.4.2.3/mtoa/2017up4//procedurals/xgenSpline_procedural.so
00:33:28 6850MB WARNING | procedural_DDAF993156A31F5EE6A9B_curves: varying user-data count wrong! (found 461468 expected 395544) -- disabling user-data 'wparamcoord'
00:33:28 6803MB | [proc] procedural_DDAF993156A31F5EE6A9B: loaded 1 nodes (1 objects, 0 shaders)
00:33:28 6803MB | [proc] procedural_DDB5364656A320BDC0250: loading /usr/apps/solidangle/mtoa_1.4.2.3/mtoa/2017up4//procedurals/xgenSpline_procedural.so
00:33:28 6834MB WARNING | procedural_DDB5364656A320BDC0250_curves: varying user-data count wrong! (found 355528 expected 266646) -- disabling user-data 'wparamcoord'
00:33:28 6807MB | [proc] procedural_DDB5364656A320BDC0250: loaded 1 nodes (1 objects, 0 shaders)
00:33:28 6807MB | [proc] procedural_DDBA5C8756A321FF9716C: loading /usr/apps/solidangle/mtoa_1.4.2.3/mtoa/2017up4//procedurals/xgenSpline_procedural.so
00:33:28 6909MB WARNING | procedural_DDBA5C8756A321FF9716C_curves: varying user-data count wrong! (found 1029258 expected 914896) -- disabling user-data 'wparamcoord'
00:33:28 6836MB | [proc] procedural_DDBA5C8756A321FF9716C: loaded 1 nodes (1 objects, 0 shaders)
00:33:28 6836MB | [proc] procedural_DDC0836556A323801433B: loading /usr/apps/solidangle/mtoa_1.4.2.3/mtoa/2017up4//procedurals/xgenSpline_procedural.so
00:33:28 6836MB | [proc] procedural_DDC0836556A323801433B: loaded 1 nodes (1 objects, 0 shaders)
00:33:28 6836MB | [proc] procedural_DDB477DC56A3208F43477: loading /usr/apps/solidangle/mtoa_1.4.2.3/mtoa/2017up4//procedurals/xgenSpline_procedural.so
00:33:28 6918MB WARNING | ignoring parameter points on procedural_DDB477DC56A3208F43477_curves (found: nans or infs)
00:33:28 6918MB ERROR | [curves] procedural_DDB477DC56A3208F43477_curves: invalid number of points (found 0, expected 674460)
00:33:28 6855MB | [proc] procedural_DDB477DC56A3208F43477: loaded 1 nodes (0 objects, 0 shaders)
00:33:28 6855MB | [proc] procedural_DDAB778056A31E5CACF59: loading /usr/apps/solidangle/mtoa_1.4.2.3/mtoa/2017up4//procedurals/xgenSpline_procedural.so
00:33:28 6855MB | [proc] procedural_DDAB778056A31E5CACF59: loaded 1 nodes (1 objects, 0 shaders)
00:33:28 6855MB | [proc] procedural_DDB421F356A3207A4A09B: loading /usr/apps/solidangle/mtoa_1.4.2.3/mtoa/2017up4//procedurals/xgenSpline_procedural.so
00:33:28 6920MB WARNING | ignoring parameter points on procedural_DDB421F356A3207A4A09B_curves (found: nans or infs)
00:33:28 6920MB ERROR | [curves] procedural_DDB421F356A3207A4A09B_curves: invalid number of points (found 0, expected 461468)
00:33:28 6865MB | [proc] procedural_DDB421F356A3207A4A09B: loaded 1 nodes (0 objects, 0 shaders)
00:33:28 6865MB | [proc] procedural_DDAB184756A31E456D6D5: loading /usr/apps/solidangle/mtoa_1.4.2.3/mtoa/2017up4//procedurals/xgenSpline_procedural.so
00:33:29 6882MB | [proc] procedural_DDAB184756A31E456D6D5: loaded 1 nodes (1 objects, 0 shaders)
00:33:29 6882MB | [proc] procedural_DDAB732456A31E5B9C609: loading /usr/apps/solidangle/mtoa_1.4.2.3/mtoa/2017up4//procedurals/xgenSpline_procedural.so
00:33:29 6888MB | [proc] procedural_DDAB732456A31E5B9C609: loaded 1 nodes (1 objects, 0 shaders)
00:33:29 6888MB | [proc] procedural_DDC0774256A3237D1DA62: loading /usr/apps/solidangle/mtoa_1.4.2.3/mtoa/2017up4//procedurals/xgenSpline_procedural.so
00:33:29 6904MB | [proc] procedural_DDC0774256A3237D1DA62: loaded 1 nodes (1 objects, 0 shaders)


