Map not rendering with DR

[marc_gibeault]

Hi all,
I've read all topics on the subject and tried all the (numerous) tricks I found but I keep getting this problem; rendering with DR, only the main computer renders the maps correctly; all the nodes seems to not be able to load them.
-All the nodes see the same way the network drive where the maps are.
-VRaySpawner is "freshly" started on each node before an attempt
-The max files in the "network" folder of each node are erased between each attempt
We have build 1.47.03 on 3dsMax8.
If there is a VRay build with DR working differently, we would like to try it but my emails to vray-at-chaosgroup-dot-com are un-answered.

Any idea?

Thanks,
-Marc

[marc_gibeault]

I got something to work; to copy all the maps on each render node.
It will do for today but it's not a very good solution and very error-prone as whenever a map is changed we will have to copy it to all the render nodes.
Is it because ou network drive is too slow and the nodes get a kind of timout or cannot read the maps all at the same time? What are the solutions?

Thanks
-Marc

[Morbid Angel]

are you using mapped network drives?
try \\server\project\textures\

[marc_gibeault]

Yep, the paths are in this form; \\NSLU2\max_share\maps\

Thanks,
-Marc

[mmikee]

After creating the network drive I had to go into the scene and relocate
all the maps. Of course now I just brows the network path for textures.
You probably already tried this, but hope it helps anyway.

[marc_gibeault]

Well, I guess that all the nodes are trying to read the maps at the same time and something is timing out.
I'll check if our network people can give me some info on this.
Is it possible that a file gets locked when being read, preventing more than one access at the same time?
For the moment it works fine with a map folder copied to each node, really blasts through renders
-Marc

[CXStudios]

I did it the way you guys are talking about for a long time, due to ease of use, and making sure every computer had the same files. No I actuallly copy ALL maps to each and every computer, it does make for some time consuming work, but it's mainly just tedious work. But the everything renders so much smoother now, and never any timeouts or hangs.

[cristoforo]

Are all your maps stored on the computer you are using to render? For example, I have my material library on my most powerfull computer ARCHIVIO F. On that same computer when picking materials I pick from ARCHIVIO F. On the render nodes I pick from the link ARCHIVIO F....which takes me back to the original computer. When it is time to render, the render nodes look for bitmaps with the following path PC1\ARCHIVIO F.....etc. The original computer looks directly in ARCHIVIO F without PC1 as part of the path. This causes the problem. On the orginal computer be sure to choose all bitmaps from PC1\ARCHIVIO F and not directly from ARCHIVIO F. I was having the same problem.

[marc_gibeault]

No Cristoforo, look at my previous posts, the path to all the maps was in the form \\NSLU2\max_share\maps\

-Marc

[CXStudios]

Marc, does the user that is logged into the DR machines have privledges to access other computers? Double check the user rights on those machines, make sure they can even see the machine your maps are on.

[marc_gibeault]

Yep, I checked and it's ok.
Every node can see and write to this directory.
Thanks,
-Marc

[CXStudios]

2 other options:
• you said they directory was listed in network format //xxxx/xxx/.... etc.
I actually had to create a network drive letter (eg. X/) and map that drive to all the machines, even for the machine you're doing the work on. Give that a shot. I think that's what fixed mine
• the other thing could be file format, if they're different than anything standard

[natty]

I havent read all the thread but, when you map a drive you must give it the same drive letter ... eg .. D on 'Main'(D).. (D:\\Main\D)