---
title: "Silent Install and Uninstall"
canonical: "https://documentation.chaos.com/space/VMAYA/111738893/Silent%20Install%20and%20Uninstall"
format: markdown
---
This page provides information on how to silently install V-Ray for Maya.


## **Overview**

---

A silent installation allows you to perform a complete V-Ray for Maya installation without any user input during the process, using either the default options (automatic installation) or, if desired, a predefined set of options (manual installation).

To use the **default** **options**, you need to run the installer file from the command prompt/terminal with the **-auto **argument. This option forces the installer to run without a user interface, and also automatically selects all the default options. A config file, containing the default installation options, is created at the end of the process.

> ⚠️ By using the Chaos installer for automatic installation with the **-auto** argument, you accept the [Chaos End User License Agreement](https://www.chaos.com/terms) and the [Chaos Global Consumer Privacy Policy](https://www.chaos.com/privacy).

To use a **predefined set of options**, you first need to create a configuration XML file that stores the installation parameters, then run the installer. You must use the **-gui=0** argument, which tells the installer not to display a visual dialog and to use the console for all interactions. After that, you can set each installation option directly in the console. Adding the **-quiet=1** argument speeds this process by skipping the full output and leading you straight to the configuration options where you can set them as you prefer. When this process is finished, the config.xml file is created. The final step is to run the installer again in the command prompt/terminal with the config.xml file. *See **[Creating the .xml file](#Creating-the-.xml-file)** and **[Running the installer](#Running-the-installer)** for more details.*

> ℹ️ The **-auto** argument generates a configuration file using the default installation settings.
> ℹ️ 
> ℹ️ The **-gui=0** **-quiet=1** arguments generate a configuration file with installation settings that you specify.
> ℹ️ 
> ℹ️ You can inspect the configuration.xml files with a text editor and further modify the options listed there to suit your needs. *For more information, refer to the **[Configuration File section](#Configuration-File)**.*

You can remove V-Ray for Maya from your machine similarly through a silent uninstall.



## **Installer Arguments**

---

You can run the installation file from the command prompt or terminal with the following arguments:

|  |  |
| --- | --- |
| -help | Prints available arguments for the installer executable. |
| -configFile | Specifies a path to an installation configuration file. |
| -auto | Specifies if the installation is automatic with default settings and forces the -quiet=1 argument.<br>If you perform an automatic installation and use the Software, you accept the terms of the EULA and the Global Consumer Privacy Policy. |
| -debug | Specifies the level of debug logging by the installer. Defaults to 0 and assumes a value of 1 if an argument is provided with no value. |
| -gui | Specifies if a Graphic User Interface or a command line one is used during installation:<br>0 – No Graphic User Interface is visible, installation is in command line.<br>1 – Installation is with a Graphic User Interface. |
| -quiet | Specifies whether the automatic installation prints the output to the console. Defaults to 1.<br>0 – Installation prints all of its output to the console.<br>1 – Installation suppresses the console output. |
| -backup | Specifies whether the installer performs a backup of the previous installation.<br>0 – Previous installation is not backed up.<br>1 – Previous installation is backed up. |
| -version,-v | Prints out the version of the installer and the version of the contents and exit.  The reported version details may be further controlled by specifying a level - one of:<br>1 – Shows only the installer binary information.<br>2 - Shows the main installer version.<br>3 - (default) Shows the main installation and all contained sub-installations. |
| -unpackInstall=<directory_path> | Unpack the installation in the specified directory. |



## **Creating the .xml file**

---

### **Windows**

Run the installation file from the command prompt with the ***-gui=0**** *argument.

`vray_adv_72002_maya20xx_x64.exe -gui=0 `

To suppress the full console output and speed up the generation of a config file, add the **-quiet=1** argument.

`vray_adv_72002_maya20xx_x64.exe -gui=0 -quiet=1 `

Follow the installation instructions and set it up the way you want it on all machines. This creates a file named*** config.xml ***in the folder of the installation file.


### **macOS**

In the terminal, navigate to the location where you have extracted the ***vray_adv_72002_maya20xx_mavericks_x64.app*** file and copy the *.app* file to a location with write permissions.

Use the cd command navigate inside the *.app* file and go to ***vray_adv_72002_maya20xx_mavericks_x64.app/Contents/MacOs***

Run the installation file in the terminal with the ***-gui=0**** *argument.

`./run_installer -gui=0`

To suppress the full console output and speed up the generation of a config file, add the **-quiet=1** argument.

`./run_installer -gui=0 -quiet=1`

When prompted for your password, enter it.

Follow the installation instructions and set it up the way you want it on all machines. This creates a file named*** config.xml ***in the folder of the *.app* file. Move it outside the .app bundle, for example, next to the *vray_adv_72002_maya20xx_mavericks_x64.app.*


### **Linux**

Run the installation file with the ***-gui=0**** *argument.

