Distributed rendering bucket difference ONLY when using HDRI dome light?

[ripe]

I would massively appreciate it - if someone can help with this - I have had this before and never resolved it.

Basically I have one PC running Max 2021 with Vray 5.1 and 1 render node on a similar PC. When I render using distributed rendering to bring in the 'node' to help all works perfectly.
BUT - if I use an HDRI map with my dome light - I get this variation in the final renders? Both PC's are setup using UNC file paths and linking to the same HDRI / textures on my NAS?

Really need to get to the bottom of this - it's driving me nuts!!

Thanks.

[ripe]

Little update - tried a few things - changing rendering engine - then back to Vray - deleted all lights etc and started agin with render settings and lighting and it's ok? Any idea why this would happen?

[hermit.crab]

Maybe the Dome's texture was not transferred to the nodes correctly. Was the "Transfer missing assets" option activated? Can you try storing the HDRI image somewhere else (not on the NAS, there have been similar issues with it) and see if the issue is reproducible?

[ripe]

Thanks Aleksandar - I tired resetting the scene / renderer etc and it seemed to clear - all is working well now? Very strange - but problem resolved thanks