Start service on Render Node - get "System.NullReferenceException" message and Distributed Rendering can not work

[JezUK]

I have a 2nd PC which I use occasionally for assisting with distributed rendering. It was working last time no problem. The only thing I can think of is updating to 2020.1 and Next 2.1.

If I was to guess what issue it was I'd jump at the 2020.1 update (I think DR was working with Next 2.1 and 2020.0, though I cannot be 100% sure).

Problem is, now when I do need to use 2nd PC for distributed rendering today, I try starting the Render Slave Service on 2nd PC and I get this error......






Please can you help ?

Many thanks.

[ivan.slavchev]

Hi Jez,

When does the error appear? When you submit a scene to the render node, or immediately after you start the service? Is there any difference if you start the render spawner manually?
You can check if it appears without V-Ray installed if you try to start 3dsMax. I think I had something similar when a 3dsMax update didn't install correctly at some point.

If the error appears only with V-Ray installed - try a clean V-Ray reinstall - uninstall it from Control panel / Apps and features, check for leftovers and reinstall it.

[JezUK]

Hi Ivan,

Thanks.

If I start the service (I start it manually using an Icon on that computer's task bar) it is then that the message appears, and each time I click OK to go away, a new one appears. I cannot get rid of it.

If I don't start the service and just open 3DS Max to use 3DS Max as an application, that dialog box doesn't appear.

I'll try reinstalling VRay.

PS - I did do a search on Google and on Autodesk forum it was suggested to delete the ENU folder. I will try uninstall and reinstall of VRay first and then see if that fixes things. Then I will try ENU delete if that didn't work. I will let you know how I get on.

Many thanks.

[JezUK]

My bad - I had different versions of VRay installed on master and slave computers. Now working.