step by step DR setup

[ghiom3d]

Hello,

I'm trying to use Distributed rendering with Houdini Indie and my 2 computers.
I'm usually doing distributed rendering with Vray and 3DSMAX, i don't use 3DSMAX anymore. Only Houdini. But i can't find how to setup my Dual Xeon for rendering.

So, i have my Houdini license on my workstation and my chaosgroup dongle and the online service for the vray fro houdini licence is working.
I can render in houdini on my workstation. It's ok.

Now, i've read that we don't need to install houdini on the rendernode. so i have download and installed Vrayfor houdini on the rendernode. then i have also donwload and installed vray standalone on this node.

Then i have installed licence server on the rendernode. Checking on localhost on rendernode, it's saying rendernode available = 1 in use =0


In houdini, i create a scene with Vray camera, some mesh Vray materials and vray lights.
In rop render i check Enable for DR
I uncheck Use local machine to just use the Node
Transfer missing asset is checked in case there is something needed
I add my host by giving his IP adress.
Defaut port is checked
Defaut port is 20207

I start a render, i check on localhost on both rendernode and workstation plus keeping an eye on CPU use.
On the workstation licence server say = vray for houdini interface in use 1
on the rendernode licence server say = vray render node in use 0 available 1

Checked with progressive and bucket rendering.


Any help ? thanks for your kindness

[psanitra]

You need v-ray standalone running/listening on render node. You can run it in cmd line with vray.exe -server , you should get something like this.

[ghiom3d]

Hi Psanitra, thanks for your help.
It's saying some vcxxx dll are missing.

i will try to find vc runtime. Did you know where to find the goods ones ?

[ghiom3d]

ok know i installed them from Microsoft web site. the server is now running like you.
WHen i'm starting the render :

on the rendernode windows :
[2019/Nov/12|10:04:10] [59 MB] Starting DR session from 192.168.1.23
[2019/Nov/12|10:04:10] [59 MB] error: DR request received from client 192.168.1.23 using V-Ray version (0). Render server V-Ray version (42001).

in the houdini Console :

VFH [Info] V-Ray: Server 192.168.1.11:20207: The render server is using a different V-Ray version (42001). Client version (0). Ignoring DR request.
VFH [Warning] V-Ray: Render host desktop-bpmrb48 (192.168.1.11:20207) is not responding
VFH [Warning] V-Ray: Slave dropped and there are no more render hosts that can work on the scene. Waiting for a host to connect...
VFH [Info] V-Ray: Render host 192.168.1.11:20207 added
VFH [Info] V-Ray: Server 192.168.1.11:20207: The render server is using a different V-Ray version (42001). Client version (0). Ignoring DR request.
VFH [Warning] V-Ray: Render host desktop-bpmrb48 (192.168.1.11:20207) is not responding
...

[psanitra]

Seems like you don`t have matching vray versions, right? Devs will have better answer to that then me. Maybe try running that server from VFH folder? executable iss located in \appsdk\bin\

[Gosho.Genchev]

so i have download and installed Vrayfor houdini on the rendernode. then i have also donwload and installed vray standalone on this node.

Ah ...

Alright, Standalone is basically V-Ray itself, without the DCC integration code.
DCC integrations, like V-Ray for Maya/Houdini/etc carry Standalone and the code required to talk with the host application. You do not need both V-Ray for Houdini and Standalone - VFH comes with Standalone by itself.

If you go to your DR slave machine, navigate to the install location of V-Ray for Houdini\appsdk\bin, open a command prompt there and call "vray.exe -server", things should work straight away.

// potentially useful info - when we publish an official release, we try to sync all code changes so V-Ray for Maya/Max/Houdini can render the exact same scene in the exact same way. Nightly builds can diverge - it's possible a code change made by the V-Ray for Houdini team did not make it to the V-Ray for Maya builds - such a change will be present once we go for an official release.
Unless you have a good reason to go with V-Ray Standalone, I suggest using the DCC-specific V-Ray version on the DR slaves.

Hope that helps!

[ghiom3d]

If you go to your DR slave machine, navigate to the install location of V-Ray for Houdini\appsdk\bin, open a command prompt there and call "vray.exe -server", things should work straight away.

Hi thanks for your help.
I have this error message wich say it can find Qt5Gui.dll

[bdancer]

ghiom3d, are you using some recent nightly? Qt libraries for Windows are already shipped with the archive and installer.

[ghiom3d]

ghiom3d, are you using some recent nightly? Qt libraries for Windows are already shipped with the archive and installer.

Hi Bdancer, I'm using the one i can donwload in the regular donwloads. not the nightly ones one the render node

[Gosho.Genchev]

Hey, there's info on this in the docs: https://docs.chaosgroup.com/display/...+as+Standalone

In future releases, you won't need to copy those libraries around. The nightly builds can also work without them.

In your case, you will need to grab those dll files from the Houdini folder and place them on the DR slave machine.

Cheers!

[ghiom3d]

Hi Gosho, thanks you , so if i use a nightly build on the rendernode, it's working ? without havinbg to copy dlls files ?

[Gosho.Genchev]

Yup, if you don't have access to the nightly builds at https://nightlies.chaosgroup.com/#/ , send support@chaosgroup.com a request.

Cheers!

[bdancer]

ghiom3d, the regular download one does not include Qt dlls.

[ghiom3d]

Hi, I'm back on the Distributed rendering side of Vray with Houdini.
I've now the last nightly build on both workstation and RenderNode.
LocalHost on rendernode say i've 1 rendernode licence available.
But it's not working. check this screen capture.

thanks for your help

[ghiom3d]

I've try to reactivate my dongle. I've check all the authorisations, IP adress, Server licence setup ..