#Network Software
8 messages in this thread
Does anyone have any recomendations as to what software to use for network
rendering?
Regards Steve
What, exactly, do you wish to know? Are you talking about network
software, or animation packages that do network rendering? For
network software, I use Lantastic 5.0, on a 3 node peer-to-peer (each
machine can share the others' resources) setup with no dedicated
server. If you have a lot of machines (more than seven or so) I'd
definitely recommend Novell Netware and a dedicated server. As for
animation software, 3D Studio offers an unlimited license on slave
rendering nodes, just install the software on any machine fulfilling
the minimum hardware requirment. You'll need a hardware lock for
each workstation, though. I think most other packages require you to
buy a new one for each machine, except Topas (new release), which
also supports network rendering.
I have not received 3DS r3 yet so I am unfamilar with what options there are
within 3ds. I have two 486 machines at my disposal. What would be your
recomendations?
Regards Steve
Release three gives you the power to network you rendering over up to 9,999
nodes. Getting that many nodes running successfully on a network is a power it
does not give you, but you get the idea.
All you have to do is install 3DS on each machine you plan to use. You need
the hardware lock only for the workstation (user interface). The other nodes
will be in "slave" mode when you start 3ds, and will automatically render
projects that you place on the network queue.
The network rendering feature is net bios independant, so you can theoretically
use any network software/hardware. It was, however, officially tested on
Novell Netware (needs dedicated server, not good for very small network), and
Lantastic (good peer to peer network for smaller number of machines). I use
Lantastic, and enjoy the ability to easily render animations on several
machines at a time.
John Tissavary (La Luna cie)
John, did you ever consider the practicality of 9,999 nodes? The animation
would HAVE to be 9,999 frames to work in theory but would the net ever be fast
enough to get all machines working before the first machine would be finished
with frame 0 therefore calling for frame eg. 7892, say?? Maybe if the
animation was 9,999 frames and the render time was say 2-3 hours per frame???
I wonder what the PRACTICAL limit of nodes would be using the fastest net
technology? Any math wizzards out there looking for a brain teaser for this
Sunday afternoon to work on????
YES!, The best is 3DSr3, in itself.
Don, are you saying there is within 3DS r3 a way to network render? (in my case
two 486 machines.) That is with only ONE hardware lock. I am awaiting the
arrival of my upgrade version which should be at my work on Monday.
Regards Steve
Where have you been? One of the main new features is a dynamic frame
allocation of rendering across your network. I use lantastic 5.0 on three
machines, 486-66's and only one copy of 3DS with one lock. 3DSr3 will find any
machine available and allocate a frame to be rendered on that machine and when
it is finished that slave will save its frame to the server's HD then call for
another to work on. You can run the show from your server. Or, get everything
up and running then switch your server/ workstation to a slave too and go to
bed. Rendering 600 frame animations is the same time now as 200 frames before
with one machine. I love it!