DR and Licensing

[geoffc]

I just picked up a dual core laptop for my wife, but also to be used as a render slave.
I'm using viz 07 + vray 1.46

Obviously, DR and viz seems to be a very complicated issue to set up at times, and I'm completely new to it.

I used the dummy, ini and spawner files posted here by vlado on some thread for Viz.

Here's my question: when I try the spawner on the new laptop, it goes through the start/close/repeat syndrome.

When I use the exaxt same spawner and files though on my main pc, it works, leaving a copy of viz started and minimized on the taskbar.

The difference is that although I have Vray installed on the laptop, I don't have the floating license exe file started, due to not having an authorization for this new laptop.

I would think though that for render slaves, you don't need the vray license running, since wouldnt that require a second copy of vray to be purchased? Or should I just write to vray and get a second authorization to use on the laptop?

If this isn't the issue, at least I know it has to do with the maxdummy or ini files on the new laptop.

Thanks!

[Candelero]

Please follow Vlado's instructions from this thread:
http://www.chaosgroup.com/forum/phpB...ic.php?t=13997

If you have already done that exactly and correct, try the following:

On the fresh installed VIZ 7 machine(s), run the BB (Backburner)
Manager. Go through all the setup about subnet and timeouts, etc.
Once it has run normally, close it and try re-running the
VRaySpawner60.exe.

See if that makes it work. Let us know.

Best regards,
nikki Candelero

[Candelero]

You don't need a second authorization(license) as long as you only intend to use that lap for render-node.

Best regards,
nikki Candelero

[geoffc]

Thanks Nikki, that's exactly what I needed to know.

I'll go through that process then, slowly and carefully and report back.

[geoffc]

ok, so I went through vlado's post from your link, created a new xml and maxdummy file, put them in the viz default folder, and then launched the vrayspawner. It did load the maxdummy60 file and minimize it to the tray. It sits there and waits patiently.

I loaded a test max file on my main pc, checked the dr button, found the laptop successfully, and hit render. In the message window, it gets to photon size..then lightmap sample size.. then "warning: Render host 192.168...failed".

Interestingly enough though, when this warning hits, I look over and the laptop starts doing the restart routine with the spawner/vraydummy file over and over.

Here's the vrspawner.log:
0: [2006/Jul/13|23:05:58] ========================== Starting new session ==========================
1: [2006/Jul/13|23:05:58] Got this module name: C:\Program Files\Autodesk\VIZ2007\vrayspawner60.exe
2: [2006/Jul/13|23:05:58] Got this INI file name: C:\Program Files\Autodesk\VIZ2007\VRaySpawner.ini
3: [2006/Jul/13|23:05:58] Reading settings from INI file: "C:\Program Files\Autodesk\VIZ2007\VRaySpawner.ini"
4: [2006/Jul/13|23:05:58] --
5: [2006/Jul/13|23:05:58] Dumping current settings...
6: [2006/Jul/13|23:05:58] VRaySpawner temp dir: ""
7: [2006/Jul/13|23:05:58] Application name (MAX/VIZ): "C:\Program Files\Autodesk\VIZ2007\3dsviz.exe"
8: [2006/Jul/13|23:05:58] --
9: [2006/Jul/13|23:05:58] Process id is 3568 (0xdf0)
10: [2006/Jul/13|23:05:58] Executing ""C:\Program Files\Autodesk\VIZ2007\3dsviz.exe" -server \vraydummy60.max"
11: [2006/Jul/13|23:07:38] Process id is 3568 (0xdf0)
12: [2006/Jul/13|23:07:38] Executing ""C:\Program Files\Autodesk\VIZ2007\3dsviz.exe" -server \vraydummy60.max"


ideas?

[Candelero]

Have you run the BB manager on the lap and set all the stuff there?

Best regards,
nikki Candelero

[geoffc]

Well, I've been at this for about 4 hours now with no luck but results all over the map.

Unfortunately, I'm totally new to BB also, and really not sure where to configure the timeouts,etc in the manager general settings.

I guess, for now, let me leave you with this:

As a scene renders, with DR on, 2 buckets with 0.0.0.0 ip's calc the GI. Then, during the actual render, it almost looks like 4 buckets are racing thru, I think some of them have the IP of the laptop. BUT, there are black squares (bucket areas) left over when the render is done, like it intended to send off those areas to the laptop and never made it there or back.

Could it be that I'm just stuck on connecting the two computers somehow?

[Candelero]

IPs with 0.0.0.0 are your client machine (the one with the license)
The other is the laptop.

It is normal that the GI was calculated only from the client machine, because the lap was probably still doing something else.
Either loading the scene through the network or for instance if it is
IR+LC or something where LC is involved, then most of the cases,
the render-node hasn't finished the LC calculation, so the client is already
doing passes.
If you have a much complicated scene (case) you will see in some time, how the rest of PCs will come into the IR calc passes afeter a while.


About the black buckets
Are you using any additional plugins ? Consider it is best for DR to have
everything added (plugs) to the laps as well. And all your maps must be accessible, otherwise the bucket just may not know what to render.

Best regards,
nikki Candelero

[geoffc]

Nikki, thanks for the above info, I'm going to try that later and give it a chance on a complicated render.

2 more quick questions though: I did try a backburner only render with a standard max scanline render and both machines did participate with strips. Therefore, I know that they can see each other.


I say that because after a couple hours of trys with DR, for some reason my pc would not find the laptop by name in the DR "add server" box anymore (although it did it earlier, and the backburner manager sees it if running). So I have been manually entering the IP address.

So my first question is if the black render buckets could be from this DR connection problem?

Second question, are most of these issues much easier if just using Max 8 and 1.47.03? I was thinking of upgrading to Max anyway, and if it makes DR simple, that might be another good reason to upgrade.

Thanks again!

edited to add: I just tried running a backburner manager on the laptop again for a simple max file. I also checked that the subnets were the same as the main pc.

started teh spawner on the laptop, went back to the pc, started a vray test, and this time DR spotted the laptop by name and entered the correct IP after i hit 'resolve server'. But, now 5 mins in to the GI calc, the laptop hasn't actually joined in with any buckets. perhaps I'm one step closer, or perhaps I'm just chasing my tail.