Net Render

[Simon Edmondson]

Somewhile ago Mark W ( I think ) wrote a tutorial on how to use netrender on a Mac. I think it was available as a pdf file.

Could someone kindly direct me to where I might find it please ?

thank you

simon

[robcat2075]

Not sure about the video but here's the short version

 

in A:M

 

-save your work as a Project

-go to "Render to File Settings" like you normally do and make ALL the settings you want to make including file location. You must choose a still format (JPG, PNG or TGA) for file format.

-on the right side of the "Render to File Settings" window, press "Save" (AKA "Save as Preset" in v19). name and save a .pre file (probably where you saved your PRJ)

-close the "Render to File Settings" window

-close A:M (optional)

 

Run "AM Netrender Vxx.x" (found in the same folder as your A:M)

 

in Render Server

 

-Do File>New
-Do Job>New

-a Job Wizard pops up.

-Use "Browse" for locate your previously saved PRJ

-if the items shown in the chor and camera drop down lists are not what you want, choose the ones you do want.

-Next

-Choose "Load a preset" to find and load your previously waved .pre file. This saves you from having to recreate all your render settings.

-Next

-Finish

 

The bottom pane shows your available render slaves

 

The "online" ones (two by default) can be dragged up to "Drop slaves here"

 

The offline ones can be made online by running "AM Render Messenger Vxx.x" (found in your A:M folder) once for each new one you want to start up to the number of cores on your machine.

 

The slaves will each render a frame and then take the next waiting frame in sequence.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Simon Edmondson]

Robert

Thank you once again. I shall try that for the next render.

The MarkW tutorial ( if it was he ), was a pdf file I think rather than a video.

But, the way my memory is going that could be completely wrong.

regards

simon

[Rodney]

I believe the document you are looking for is pinned in the Netrender forum:

 

https://www.hash.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=43808

[Simon Edmondson]

Rodney

Thank you very much. That was the link I was looking for. I tried several places but, inevitably, missed the obvious one.

The last render session was done with Multiple render as the method and it tied up the computer comprehensively.

regards

simon

[Guest]

This post got me interested in trying Netrender v19.0 for the very first time. When I started it I got this in the command window

 

 

I got "Windows can't find..." error messages since render server_64.exe and render messenger_64.exe are in the V19 directory not my AppData\Local\Temp directory.

 

Suggestions?

[robcat2075]

Did the Main netrender interface show up?

[robcat2075]

I guess the first message indicates that the NetRender interface couldn't be started.

 

Is there any kind of not-the-default-folder situation regarding your A:M installation?

 

 

In your AM folder there is a file called NetRender.cmd

 

That expects that renderserver_64.exe and rendermessenger_64.exe to be in the same fodler as itself. Are they?

[Guest]

Installation was by the book.

All files are in the same directory.

[John Bigboote]

I keep shortcuts to both on my desktop (Render Messenger and Render Server.) Maybe you need to try starting-up Render Messenger first to open some cores...? (guessing)

[robcat2075]

I keep shortcuts to both on my desktop (Render Messenger and Render Server.) Maybe you need to try starting-up Render Messenger first to open some cores...? (guessing)

 

 

Do RenderServer_64.exe first and see if the NetRender interface come up.

 

If it does, then do RenderMessenger_64.exe once to see if one of the slaves in the interface goes form "off line" to "on line"

[Guest]

Worked like a charm Robert...currently rendering with three (count 'em!) three cores. Fantastic!

 

Will set-up desktop shortcuts as per Matt.

 

Thanks.

[robcat2075]

The regular startup should work. I suspect some previous program or utility or procedure has altered something about how your computer's "path"

[John Bigboote]

Once you see how cool it is to render with 3 nodes- you will want more. Hash has them affordably priced too.

[Guest]

You're right Matt, it is cool. But in this thread from 2014,

 

https://www.hash.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=44601&hl=render+nodes

 

Robert stated that a subscription came with four nodes. Is it now only three? I currently have four instances rendering.

[robcat2075]

 

I currently have four instances rendering.

 

And four it is. Some people only run 3 nodes so one is left to handle other computer OS housekeeping chores

 

If I need my computer to do nothing else I run four and use the Windows task manager to set the Priority of one to "Below normal" so that when i do need to use the computer interface it doesn't behave as frozen or slow because it has to share time with a four full priority nodes..

[Fuchur]

In general it should work like that too. But the higher the thread count the more power you will need.

 

See you

*Fuchur*

[Simon Edmondson]

It has taken me a long time to do i, largely because I was awaiting getting V18 afresh to use with the Imac.

That done, now trying to set up Netrender on it.

