Updated for Maya 2015 SP5 and ubuntu 14.04

mayaOnUbuntu.sh

#!/bin/bash
#Heith Seewald 2012
#Garoe Dorta 2015
# Also based on https://gist.github.com/MichaelLawton/ee27bf4a0f591bed19ac
#Feel free to extend/modify to meet your needs.
#Maya on Ubuntu v.1
#This is the base installer... I’ll add more features in later versions.
#if you have any issues, feel free email me at heiths@gmail.com
 
#### Lets run a few checks to make sure things work as expected.
#Make sure we’re running with root permissions.
if [ `whoami` != root ]; then
    echo Please run this script using sudo
    echo Just type “sudo !!”
    exit
fi
#Check for 64-bit arch
if [uname -m != x86_64]; then
    echo Maya will only run on 64-bit linux. 
    echo Please install the 64-bit ubuntu and try again.
    exit
fi

#Setup a few vars
export MAYAINSTALL='mayaTempInstall'
export INSTALLFILE="Autodesk_Maya_2015_SP5_English_Linux.tgz"
export RPM_INSTALL_PREFIX=/usr
export LD_LIBRARY_PATH=/opt/Autodesk/Adlm/R9/lib64/
LIBCRYPTO="/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/libcrypto.so.1.0.0"
LIBSSL="/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/libssl.so.1.0.0"
MAYAURL="http://download.autodesk.com/us/support/files/maya_2015_service_pack_5/Autodesk_Maya_2015_SP5_English_Linux.tgz"
PRODUCTID="657G1"
#Prev ID is for student version

#Install Message
echo "You’re about to download and install Autodesk Maya 2015"
echo ""
echo "Do you wish to continue [Y/n]?"
read RESPONSE
case "$RESPONSE" in
	n*|N*)
	echo "Install Terminated"
	exit 0;
esac

#Get serial number
echo "If you have not already done so, you can get your serial number from: http://students.autodesk.com"
echo "Enter the serial number"
read SERIALNUMBER
echo ""

sudo apt-get install libjpeg62 alien csh tcsh libaudiofile-dev libglw1-mesa elfutils gamin libglw1-mesa-dev mesa-utils xfstt ttf-liberation xfonts-100dpi xfonts-75dpi ttf-mscorefonts-installer libgamin0 libxp6

#Create a temp folder for the install files 
if [ ! -d "$HOME/$MAYAINSTALL" ]; then
	mkdir $HOME/$MAYAINSTALL
	echo "Creating $MAYAINSTALL folder"
	echo ""
fi


export INSTALLDIR=$HOME/$MAYAINSTALL
cd $INSTALLDIR
sudo chmod -R 777 $INSTALLDIR

#Now check to see if you already have maya downloaded and in the install folder.
if [ -f $INSTALLDIR/$INSTALLFILE ]; then
	#Make sure the install file is complete.	
	MAYA_INSTALL_HASH=$(md5sum -b $INSTALLDIR/$INSTALLFILE | awk '{print $1}')
	if [ "$MAYA_INSTALL_HASH" = "c4f709095760803d19e413093d7d5ab7" ]; then
		echo "Maya install file found and verified... skipping download"
	else
		echo "Maya file found, but it's not complete. We'll try the download again"	
		mv $INSTALLFILE $INSTALLFILE.bak
		wget --referer="http://trial.autodesk.com" --content-disposition $MAYAURL
	
	fi
else
	echo "Maya install file not found. We'll download it now."
	wget --referer="http://trial.autodesk.com" --content-disposition $MAYAURL
fi

# Extract Maya Install Files
tar xvf $INSTALLDIR/$INSTALLFILE
# Convert rpms to debs
for i in $INSTALLDIR/*.rpm; do sudo alien -cv $i; done
sleep 2s
#install the debs
sudo dpkg -i $INSTALLDIR/*.deb

