#Networking
14 messages in this thread
I have just purchased another 486 PC and would like to connect the two to do
some network rendering. What does everyone suggest is the best method, Novell?
I have no experience in this area and would appreciate any advice. Thanks.
James Franssen
<< Network >>
I use Lantastic and have been VERY happy with it. It is rather easy to set up,
and requires NO dedicated server. It is very simple to access resources on any
network computer. It is also very affordable. I would have a hard time
recommending it for a system larger than 5 or 6 rendering nodes.
If you do get it, remember to use the command "NET CLOCK \\servername" to
synchronize all the systems to one clock.
You might want to check out the file 3DSNET.TXT in the libs for more info on
network rendering.
— James — MAP —
I worked for more than a year with Netware Lite (with 6 machines) and was
content with the resuts. In fact we did a lot of the early tests of network
rendering on this system. We switched to a Netware 386 only because we grew
the Rendering farm to 15 CPUs and that was too much for little ol' Netware
Lite.
It seems that Netware has renamed Netware Lite to Netware Personal and the best
prices I've seen are in the Data Comm Warehouse catalog. 1-800-328-2261
The nice thing about using Netware Lite/Personal is if you do grow your system
to be more than 6 machines, you can still use it with full a blown Netware
system.
Jamie
James,
I'm not knowledgeable about networks in general but I'm using the Simply
Lantastic network by Artisoft and it seems to work quite well and it's pretty
cheap (about $135 per computer) — but I have no experience with any other
networks.
Alec Jason
Here is my recomendation.
Windows for Workgroups. Period. Hands down. It's the best peer-to-peer solution
for the network renderer. Some people say that 3DS runs slower under windows.
Maybe.But I run it under WFW, using it's 32bit disk/file access and see up to a
10% jump in performance. I'm still trying to see how that happens seeing how
3DS uses Pharlap.386!?! And other times I don't see it. You can run WFW net
from the command line. One Machine does have to be a server (Microsofts
supposedly serverless network!) but creating one is as simple and clicking a
button saying you want to share your files. Think about this.
If you go with Lantastic.
May be good for a couple of machines, are you planning to stay with a
couple of machines?
Not as stable, and why should you have to sync anything, should a good
network do this for you?
It works, but I do NOT recommend it.
If you go with NWLite.
Pretty good solution. $$ Per machine, small, easy to install, ect. ect.
ect.
How much do you know about Novell Netware? It's the natural progression
if you plan to expand!!! Do you know how much a CNE costs per hour?
If you go with WFW
Good soulution. $$ Per machine, VERY easy to install and configure.
What do use to create a custom bitmap? A windows or Dos app?
Do you know how to use windows?
WinNT Advanced Server is you progression if you go big time. Also
easier to install than Netware, and works alot better with windows than Nware
3.11 ect.
I'm telling you, I know from exp. I've done all types of networks.
Lantastic is perfect for your favorite cleaner and NetWare is just fine for an
accounting firm.
We're in the graphics buisness, and we're doing it on PC's. (uh…
Windows?)
Call Micrsoft and get a video on NT Advanced server and watch it. It'll
blow you away with possibilities.
I am NOT a CNE, MS solutions expert, or anything like that. I'm a
fellow animator who has worked as a tech for too many YEARS not to have an
opinion.
Chris:
I'm very curious:
You have apparently accomplished what everybody has been saying is not
possible. I would like to know how you did it.
I tried WFW and had so many problems. Problems that have now been well
documented by MS as unfixable in the protected mode network of WFW. I switched
to Lantastic AI and all the problems went away. My problems were random
corrupted graphics files that were greater than approx. 150K in size. The look
was that of sections of the frame being mosaicly misplaced or even ending up
attached to other frames. As it was explained by MS the ethernet was
originally designed to handle only large numbers of "small size" data files,
not single large files. Using the standard intel type ethernet cards the
packets sometimes gets the data mixed up. For example when doing something
like a simple windows pagemaker print job to a remote shared printer there will
be text with misplaced letters. The letter is never losed but it just shows up
elsewhere on the page. MS said that the cure to this is to use busmastered
ethernet cards of the eisa variety. There may be others too that will work.
I've heard that the Kingston cards will work. The standard Intel cards are
prone to this problem. The WFW IS a superior networking solution but it has
its problems running on the older network cards.
