Phoenix FD simulation node wont start

[danthema]

Hi, I have purchased a Phoenix FD 3.0 workstation and separate simulation license for 3DsMax 2014 SP5 (Default Scanline) for Windows 7 64BIT SP1.

I am having trouble getting my simulation node to start simulating when I submit a job to Backburner. I can see through the license webpage that one of the simulation licenses is being checked out by the node and the other by my workstation, however the node just hangs forever with the max render dialog saying '99 of 99 frames' and a blank render window. It does not produce any .aur frames. I have tried pathing my output to a local directory, UNC shared network directory and using 'browse to folder'.

I have tried running Backburner locally and submitting jobs to localhost, but the result is the same. I have also tried starting a simulation job using cmd and Muster render manager.

I have Vray 2.5 installed, however I am just using the Default Scanline installation of Phoenix as it is only compatible with VRay 3.0. I have tried uninstalling VRay, but that didn't help. I am also running the latest license server.

I would really appreciate some guidance from someone who has this up and running. I must be missing something.

Cheers,
Dan.

[Svetlin.Nikolov]

Hey, we found there is an issue with Backburner 2014 and will try to get is sorted out ASAP. Meanwhile, you could check if you have access to the nightly builds at https://nightlies.chaosgroup.com/main#/phoenix3max and if you can't see the Phoenix nightly builds there, please drop a mail to Support and ask for access. I'll update you when the fix is in the nightlies. Sorry for the inconvenience!

[danthema]

Thanks very much Svetlin.

[Svetlin.Nikolov]

Hey,

Please check Monday's nightly build - the fixes will be there

Cheers!

[danthema]

Hi Svetlin,

Thanks a tonne for rushing out those Max 2014/Backburner fixes. I'm up and running with the nightlies now and everything is working well. The additions to the submission panel are also a really nice addition.



Cheers,
Sam.

[Svetlin.Nikolov]

Hooray! We have to add some more stuff there in the very near future as well

[Fragster]

Hey, I've just tried to send a restore-sim to Backburner. (no luck yet)
It's nice that there is now an option for restore the simulation and an option for choosing the restore frame.
However, the actual submission works fine but the sim is not started.
Instead in the Backburner Server window it appears to render one frame and then receiving end of job command. No aur-file is created in the specified folder.

Here are my settings:


What am I doing wrong?

Thx!

[Svetlin.Nikolov]

Hmm, are you using a Global Group in Backburner, or a Local Group? If you restore that same sim locally from frame 75, does it work? How about if you submit just a regular job without restoring?

[Fragster]

I'm using Global Group in Backburner. Local restore works.

Just tested in a fresh scene. Works just perfect.
It's therefore all the more surprising, that in the actual scene, one frame is "rendered", as already described, and the job is then terminated.

Could it be related to the filesize? The average aur-file size is 700MB.

Subfolders are created in the specified folder and there is a slog-file with a size of 0KB...

[Svetlin.Nikolov]

Mystery.. should not be related to the file size neither, we've had bugger caches lately. Would it be possible to send the scene over to Support so they can try reproducing the issue? Btw, does it fail if you submit it to other machines too?

[Fragster]

I have to set up a new scene so atm I'm busy. If there will be time to clean up / reduce the scene I will send it over.
Submitting to other machines does work.