`./vray_adv_72002_maya20xx_linux_x64 -gui=0 `

To suppress the full console output and speed up the generation of a config file, add the **-quiet=1** argument.

`./vray_adv_72002_maya20xx_linux_x64 -gui=0 -quiet=1`

Follow the installation instructions and set it up the way you want it on all machines. This creates a file named*** config.xml ***in the folder from which the installation was run.

> ⚠️ It is really important to **not** start the installer with ***sudo*** as that can potentially interfere with the process and install files in the wrong locations. Let the installer ask for ***sudo***.



## **Running the installer**

---

### **Windows**

Once a config.xml file is generated, you can use it to pass the installation parameters to the installer on any machine in an automated way:

`vray_adv_72002_maya20xx_x64.exe -gui=0 -configFile="C:\config.xml" -quiet=1`


### **macOS**

Once a config.xml file is generated, you can use it to pass the installation parameters to the installer on any machine in an automated way. Navigate to ***vray_adv_72002_maya20xx_mavericks_x64.app/Contents/MacOs ***and using the command:

`./run_installer -configFile="../../../config.xml" -gui=0 -quiet=1 -ignoreErrors=1`


### **Linux**

Once a config.xml file is generated, you can use it to pass the installation parameters to the installer on any machine in an automated way by using these arguments ***-configFile="config.xml" -gui=0 -quiet=1 -ignoreErrors=1***:

`./vray_adv_72002_maya20xx_linux_x64 -configFile="config.xml" -gui=0 -quiet=1 -ignoreErrors=1 `



## **Configuration File**

---

The config.xml file configures the automated installation. Below is an example of a config file.

**Example installer config XML file:**

```
<DefValues>
 <Value Name="REGISTER_RENDERSERVER_SERVICE" DataType="value">0</Value>
 <Value Name="HAS_BORROWED_LICENSE" DataType="value">0</Value>
 <Value Name="CHAOS_CLOUD_INSTALLED" DataType="value">1</Value>
 <Value Name="FIRST_LICENSE_SETUP" DataType="value">0</Value>
 <Value Name="PLUGINS" DataType="value">C:\Program Files\Chaos\V-Ray\Maya 2025 for x64\maya_vray</Value>
 <Value Name="LICENSE_TYPE" DataType="value">0</Value>
 <Value Name="PROGRAMFILES" DataType="value">C:\Program Files</Value>
 <Value Name="CHAOS_DISABLE_GEN_AI" DataType="value">0</Value>
 <Value Name="CHAOS_DISABLE_EXPERIMENTAL_WARNING_ENV" DataType="value">0</Value>
 <Value Name="STANDALONE_PATH" DataType="value">C:\Program Files\Chaos\V-Ray\Maya 2025 for x64\maya_vray/bin</Value>
 <Value Name="ANONYMOUS_TELEMETRY" DataType="value">0</Value>
 <Value Name="MAYAROOT" DataType="value">C:\Program Files\Autodesk\Maya2025\</Value>
 <Value Name="COMMONFILES" DataType="value">C:\Program Files\Common Files</Value>
 <Value Name="STDROOT" DataType="value">C:\Program Files\Chaos\V-Ray\Maya 2025 for x64\vray</Value>
 <Value Name="CHAOS_DISABLE_GEN_AI_ENV" DataType="value">0</Value>
 <Value Name="REMOTE_LICENSE" DataType="value">0</Value>
 <Value Name="SHOULDUNINSTALL" DataType="value">1</Value>
 <Value Name="VIDEO_DRIVER_TDR_DELAY_INCREASE" DataType="value">1</Value>
 <Value Name="MODULEDEST" DataType="value">C:\Program Files\Common Files\Autodesk Shared\Modules\Maya\2025</Value>
 <Value Name="PERSONALIZED_TELEMETRY" DataType="value">0</Value>
 <Value Name="INSTALL_TYPE" DataType="value">0</Value>
 <Value Name="FIREWALL_EXCEPTION" DataType="value">1</Value>
 <Value Name="STARTMENUPROG" DataType="value">C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs</Value>
 <Value Name="SYSTEMD_SUPPORTED" DataType="value">1</Value>
 <LicServer>
  <Type>0</Type>
  <Host>127.0.0.1</Host>
  <Port>30304</Port>
  <Host1></Host1>
  <Port1>30304</Port1>
 </LicServer>
</DefValues>

```


> ⚠️ Please note that **<username> **is specific for the currently lOS user.