A frame which rendered fine -

00:51:50 6746MB | initializing 83 nodes ...
00:51:50 6746MB | [proc] procedural_DDE7F9CB56A32D227C33A: loading /usr/apps/solidangle/mtoa_1.4.2.3/mtoa/2017up4//procedurals/xgenSpline_procedural.so
00:51:50 6746MB | [proc] procedural_DDE7F9CB56A32D227C33A: successfully initialized plugin: /usr/apps/solidangle/mtoa_1.4.2.3/mtoa/2017up4//procedurals/xgenSpline_procedural.so
00:51:50 6836MB WARNING | procedural_DDE7F9CB56A32D227C33A_curves: varying user-data count wrong! (found 956018 expected 819444) -- disabling user-data 'wparamcoord'
00:51:50 6765MB | [proc] procedural_DDE7F9CB56A32D227C33A: loaded 1 nodes (1 objects, 0 shaders)
00:51:50 6765MB | [proc] procedural_DDCB658956A326284A1CD: loading /usr/apps/solidangle/mtoa_1.4.2.3/mtoa/2017up4//procedurals/xgenSpline_procedural.so
00:51:50 6837MB WARNING | procedural_DDCB658956A326284A1CD_curves: varying user-data count wrong! (found 674460 expected 599520) -- disabling user-data 'wparamcoord'
00:51:50 6785MB | [proc] procedural_DDCB658956A326284A1CD: loaded 1 nodes (1 objects, 0 shaders)
00:51:50 6785MB | [proc] procedural_DDCF94D356A3272DD5A72: loading /usr/apps/solidangle/mtoa_1.4.2.3/mtoa/2017up4//procedurals/xgenSpline_procedural.so
00:51:50 6850MB WARNING | procedural_DDCF94D356A3272DD5A72_curves: varying user-data count wrong! (found 461468 expected 395544) -- disabling user-data 'wparamcoord'
00:51:50 6792MB | [proc] procedural_DDCF94D356A3272DD5A72: loaded 1 nodes (1 objects, 0 shaders)
00:51:50 6792MB | [proc] procedural_DDE077DF56A32B4D441FB: loading /usr/apps/solidangle/mtoa_1.4.2.3/mtoa/2017up4//procedurals/xgenSpline_procedural.so
00:51:50 6823MB WARNING | procedural_DDE077DF56A32B4D441FB_curves: varying user-data count wrong! (found 355528 expected 266646) -- disabling user-data 'wparamcoord'
00:51:50 6796MB | [proc] procedural_DDE077DF56A32B4D441FB: loaded 1 nodes (1 objects, 0 shaders)
00:51:50 6796MB | [proc] procedural_DDD2598756A327DADBAF8: loading /usr/apps/solidangle/mtoa_1.4.2.3/mtoa/2017up4//procedurals/xgenSpline_procedural.so
00:51:50 6897MB WARNING | procedural_DDD2598756A327DADBAF8_curves: varying user-data count wrong! (found 1029258 expected 914896) -- disabling user-data 'wparamcoord'
00:51:51 6816MB | [proc] procedural_DDD2598756A327DADBAF8: loaded 1 nodes (1 objects, 0 shaders)
00:51:51 6816MB | [proc] procedural_DDE013FB56A32B34E0FC4: loading /usr/apps/solidangle/mtoa_1.4.2.3/mtoa/2017up4//procedurals/xgenSpline_procedural.so
00:51:51 6816MB | [proc] procedural_DDE013FB56A32B34E0FC4: loaded 1 nodes (1 objects, 0 shaders)
00:51:51 6816MB | [proc] procedural_DDF9BF5056A331793512D: loading /usr/apps/solidangle/mtoa_1.4.2.3/mtoa/2017up4//procedurals/xgenSpline_procedural.so
00:51:51 6888MB WARNING | ignoring parameter points on procedural_DDF9BF5056A331793512D_curves (found: nans or infs)
00:51:51 6888MB ERROR | [curves] procedural_DDF9BF5056A331793512D_curves: invalid number of points (found 0, expected 674460)
00:51:51 6837MB | [proc] procedural_DDF9BF5056A331793512D: loaded 1 nodes (0 objects, 0 shaders)
00:51:51 6837MB | [proc] procedural_DDE0125056A32B34788D2: loading /usr/apps/solidangle/mtoa_1.4.2.3/mtoa/2017up4//procedurals/xgenSpline_procedural.so
00:51:51 6837MB | [proc] procedural_DDE0125056A32B34788D2: loaded 1 nodes (1 objects, 0 shaders)
00:51:51 6837MB | [proc] procedural_DDFA7D7556A331A7A1215: loading /usr/apps/solidangle/mtoa_1.4.2.3/mtoa/2017up4//procedurals/xgenSpline_procedural.so
00:51:51 6894MB WARNING | ignoring parameter points on procedural_DDFA7D7556A331A7A1215_curves (found: nans or infs)
00:51:51 6894MB ERROR | [curves] procedural_DDFA7D7556A331A7A1215_curves: invalid number of points (found 0, expected 461468)
00:51:51 6845MB | [proc] procedural_DDFA7D7556A331A7A1215: loaded 1 nodes (0 objects, 0 shaders)
00:51:51 6845MB | [proc] procedural_DDE01E7656A32B377008E: loading /usr/apps/solidangle/mtoa_1.4.2.3/mtoa/2017up4//procedurals/xgenSpline_procedural.so
00:51:51 6867MB | [proc] procedural_DDE01E7656A32B377008E: loaded 1 nodes (1 objects, 0 shaders)
00:51:51 6867MB | [proc] procedural_DDE7F56756A32D2169DAB: loading /usr/apps/solidangle/mtoa_1.4.2.3/mtoa/2017up4//procedurals/xgenSpline_procedural.so
00:51:51 6873MB | [proc] procedural_DDE7F56756A32D2169DAB: loaded 1 nodes (1 objects, 0 shaders)
00:51:51 6873MB | [proc] procedural_DDF98D4C56A3316CFF324: loading /usr/apps/solidangle/mtoa_1.4.2.3/mtoa/2017up4//procedurals/xgenSpline_procedural.so
00:51:51 6885MB | [proc] procedural_DDF98D4C56A3316CFF324: loaded 1 nodes (1 objects, 0 shaders)



Any ideas on how to resolve will be highly appreciated.

Thank you