What hardware are you using? I would like to know this so I can keep in mind
for future expansion. Currently I'm using "cheap" generic network cards that
are NE2000 compatibles and Lantastic 5.0 AI. Everything's bug free here and I
get the benefit of mixing windows and DOS on the network with every machine a
server. It's good for a small 5 machine (4 slave renderers) net but I might be
in trouble when I start to add more machines, so I've heard.
I run WFW on 7 DX2-66's runing msdos 6.21. The lan card I use is called a
LANSTAR. It's a generic NE2000 compatible (10BT and Ethernet). We use the 10BT
side. We use a HP Ethertwist concentrator. Our server is a P60 w/32megs of ram
and 2.7G of drive space. The modeling client is a P60 w/32megs of ram. The
network runs VERY quickly, and I have yet to see any of the problems you speak
of. I have a 3 node network @ home running WFW over Cheapernet. I have two of
the Lanstars and one 3Com etherlink II. I have done net rendering on my
network, and had no problems (except lack of performance). I didn't see any of
the posts you speak of so no one ever told me I was doing the impossible. I'm
currently working on a project for a local NFL team, 1200 frames, broadcast
quality. Each image is in the 800k to 1.2Meg range in size. I've seen nothing
in the test renders to make me think I have a problem. Could be the NT Advanced
Server. BUT!!! I can bring my machine up as a sharing WFW client, attach all
the clients to my 3DS subdir and run it that way as well. The Lanstars are ISA
cards (jumperless).
So…. We'll see when I queue up all the different projects. Personally, once I
tweeked out the Lan and the clients, I've been running fine. Maybe it's the
Bandwidth of the 10BT? Maybe it's my processor speed? Maybe it's the NTAS? I
guess I'll have to slam into that wall when I get there. I still think a WFW
network is a superior net rendering solution. With my technical background, it
helps in intergrating the network. If you know how exactly to recreate the
problem, call me voice @ 214)960-6862. Thanks for the input.
Chris
A.M. Labs
I'm sorry I forgot to mention something!!!! You can now buy 10baseT
peer-to-peer networking cards that do not require a concentrator. Maybe I've
missed the whole point with you mentioning ethernet. These cards are
manufactured here in Dallas. I can sell you some if you want <g>. We also are
hardware resellers/distributors. These cards have two 10baseT plugs. Each comes
with a terminator (just a loopback actually) and simple file/print sharing SW.
They also work under WFW.
Chris
A.M. Labs
214)960-6862
I find your comments very encouraging. I don't know that much about networks
and the packet address mixups that many have been experiencing but I do know
that it's hardware related and maybe its the 10BaseT that is the answer. I do
know that the Intel cards that come with the WFW starter kit are prone to the
problem. I use thin net RG 58 U cable with two terminators at each end. I'm
encouraged because I think we will all be eventually using the Windows NT soon.
Let us know how your 1200 frame rendering goes.
Right now my Lantastic net is running almost transparent. It's like having one
big computer. Since I'm generally the only one using it I seldom have any
performance problems. I've been rendering on two slaves, printing color RIPs
on another and doing accounting and CIS communicating on the fourth machine
mixing dos/pharlap/windows all at the same time without problems. WFW never
worked as well. Maybe windows NT will be better.
It probably is the 10baseT. Although it is still technically ethernet, it can
handle larger files @ higher speeds. Lantastic is a good solution, don't get
me wrong. I just feel that a WFW/NTAS solution is superior. It may cost more,
but it's worth it. On our network, we have 4 PowerBuilder programmers, 2 visual
basic programmers (not including me), one surplus/new hardware dist., and of
course the animation end. Our NTAS runs SQL server. The database developed by
our PowerBuilder programmers is over 200 meg in size (very vertical market
stuff) and they're all hitting it all day long, while I use un-manned stations.
Still truckin'!!
Who knows. I talked to 3D Artist today, and I may submit an article about the
problems we encountered, the plans for our WAN and LAN, and other basic tips on
system intergration.
You know, out here on the edge, it can get REALLY frustrating for someone
configuring machines. eh?
Chris
A.M. Labs
Chris,
If you do write something on your network rendering experiences, forward a copy
to me and I will incorporate it into the network rendering technical paper.
-Brian
James,
my vote goes to Lantastic AI 5.0 – inexpensive, easy, and hassle-free. About
$100 per machine with NE2000 compatible 16-bit cards.