Followed the instructions in Mark W's tutorial ( As itemed by Rodney above ) only to encounter a problem.

 

I open up net render and it opens up the four copies of Render Messenger

 

But, when the new job icon, top left, or the New option under File, is selected the program crashes out

I've tried it several times but the problem recurs every time.

Is it a known problem with Macs or, more likely, have I made an error in setting up the script ?

ANy help greatly appreciated

simon

 

V18P

Imac 3,1ghz, Intel Core I5, 8Gb RAM, OSX 10.11.4

 

 

 

[Shelton]

Simon

 

As a test, open up render server first and set up your render project there. Then open up render messenger one core at a time. Bypass the script for now. I had issues with this as well. Drag one render slave into the pool and see if it will render with one slave. I have had a alot of trial and error issues with net render over the years. I would make sure it will work with one slave before adding more.

[Simon Edmondson]

Steve

 

Thank you very much for the info and help. Very much appreciated. I shall try to follow it through. I was lazily carrying on using Multiple master but, can't seem to get that working in 18p either. The multiple copies keep dropping out. Its frustrating.

regards

simon

[Shelton]

Net render is a wonderful addition to the program. But it can be tricky setting up. I have had up 50 cores rendering at one time. It can fun to watch them turnout the frames, but it can be frustrating at the same time. Start simple and build on it. Make sure the server is running without crashing and you have all the parameters set before you introduce the slaves to the server. Launch one slave and make sure it is rendering.

 

I just thought of something else. Itunes maybe capturing the port that AM requires. It seems to me I had to change the port the renderserver uses.

 

http://osxdaily.com/2014/05/20/port-scanner-mac-network-utility/ something like this might help you to see what ports are being used by your mac. That way you make any adjustments to AM

[Simon Edmondson]

Steve

Thank you very much for your help, it is much appreciated.

I have managed to make some progress, albeit of a limited kind.

I went back to V17 and got as far as dragging the slaves onto the job, only to encounter this problem.

 

 

Each time I tried it came up with an error message.Being new to this, it took me a while to read the error message and I was perplexed by it because it seemed to be asking for the render slaves in the V18 folder and not being able to find them. That was puzzling in two ways.

 

1. It had all been setup in the V17 folder to run with V17.

 

2. The V18 folder was right next to it in the Applications directory.

 

I went back to the render server.app to see if it could be edited towards the V17 folder but it would not allow that ( will try another idea in a bit )

Regards

simon

[Shelton]

Ok it looks like the path is still set up for AM 18. Make sure you have a backup of your installation key. Change the path of render slave to the folder of version 17, and it will pick your slave for 17. You do that with in render message. I am away from my machine this evening. I will look tomorrow.

[Simon Edmondson]

Steve

Thank you for your help.

Pardon my delayed response.Domestic duties intervened.

Present state of play is that I,

 

uninstalled V18 and V17 and got fresh DL's off the FTP site.

Used those to try and set up net render with both V17 & V18.

 

Unfortunately, each time I try to use net render on either iteration, the following message gets flagged up.

and proceedings grind to a halt.

 

I had tried to follow the guidelines as clearly as possible and had previously accepted the defaults, as specified in Mark W's instructions. The setting suggested it lead to the correct location but, it appeared to need manually selecting as well.. So did that.

its getting a bit frustrating so, being english, will go off and have a cuppa tea before resuming

regards

simon

 

 

[Simon Edmondson]

The grind continues.

As mentioned above, went for fresh install of V18, followed instructions as carefully as I could then tried to open Netrender.app.

 

Each time it prompts me to find the Renderslave.app which I then navigate towards on the setup wizzard,

that done, the first warning pops up

 

Listening socket create failed

Any messengers are already running ?

 

When that is acknowledged the warning pops up ( three options, Ignore, report, reopen )

Render Messenger quit unexpectedly

If I try any reopen, nothing happens. Ignore likewise

If report is selected, the warning

Render Messenger quit unexpectedly pops up

If report is selected it lists the details.

 

I am not qualified to be able to make too much sense of the info so, I've copied and pasted those into a text file but, don't want to post them yet in case it infringes protocol. Can do if needed ?

 

 

If I then go to Render Sever and try to open a .prj file, the warning pops up

 

RenderServer quit unexpectedly ( same three options)

 

Despite the warning that it quit, the icon still shows as active in the taskbar.

 

If that is selected the warning pops up

 

Apple event timed out

RenderServer got an error:appleEvent timed out. (-1712)

 

It is getting rather frustrating

simon

[robcat2075]

I'm glad Steve is on this because I have no clue about networking troubles.