BackBurner and Single OutPut Directory

[William Alexander]

Been away from Max and Backburner for quite a while...the forces of the darkside (C4D & Modo) have consumed me, LOL

 

IS it possible/how do you set up backburner-max files to out put into one single directory? We have a network of work stations and render node racks totalling over 60 nodes. Thus the question.

 

Any help is greatly apreciated....the documentation has not been helpful or really obvious in answerring this question, though user error of the help files is a real possibility

 

Thanks

Wax

[Claudio Branch]

In the Render Scene dialogue box, under Render Output, check "Save File" (also check "Net Render") and click "Files". Now, just create a folder on a network drive and be sure that your nodes/machines are mapped to it.

 

Hit "Render" and that will throw you into the Backburner dialogue.

[William Alexander]

Is there a way to avoid actually "Mapping" each system to a network drive? We're talking about some mind numbing KVM work...I'm already in "patrick" drooling mode. (Reference Sponge Bob Square Pants).

 

Thanks for the reply

Wax

[Claudio Branch]

Yes..

 

A batch file can be used to do a remote stand-alone install of Max on the nodes/machines making up your farm. If you have IT support that is familiar with Max and network rendering, they should be able to do this without too much difficulty.

 

Hope this helps...

[mtutaj]

you should be able to map to it by using UNC \\computername\share\ is an example

 

Let me know how it goes.

 

Mike

[William Alexander]

Yes the mapped network drive works. Tryed it late this afternoon. I thought that BackBurner had been modified to either accumulate and archive jobs results to a directory or there was a way to make it happen? Or is that if the Manager is running on an apache' based server-system?

 

The direct network connection string used to work too, but something has changed on the network. As absolutely needed given the circumstnases, ports and IP range blocking we believe to be the case. Will know more tommorrow, hopefully The render nodes are in a sperate workgroup and the NetServer/KVM system is in both....lots of wild stuff. We are trying to keep the process and set up simple...mapping network drives is just one more layer to install and trouble shoot over 60+ nodes for us lowly non adminastrative type artists. Not that it's hard to do, LOL just real close to as much fun as watching paint dry

 

Thanks

Wax

[William Alexander]

Just a word on Mapping Network Drives......XP systems as of SP2, including 64 bit are limited to 10 connections for Mapped Network Drives. Bit of an issue if you have the potential need for 60 . The limit as I understand it is to stop users from utilizing XP as a "server" proper, LOL go figure.

 

Well rumor has it..... "Vee have vays...."

 

Wax

[Claudio Branch]

Yeah, I believe you are right about that. You need a server OS for whatever machine is running Backburner's Manager.

 

I wanted to have our renderfarm (10 nodes & 50+ pc's) dump all the frames onto my video editor so I didn't have to waste time moving them from network folders.

 

So I hit that little snag myself...

[William Alexander]

Claudio,

 

We had the "network path" directory string working as the 'save file' location. Well before things changed on the 'greater network'. Ideally if all the permissions TCIP and user are set up properly there may not be a need for Mapping drives directly. We'll see, the IT guys are installing some Render Farm equipemnt today and are going to look at the Issues we have with backburner and Lan management

 

Wax

[Claudio Branch]

I am lucky enough to have access to a dedicated group of IT professionals to manage my hardware and net-rendering needs.

 

I just drive the car man!