#Setup For Mental Ray.
sudo mkdir /usr/tmp
sudo chmod 777 /usr/tmp

#Required for license to install
sudo cp libadlmPIT.so.9 /usr/lib/libadlmPIT.so.9
sudo cp libadlmutil.so.9 /usr/lib/libadlmutil.so.9

# License Setup:
sudo echo -e 'MAYA_LICENSE=unlimited\nMAYA_LICENSE_METHOD=standalone' > /usr/autodesk/maya2015-x64/bin/License.env
#Notice the lack of sudo.
export LD_LIBRARY_PATH=/opt/Autodesk/Adlm/R9/lib64/
# The adlmreg codes meaning can be checked here http://www.artwork.com/support/flexlm/flex_err_list.htm
/usr/autodesk/maya2015-x64/bin/adlmreg -i S $PRODUCTID $PRODUCTID 2015.0.0.F $SERIALNUMBER /var/opt/Autodesk/Adlm/Maya2015/MayaConfig.pit
 
# symbolic links:
# Its preferred to use the libssl and libcrypto that’s included with your system... so we’ll try that first.
# We’ll use the files included by autodesk as a fallback
 
#Libssl Link
if [ -f "$LIBSSL" ]
then
	echo "$LIBSSL found. Using it."
	sudo ln -s $LIBSSL /usr/autodesk/maya2015-x64/lib/libssl.so.10
else
	echo "$LIBSSL not found. Using Autodesk’s libssl"
	sudo ln -s /usr/autodesk/maya2015-x64/support/openssl/libssl.so.6 /usr/autodesk/maya2015-x64/lib/libssl.so.10
fi
 
#LibCrypto Link
if [ -f "$LIBCRYPTO" ]
then
	echo "$LIBCRYPTO found. Using it."
	sudo ln -s $LIBCRYPTO /usr/autodesk/maya2015-x64/lib/libcrypto.so.10
else
	echo "$LIBCRYPTO not found. Using Autodesk’s libssl"
	sudo ln -s /usr/autodesk/maya2015-x64/support/openssl/libcrypto.so.6 /usr/autodesk/maya2015-x64/lib/libcrypto.so.10
fi

#jpeg
sudo ln -s /usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/libjpeg.so.8.0.2 /usr/lib/libjpeg.so.62

# libtiff
sudo ln -s /usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/libtiff.so.5.2.0 /usr/lib/libtiff.so.3

# Bug with openGL populate, can do it here permanently, but a better alternative is explained below
# sudo mv /usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/libGL.so /usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/baklibGL.so
# sudo ldconfig

# Bitfrost bug
sudo mkdir /usr/autodesk/maya2015-x64/plugin-backups
sudo mv /usr/autodesk/maya2015-x64/plug-ins/bifrost /usr/autodesk/maya2015-x64/plugin-backups/

sleep 2s

echo "Done with initial setup"

######################################
## Run this commands once the above script has finished
######################################

#export MAYA_LOCATION=/usr/autodesk/maya2015-x64/
#export LD_LIBRARY_PATH=/opt/Autodesk/Adlm/R9/lib64/

#nano mayainstall.c
 
##add the following in nano, save and close
 
#int main (void) {return 0;}

#gcc mayainstall.c

#sudo mv /usr/bin/rpm /usr/bin/rpm_backup
 
#sudo cp a.out /usr/bin/rpm

#chmod +x ./setup

#sudo ./setup

##Then, follow the GUI, Accept, put your Serial Number and the 657G1 thing

#sudo rm /usr/bin/rpm

#sudo mv /usr/bin/rpm_backup /usr/bin/rpm

## Run once as sudo to activate the licence

#sudo maya 
## For Arch Users, if this fails with X Error: BadDrawable (invalid Pixmap ), run sudo QT_X11_NO_MITSHM=1 maya 

##didn’t activate so go to https://registeronce.autodesk.com and when it asks you for request file, get from /tmp/MAYA2015en_USLongCode.xml while maya activation screen is open. You will get a file named Long_Response_Code.xml which will allow you to activate.

