Render Node Plugins

[corey]

Hello all.

We are exanding our rendering network from 3 machines to I guess 10-12. In the case of rendering nodes is it at all possible to locate all plugins in a single network location to avoid loading them up on each machine individually? I tried to edit the plugin.ini with a UNC path to a single plugin folder. Didn't work. Any thoughts would be appreciated.

Thanks.

Corey

[RErender]

It should work, maybe check your syntax, I don't recomend it though.

[arobbert]

Yes, I do this on a regular basis. Modify your plugin.ini like this:
Common plugins=\computer1Plugins viz startupplugins
You can use the pathfolder names that work for you. The main thing is to use unc and put the plugins into the specified filder on a shared drive. Do this to the plugin.ini for all your nodes. You can move the plugins in and out of the specified folder folder as needed. This is a great way to make sure all nodes use the same plugin/versions.

[corey]

RErender: Why do you not recommend it? It seems like it would simplify life.

I guess I'll try it again on all machines. I tried it only quickly on one machine. How do the machines authorize the plugins or do they when rendering with backburner?

arobbert: To verify.

UNC path to go in the ini file is as follows correct?

<computer-name><share-name><directory-name>

• <computer-name>—the computer name

• <share-name>—the name the drive or directory is shared as on <server-name>

• <directory-name>—the name of additional directories below the shared directory

Funny I tried to edit the message because the \ are not showing up...I guess I am on the same page as you guys...

[RErender]

There can be issues, but I am used to dealing with a large farm. I suppose with 10-12 machines the bandwith and access won't be an issue.
Can't hurt to try it

[plastic_]

i dont recommend loading plugins over the network either. i just clone & sync the max folder of my workstation to every render server. no more manual steps needed.

[Biohazard]

It's running well on my part.
70 users sharing the same plugs on a file server. We had some load problems (it was a file server for many things too), but an upgrade did it.
The amount of handles is enormous, though...

Your issues were perhaps due to the fact your were loading from a workstation and not a NT server. They can handle only 5 at a time.

[plastic_]

yeah, but it's 10 connections at the same time...if you have more than 10 computers in your network you need to use a windows or linux server to access & store files.

[corey]

plastic_

How exactly are you cloning? Are you using software such as http://newtonsoftware.co.uk/clone/ ?

[arobbert]

You are correct regarding the syntax Corey. My farm is less than 10 nodes so I may run into trouble in the future. The cloning process sounds reasonable. I wonder if you can run into the same bandwidth issues with distributed rendering?

[plastic_]

i use a small utility called "syncromagic". it syncs a local folder to different locations, with batch support. nothing special, i bet there are many apps like that.

one important thing: the absolute path must be the same everywhere, like C:/3dsmax6
otherwise there will be problems with paths defined in 3dsmax.ini