DAZ on Linux | DAZ Studio was practically usable - DAZ.orin Laboratory
I installed DAZ Studio on a virtual Windows 11 running on free VMware (Linux version), and since it was practically usable for general tasks, I would like to introduce it.
Since dForce physics simulation did not work, I decided to continue using it in combination with the cloud virtual Windows Paperspace GPU+ version as before...
By the way, most articles that appear when searching for "paperspace" refer to "Paperspace Gradient", which uses the image generation AI "Stable Diffusion Web UI" with a high-performance GPU in the cloud, but the cloud virtual Windows that can be used here is "Paperspace Core", which is a different service.
Background
I use a 12-year-old Mac mini Late 2012 as my main PC with Linux ZorinOS installed.
However, since DAZ Studio and FaceGen, which I use for creating 3D CG digital girl works, cannot be run on Linux, I use the cloud virtual Windows Paperspace on a time-rental basis.
However, since there was a recent announcement from Paperspace (DigitalOcean) that the inexpensive and low-spec vGPU version virtual machines will no longer be available from July 2024, I was considering alternative measures.
So, since virtual Windows 11 can now be used with the Linux version of VMware Workstation 17 Pro, which was recently made free, I installed DAZ Studio to give it a try, even though I thought it might not work.
At first, I thought it wouldn't work because it shouldn't meet DAZ Studio's operating requirement of OpenGL 1.3 or higher. This was because VMware did not recognize the GPU (Intel HD Graphics 4000) of the Mac mini Late 2012...
However, when I checked the OpenGL version on the virtual Windows 11 with the GLview app, I found that OpenGL was 3.3 and it supports DirectX 11 and 12.
As a result, it was usable at a practical level except for dForce physics simulation, so if I decide to perform heavy processing such as dForce physics simulation on the Paperspace GPU+ version as before, most tasks can now be performed on the local PC, which has become convenient in many ways.
Preparation work on Linux
I referred to the following article.
Preparing the Host System for 3D Graphics Acceleration >>> To VMware Documentation
In reality, for Linux, I tried the following test using commands from the terminal, but it resulted in an error.
Since the display itself is recognized as "wayland-0", it might be related to the lack of compatibility with the X Window System, but...
Just in case, I tried installing and updating device drivers and libraries related to the "HD Graphics 4000" GPU installed in the Mac mini's Intel Core i7 (3rd generation) CPU, referring to the following article.
I decided not to pursue this too deeply here and instead check what the OpenGL version is on the virtual Windows 11 running in VMware.
Checking the OpenGL version of virtual Windows 11
I used the GLview app as the tool.
https://www.realtech-vr.com/home/?page_id=142
Since OpenGL is 3.3 and DirectX is 11.1, 12.1, major 3DCG apps like DAZ Studio should work for now.
Installing and running DAZ Studio
Please refer to the following article for how to install and start DAZ Studio.
Changing virtual machine CPU settings
While working, I noticed that VMware recognizes the Mac mini's Intel Core i7 as having "8" cores, so I decided to try changing the virtual machine settings.
Since I had in mind that the Intel Core i7 CPU has a 4-core/8-thread specification, I initially set the virtual machine to 2 CPUs x 1 core = 2 cores. I could not select 3 CPUs.
This time, I changed the setting to 1 CPU x 6 cores = 6 cores.
I launched the virtual Windows 11 with this setting and changed the settings in the DAZ Studio rendering options panel as follows.
In my case, I set it to the number of available cores minus 1. By doing this, one core remains available for non-rendering tasks during rendering, which improves overall usability.
Testing the rendering
Operating from the Linux desktop screen
While you can work on your local PC as usual while rendering on a cloud virtual Windows, rendering on a VMware virtual machine will likely restrict your work on Linux.
By the way, with the virtual Windows 11 launched and displayed in a window, I compared the communication speeds using FAST.com on both the Linux side and the virtual Windows 11 side simultaneously.
As for the communication environment, I have a Wi-Fi router connected to a Leopalace 21 VDSL line, and in my case, since the Mac mini Late 2012 does not support 802.11ac, I am using a wired Ethernet connection. Other devices are connected via Wi-Fi, but...
The Linux side is at nearly the maximum of 210 Mbps, but the virtual Windows 11 side remained at 88 Mbps, which is less than half. Since Paperspace's GPU+ provides over 3 Gbps, it is necessary to use them selectively depending on the communication speed.
However, with a typical apartment VDSL line, if multiple residents are watching videos at the same time, they compete for the line on a best-effort basis, so it often becomes even slower.
Summary
I introduced my experience installing and using DAZ Studio on a virtual Windows 11 running on Linux (Zorin OS) on a Mac mini Late 2012 using the free version of VMware Workstation 17 Pro.
I found that it can be used practically for normal work, but since dForce physics simulations cannot be performed, I will use it in conjunction with the Paperspace GPU+ version of cloud virtual Windows...
After that, by importing DAZ models into Blender via the DAZ Importer, it became possible to perform physics simulations for hair and clothing in just a few dozen seconds, even on standard PCs or Chromebooks.