#LW PC Render Farm
7 messages in this thread
Does anyone have accurate information about the particulars of Lightwave
PC's distributed rendering capablities? Is it true that we will need a full
copy of Lightwave for every machine in the network? If this is the case,
considering rendering power alone, Lightwave's price advantage over 3D studio
evaporates on every network over 3 machines. This does not seem to make sense,
and I don't think it is the way ScreamerNet operated. It would seem to make
sense that one Lightwave copy would be able to farm out rendering to eight
machines without the requirement that each machine have its own copy and
dongle. Could someone clarify the situation?
Thanks, Bruce
Bruce:
I was concerned about this too, but was reassured by Chuck B[NewTek] that
you _can indeed_ run up to 8 machines using the currently existing
'ScreamerNet' interface on the LW standalone for the PC.
I haven't used it, but I was told by NewTek that _one_ license/dongle will
allow you to render on up to eight machines. (Soon, I'll have enough
machines to put this to the test!!)
It's too bad they don't make it clear in their ads……
Keep On Toastin'
Erik Flom – ELF Works 3D Construction Co.
Erik:
Great! One LW PC copy can farm rendering out to eight machines. Has anyone
here actually tried net rendering yet? I'd like to know the details of how to
do this. I've been told that screamernet would look through the Tcp-Ip (Sp?)
port for other running copies of LW, or the rendering kernel I suppose. Can
anyone explain how to do this?
Bruce
Actually, this may still be up in the air!!!
Your questions prompted me to actually see how the SN panel worked, and I
realized that the menu button wasn't there?!?
When reading the manual (Shows how desperate I was! :^), it has a section
for ScreamerNet, but the section begins:
"The ScreamerNet control panel is used when you have purchased ScreamerNet
Rendering Software."
I'm pretty sure that's exactly what it says in the LW 3.5 manual……
Also, when reviewing the Nito-VLB from ShaBLAMM!, I had a special version
of lw.exe for the MIPS that had to be run from an NT DOS shell. There
doesn't seem to be an equivalent executable with this pre-release for the
PC?!?
Since Chuck B[NewTek] stated that we would indeed have the option of
rendering on up to eight PC's with one licensed copy, I will have to make
sure and retrieve that message before it gets hopelessly lost….Though
it's probably too late already!
As you pointed out, it would be a major marketing blunder to not offer
distributed rendering (even if to only 8 processors) as a standard option!
So, at this point in time, it looks like distributed rendering _IS NOT_
available on the LW for PC package!
Since they said it will be available, they'd better release it, or I might
be forced to hitch up with the Saperstein/Cole 'posse'! }:^)
Keep On Toastin'
Erik Flom – ELF Works 3D Construction Co.
Hi Erik –
As you may know, the current shipping LightWave for PC is a prerelease version.
Besides an old manual and lack of SN rendering interface, it doesn't have the
promised HIIP capabilities either.
The complete 4.0 is due with the finished Amiga version by the end of June.
Hank
Videology, Inc Where you always get P.O.M.P. and
Service under all circumstances
I was thinking the same thing about needing ScreamerNet to do distributive
rendring with LW 4.x . I hope not but I'm thinking pretty serious about a
Teraclipse and thats a farm in one box :^) And I may get a chance to beta test
PhotoShop for the Alpha.
I wonder whats up with the Alpha/WinNT vers of LW 4.0? I thought the Amblin
Guys have been using it for a while ? I know they're out there :^)
….John
Hi John –
If you would like more information and cofiguration specs for the Teraclipse
system, we'd be glad to work with you on it.
Hank
Videology, Inc Where you always get P.O.M.P. and
Service under all circumstances