Rendermanager for Maya + VRay

[TheScope]

Hi everyone,
I have a couple of questions regarding picking a Render Manager for Maya and VRay. I am looking at Deadline and Smedge right now. Any insights on why to use one over the other would be great. I will test both in the end but I guess with 2 or 3 nodes, my test won't be very deep.

Some System Infos:
- Windows 7 x64 on Rendernodes and Workstations
- Right now 9 Vray Nodes but that might expand quickly to around 20 or 30.
- Maya 2015 with Subscription
- Windows Fileserver

Any pro's or con's or recommendations for other managers?

And I have some questions about setting up the rendernnodes:

1. Can I install Maya to the same folder on a network drive for all the rendernodes?
2. Can I install VRay to the same folder on a network drive for all the rendernodes?
3. Or is there another preferred way to keep all nodes up to date? Maybe PSTools with silent install?
4. Any pitfalls I should look out for?

Cheers, Florian

[joa_grilo]

We use smedge and its pretty good. And it allows me to use a cross OS renders.
The main problem that I have is the translation of v-ray internal paths , like Vray mesh, realflow meshes.
Other than that I just love it!

We created the maya structure in the network on work from that, and everything link correctly

[bigbossfr]

Deadline is the best.
With Deadline you can do a lot of things because there is a Python API.
For example, i have created something to send a render from Maya with 1 button :
1) the 1 job generate all .vrscene
2) After the 2nd job calculate all images with .vrscene (VRay standalone)
3) The next job delete all .vrscene
4) The next job create a .mov with information

With this, all my render nodes don't have any softwares because my VRay standalone is in a shared folder.
You can define environment for each job in Deadline. And the environment for my VRay standalone job start the job with VRay standalone in a shared folder. It is why my render nodes don't have any softwares.
And because i work with variable environment, when i start Maya, i can choose witch VRay nightlies i want to use. And after my job uses the nightly that i have choosed (because when i send my job, i define the environment).

[joa_grilo]

Thanks for the info BigbossFr!
We are currently on a trial of deadline.

[stezza]

I have used RenderPal for many years now and it has never let me down and has grown into a real good piece of software, highly recommend it.

http://www.renderpal.com/

Steve

[TheScope]

Hey,
thanks for all the replies.
I have tried out Deadline over the holidays and it worked very well so far. I guess I will get a real demo license and run some tests weith more than 2 render nodes and some Maxwell renderings as well.

Florian

[freedomfries]

of all the solutions I've used over time, I liked Deadline the best. If you buy their software you also get discount on some other awesome products they make.

[jasonazure]

I'm currently trying to configure 'Butterfly Net Render 5' to work with Maya 2015 and Vray 3.

Waiting on a support email from the author at the moment, but I'll let you know how I get on.

Been using version 4.5 with Softimage/Vray for quite a while and for the price it has been great!

[joa_grilo]

Today i've started a full trial of Deadline and i just can say wonders of the thing. I haven't lost a frame or had a buggy frame , that normally would happen on smedge, or backburner.