DR - Random Hosts Missing Textures & Altering Colors

[Jason Jacobs]

Hi guys and gals,

We're having a problem with DR - actually for several months now. Sometimes, one or several of the hosts will render grey buckets with missing textures. Other times, in areas without a texture (only a diffuse color) the host(s) will render "discolored" buckets. The problem is not specific to a certain machine or set of machines. The problem seems to happen randomly, so it's difficult to diagnose. The problem also happens whether we're using QMC or IMAP. We're using a workgroup network with 8 dedicated render servers. All servers have the same version of 3dsmax and V-Ray 1.5 R3 installed. The machines point back to a file server which houses all of our scenes and texture maps. See the image below. The red lines showing some of the most discreet areas. The missing patches on the floor are obvious.

Like I said, we've been having this problem for months, off and on, but I'm finally at my wits end. It's difficult to make deadlines when you can't trust your tools.


Any ideers?

Thanks a gajillion and 1/2.

Jason

[ene.xis]

how are u mapping ur textures?
the color difference is because of the missing textures.

[natty]

This is happening because the slave machine cannot see those maps on the network, try to rescource collect into one folder (in the utilities tab) then check asset manager under file_ , you could also open max on the slave machine and configure its paths to all your maps.

Natty

[natty]

Also you must make sure you set up your network so say if your maps are kept on your D drive on your server for instance. When you network map that drive on your slave then its drive letter must also be D. So it should read D on "server name" (D)

[ene.xis]

u d be better off with unc paths
ex.
\\boxx010\maps\texture.png

and it can also hapen if ur having too many conections at the same time if ur not using a server os

[Jason Jacobs]

Thanks for the help guys. We're using UNC.

@ Natty
Is it possible for the slave machine(s) to see the maps sometimes, and not at other times? The reason I ask is because all the slaves work perfecty sometimes, and other times it's random which slaves drop.

We might be reaching the maximum number of connections allowed with a workgroup. We have 4 workstations and 8 slaves. I remember reading somewhere that 10 connections is the maximum number "recommended" when using a workgroup network over Windows XP Pro. It might be time to plunk down the green for a real server running a real server OS.

[natty]

Then yes you are hitting the connection limit. Once you hit that limit then pc number 11 onwards is refused a connection.

[Jason Jacobs]

I also wanted to clarify one thing. In areas where the scene does not have a texture (for example, the wall. It only has a diffuse color applied), the problem is still happening. See the slight discolorations in the imbedded image. Any ideas about that?

[ene.xis]

i thik thats ur problem right there.
u can try to use only 10 machines to render an image in dr mode and see if it works fine...then u got ur answer...
but yeah most definetly u would need windos server based machine to manage that network!

[natty]

how are u mapping ur textures?
the color difference is because of the missing textures.

[ene.xis]

?

[natty]

Read 5 posts up..

[ene.xis]

and?
honestly natty...it s obviously too late in the evening..
the missing textures are causing visible color diference in some buckets, and those "missing" textures...wich arent really missing, are caused by an excessive number of accessing machines to it...due to the os

whats all the fuss?

certanly advising someone with dr problems to use maped drives aint the best piece of advise, specially from someone so experienced as urself!


pff

[natty]

Jesus mate, had a row with the wife hey lol ... joking aside, just trying to help.!

[ene.xis]

as am i...

but probably i ll end up with deleted posts....


again