Irradiance Map Directory and Backburner problem.

[gafl]

Hi all !

I try to use the capabilities of Max6 to render a single image on several computers.
Everything is ok when each machine computes its own irr map.
But, if I load a precomputed irr map, only the master machine finds it.
The other slave does find texture maps but not the irr map.

Yes, you will say a problem of directory access... The way to get it is
almost the same like the bitmap one...
I write it like that:
"//Master/3dsmax6/scene...."
I try another name that corresponds to it too:
"F:/scene...." nothing

For the bitmaps, it is: "//Master/3dsmax6/scene...."
This link works, I don't understand.

Sorry for the / that must be in the opposite side but it desappears when I submit this message...

What is my mistake ?
If You have an idea, tell me.

Gael

[gafl]

The slave computer has found the irr map on the last portion of the image to compute !!!!!!!

what's wrong ???

[DanielBrew]

Hi gafl,

Sounds like a network traffic issue, I'm guessing your irr map is quite a large file. The slave machines will all be trying to drag this file accross the network. The problem will be worse if you are using the master machine both as a renderer and a file server because most of the cpu and memory will be used for rendering. Try just rendering on the slave machines.

Dan

[gafl]

Thanks Daniel !
The problem is that I only use these 2 machines...So bad for me !

I have a 3rd one but there is not networkcard 10/100 Mbt but a firewire card.I don't know if I can use it like a network card, it appears in the
network folder nevertheless.

What about the irr map, just 5,4 Mo, not very impressive I guess.

Thank you !
If you have another theorie,it will be welcome. We never know !

Gael

[Da_elf]

my work drive with all my files on it is my F drive so on every computer ive network mapped an F drive to point to my work drive. so far i have had zero problems. only time ive ever found a problem with that was when my best friend living with me plugs in her i-pod which maps to the Letter F. grr. so if she plugs in the ipod before booting F is the i-pod. if its pluggin in after booting then the ipod cant be found because F is the mapped drive

[gafl]

I don't understand well the term "the mapped drive"
If I understand well, your F drive is like mine, I mean:

I work on a computer where there are Max6 and Vray licenses.
This is my Master machine.
The folder of Max6 is "shared ?" with all the network and has a special name "F:/"

This folder is searched by all the other computers at their start/boot.
All computers are well linked to it.

This drive is what you call the work drive, I guess !
There is no F conflict with other computers.

I think it's good, but something is wrong ! I don't see what.
I have to search in the traffic issue as said Daniel, because bitmaps are
well found by the slave and it has used the irr map once during the process.

[DanielBrew]

Hi gafl,

I would still try rendering only on the slave machine as a test. If the rendering is ok then you can be be sure it is not a network problem.

I still think the most likely cause is the master machine is too busy rendering to send out large irr map files to the slave machine. I had a similar problem with Backburner. When I render on 'manager' machine the network connection to other 'server' machines times out.

Dan

[gafl]

Yes I wanted to do it too !
I'm going to do it right now.
Thanks !

[gafl]

Yes !
Just the slave working and it can find and use the irr map...!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm very desepointed, I can't use the netwok yet...
You were right, the master cannot be used in the rendering process.


However it was the strongest I had, biopteron, 2Go Ram...

I'm ANGRY !!!

Do you know if a firewire can be considered as a network card ?
It appears like a network card in XP...I have a wire to link 2 fireware cards...I don't dare pluging the 2 other computers with.

Thank you !
Gael

[arobbert]

As a work around you could copy the IR file manually. Create folder for your IR maps that is the same on both machines. Then copy the file to this folder. The drive letters should match on both machines to work. For example: c: irmapsmap.vrmap. Kind of a pain but at least it will allow you to use both machines.

[gafl]

That's right but I wanted to avoid such a way of work

I don't know if Chaosgroup is working on this kind of problem.
I've used Dr of Vray with Max4, and there was no problem at all.
With Max 5 I could not get the DR and now with Max6, it seems that
it will be worse to get something working simply.

Today I get bored of all that...Nothing is working as it should.
Maybe it is the end of the week and I'm tired too !

I do not think there will be a practical stable solution for a litle company
like me.

I go to bed, this is the best thing I have to do...

Bye
Gael

[Da_elf]

what i mean is my 3dsmax is on my C: drive and i have a seperate 120GB drive for all my projects and textures etc. Thats my F drive. D & E are CD- and DVD Burners. On the other computers in Windows Explorer under Tools is the option to map a network drive. i have my entire F drive on my work computer shared to be accessed over the network. So on the other computers i map a drive letter to that shared F drive.

[RErender]

You can use a firewire card as a network connection, but one of the computers would have to have one too.

[gafl]

Good Morning !

Thank you for your help and patience.
Thank you Rerender to confirm that the firewire can be used as a normal network card.Of course I have 2 computers with that kind of plug.

Da elf, You mean that another hard drive is necessary to light the traffic network process.
So because the shared folder of Max6 where everything is needed is on C drive, even if it is a F: shared drive is not enough and takes a lot of
ressources.Yes I understand.

And according to your theorie, the master could be used as well in the DR process without conflict ?
Maybe I see the end of all my disilusion...
Thanks again.

If you have any other suggestion to confirm all of that.Tell it.
Gael