Below is a description of the common variables that can be defined in the .xml file:


|  |  |
| --- | --- |
| `PLUGINS` | Specifies the plugins folder for Maya |
| `INSTALL_TYPE` | Specifies the installation type:<br>0 - Full<br>1 - Standalone only<br>For a complete description of each installation type, refer to the [Installation](https://docs-chaos.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/VMAYA/pages/111739185) section. |
| `REGISTER_RENDERSERVER_SERVICE` | Specifies whether or not to register the V-Ray Standalone render server as a service.<br>0 - Does not register the V-Ray Standalone render server<br>1 - Registers the V-Ray Standalone render server |
| `STDROOT` | Specifies the destination folder for IPR files. |
| `LICENSE_TYPE` | Specifies the Licensing mode:  
0 - Cloud Licensing  
1 - License Server |
| `REMOTE_LICENSE` | Specifies whether the Chaos license server runs locally or on another machine:<br>0 - The license server runs locally on the same machine.<br>1 - The server is on a different machine in the network. |
| `ANONYMOUS_TELEMETRY` | Specifies whether to enable telemetry for the most used product functionality and/or parameter values. The data is not personally identifiable and is not tied to the user's individual account:<br>0 - Anonymous telemetry is disabled.<br>1 - Anonymous telemetry is enabled. |
| `PERSONALIZED_TELEMETRY` | Specifies whether to enable telemetry for the most used product functionality, parameter values, and also contains personally identifiable information tied to an individual user's license:<br>0 - Personalized telemetry is disabled.<br>1 - Personalized telemetry is enabled. |
| `FIREWALL_EXCEPTION` | Specifies whether to add a Firewall Exception for the Chaos license server:<br>0 - Does not add a Firewall Exception for the Chaos license server.<br>1 - Adds a Firewall Exception for the Chaos license server. |



## <span style="color: #000000">**Uninstall**</span>

---

<span style="color: #000000">A silent uninstall allows you to remove your V-Ray installation without the need for user input during the process using a predefined set of options.</span>

<span style="color: #000000">To perform a silent uninstall, the executable of the installer should be run from a Windows command prompt or from a Linux or macOS terminal with the following arguments:</span>

` -uninstall=<log full filename> -uninstallApp=<product full name> -gui=0`

- ***-uninstall=<log full filename>*** specifies the log generated when the application was installed. It is stored in the Chaos installation folder in **C:\Program Files\Chaos\V-Ray\Maya 20xx for x64\vray\uninstall** (where **xx **is the Maya version).  
**Note**: On Linux and macOS the*** -log=<log full filename>*** argument should be used instead of **-uninstall**.
- ***-uninstallApp=<product full name> ***specifies the application to remove. The full product name can be found in the ***.xml*** file generated when the application was installed. It is located in the Chaos installation folder in V-Ray > Maya 20xx for x64 > uninstall.
- <span style="color: #000000">***-gui=0 ***</span><span style="color: #000000">only shows the uninstall log in the command prompt or terminal without initializing the graphic UI.</span>

<span style="color: #000000"> </span>

### <span style="color: #000000">**Windows**</span>

<span style="color: #000000">Performing a silent uninstall of V-Ray on Windows requires running the </span><span style="color: #000000">**installer.exe**</span><span style="color: #000000"> file from the command prompt with the arguments specified in the Overview. To do that, you need to know the full path of the folder containing the V-Ray additional files and the exact name of the product you want to uninstall. Then you can execute the following command:</span>

<span style="color: #000000"> </span>

```plaintext
<STDROOT>/uninstall/installer.exe -uninstall="<STDROOT>/uninstall/install.log" -uninstallApp="V-Ray for Maya xxxx for x64" -auto
```


Where:

- *<STDROOT>* is the V-Ray installation directory;
- <span style="color: #202124">*xxxx *</span><span style="color: #202124">is the version of</span> Maya;
- *-quiet=0* is used to display the output of the silent uninstall in the console and can be omitted.


### <span style="color: #000000">**macOS**</span>

Performing a silent uninstall of V-Ray on macOS requires running the <span style="color: #000000">**installer **</span><span style="color: #000000">executable from a terminal with the arguments specified in the Overview.</span>

<span style="color: #000000">Here's an example of how the command line should look when uninstalling V-Ray for Maya 2020: </span>

```plaintext
/Applications/Chaos/V-Ray/Maya2020/vray/Uninstaller.app/Contents/MacOS/installer.bin -uninstallApp="V-Ray for Maya 2020 for x64" -log="/Applications/Chaos/V-Ray/Maya2020/vray/uninstall/install.log" -gui=0
```


### <span style="color: #000000">**Linux**</span>

Performing a silent uninstall of V-Ray on Linux requires running the <span style="color: #000000">**installer **</span><span style="color: #000000">executable from a terminal with the arguments specified in the Overview.</span>

<span style="color: #000000">Here's an example of how the command line should look when uninstalling V-Ray for Maya 2020: </span>

```plaintext
/usr/Chaos/V-Ray/Maya2020-x64/vray/uninstall/installer -uninstallApp="V-Ray for Maya 2020 for x64" -log="/usr/Chaos/V-Ray/Maya2020-x64/vray/uninstall/install.log" -gui=0
```