Lens Effects hardware acceleration and distributed rendering

[NicoC]

Hello,

I've noticed that lens effects aren't rendered using BackBurner rendering, as long as hardware acceleration is activated. Our rendernodes are blades without "real" graphic card, so I guess it's the reason. The only way to get lens effects rendered is to uncheck Hardware acceleration. Could there be some kind of checking to prevent this ? I mean, I want to have Hardware acceleration activated on my workstation, when I set up rendering, but I can't be 100% sure we'll think about desactivating this option every time we send BB rendering ...
Can anyone reproduce this, please ?

Thanks.

[tashko.zashev]

Hi,

Which V-Ray/Max version is that ? 3.60.02 should automatically switch to CPU in this case.

[NicoC]

Hello Tashko,

Sorry, I forgot to mention we use 3dsmax 2016 and VRay v3.60.02, on every machine used with DR / BB. No automatic switching to CPU here so far.

[tashko.zashev]

Thank you Nicolas.

Can you attach the V-Ray log txt from one render node ?

[NicoC]

It's at the root of C:\ ,right ? it's weird, the file shows the last time it was modified was on February ... whereas we use our rendernodes nearly everyday !

[piotrus3333]

I just keep it unchecked. last interiors I rendered old double xeons were roughly as fast as 1060.

[tashko.zashev]

It's at the root of C:\ ,right ? it's weird, the file shows the last time it was modified was on February ... whereas we use our rendernodes nearly everyday !

It should be in the windows temp folder > "%USERPROFILE%\AppData\Local\
You can get instant access to this folder by typing %temp% in the explorer address bar.

I just keep it unchecked. last interiors I rendered old double xeons were roughly as fast as 1060.

That's great that you don't get any slow down, but It would be good to see the log file. Maybe there will be some useful info.

[NicoC]

Hello,

Please find enclosed the VRaylog.txt file. From what I see, it seems it was reset yesterday ... so I doubt it will provide useful infos

[tashko.zashev]

It's looks like "Restart servers on render end" is enabled in the DR settings and the Log is being overridden. Can you try with this option disabled?

[NicoC]

Hi Tashko,
I'll run a test this afternoon with "Restart Servers ..." disabled - we always keep this option ON, is that a bad idea ?

[NicoC]

Me again ... I've ran another test, submitting the job with BB to one master machine, spawning 3 others. "Restart Servers on render end" was off, Lens Effects activated, with hardware acceleration ON ... I can confirm Lens Effects haven't been rendered. Please find enclosed the vraylog file.
Thanks a lot for your help.

[tashko.zashev]

Hi Tashko,
I'll run a test this afternoon with "Restart Servers ..." disabled - we always keep this option ON, is that a bad idea ?

Having it enabled makes the DR more stable between different render jobs. You can turn it off just for a single render to take the log.

[NicoC]

You can turn it off just for a single render to take the log.

Ok, thanks, I didn't know this subtlety !

[tashko.zashev]

Unfortunately this log is still empty. Please tell me how do you save the render. Do you use the VFB - Save separate channels or the 3DS Max - Save file.. ?
Maybe we can try to localize this issue in remote session if possible?

[NicoC]

the 3DS Max - Save file.. ?

This one
Sure, up to you for a remote session (but I don't have any microphone at work) or anything else that could help solving the problem.
Just to detail a bit the method we use:
- set up an output file name in the 3dsmax Render Output section (Common tab)
- activate DR for machines let's say 2 - 3 - 4
- submitt job to BackBurner, to only one rendernode (machine 1), that acts as master, spawning machines 2 - 3 - 4
Does it seem weird to you ?