###################################
## Close maya and run the following
###################################

## Fix texture crash
# gksudo gedit /usr/autodesk/maya2015-x64/bin/maya

## -> Search for the following two lines

## Set up the location of the libquicktime plugins
#setenv LIBQUICKTIME_PLUGIN_DIR "$MAYA_LOCATION/lib"

## -> And add this line below them
#setenv LD_PRELOAD /usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/libjpeg.so.62


## Since Maya was ran once with sudo, reset the owner of the maya folder to user
#sudo chown -R "$USER":"$USER" ~/maya

################
# Optional configuration
################

## Maya uses the windows key to move around, so disable the Unity hints so that they don't pop up
##Install compizconfig-settings-manager
##Disable Shortcut Hints Overlay
##Uninstall it when you are done

## If you are a developer this allows you to debug maya
## Allow ptrace, change kernel.yama.ptrace_scope = 1, to 0
#gksudo gedit /etc/sysctl.d/10-ptrace.conf

## See Maya Output when launching for Unity
# gksudo gedit /usr/share/applications/Autodesk-Maya*.desktop

# Replace the following line
# Exec=/usr/autodesk/maya/bin/maya
# With this content
# Exec=gnome-terminal --title="Output Window" -e "/usr/local/bin/maya" 

## This is only for Nvidia cards users, and if OGS populate() error appears and Maya crashes
# Reference -> http://forums.autodesk.com/t5/installation-hardware-os/maya-crashes-at-startup-ubuntu-mint/td-p/5852456

# Rename maya bin
#sudo mv /usr/local/bin/maya /usr/local/bin/oriMaya

## Create a new bin that is a script that runs the old one plus few other things
#sudo touch /usr/local/bin/maya
#sudo chmod +x /usr/local/bin/maya

#gksudo gedit /usr/local/bin/maya

## Add this lines to the script
##!/bin/bash

## If user has prime-select installed, i.e. optimus technology laptop check
## which card is being used, otherwise assumed it is nvidia
#if command -v prime-select > /dev/null 2>&1; then
#	CARD=$(prime-select query)
#	if [ "$CARD" = "intel" ]; then
#		USE_NVIDIA="false"
#	else
#		USE_NVIDIA="true"
#	fi
#else
#	USE_NVIDIA="true"
#fi
#
#if [ "$USE_NVIDIA" = "true" ]; then
#
#	# Find all the nvidia-<number> paths with optional -updates
#	NVIDIA_PATHS=$(ls /usr/lib/nvidia-* 2> /dev/null | egrep "nvidia-[0-9]+(-updates)?:")
#	
#    if [ ! -z "$NVIDIA_PATHS" ]; then
#
#	    # Remove the : at the end of the path	
#	    NVIDIA_PATHS=${NVIDIA_PATHS%?}
#	
#	    # Get the last one, assumes they are ordered by number
#	    NVIDIA_PATHS=${NVIDIA_PATHS##*:}
#
#	    export LD_LIBRARY_PATH="${NVIDIA_PATHS}:$LD_LIBRARY_PATH"
#    else
#        echo "/usr/lib/nvidia-* directory missing"
#    fi
#fi

#oriMaya "$@"

When I run this script, it seems to install 2014? Do I need to uninstall my previous version of Maya for this to work properly?

I never got a notice of your message. Yes, you always need to uninstall the previous version in order to install a new one

How do you uninstall what was previously installed by Heith's script?

Also, I was having problems with activation with Heith's script -- it couldn't connect to the internet to activate and had problems with offline activation; does this solve that?

As the script converts the rpms to debs, most of it can be uninstall with apt-get or synaptic, look at the maya folder and run apt-get purge for each of the deb file names, to undo the cp and ln commands simply delete each file manually. The offline activation is taken from https://gist.github.com/MichaelLawton/ee27bf4a0f591bed19ac Could you be more specific in what is the error you are getting with the activation?

If anyone wants a version for Maya 2016 SP4, I have it here: https://gist.github.com/z3ntu/8ed3fd920ebd8651dd87