what do I need to build a render farm

[cmrhm]

After a project I did based on my own computer, I felt I should built a render farm or net working system to improve my productivity.

 

Currently I have 3dmax, vray trial version. If I want to set up a render farm for these, do I need to purchase another license for 3DMAX? Do I need more than 0ne license for Vray? Basically My ideal is just have one Max and one vray.

 

In hardware part, I have one 4 years old desktop, one 1.5 year old sager laptop. The max. price I could spend is around $1500.

 

Thx.

Edited April 19, 2010 by cmrhm

[DanGrover]

For software, one of each is all you need.

[cmrhm]

For software, one of each is all you need.

 

Thank you.

[ihabkal]

you can get two quad core2 duos or one i7 for $1500.

I would opt for one i7 that I would use as a main machine since I think your 4 years old desktop is probably to be recycled.

[Tommy L]

you can get two quad core2 duos or one i7 for $1500.

I would opt for one i7 that I would use as a main machine since I think your 4 years old desktop is probably to be recycled.

 

not necessarily.....for a more detailed answer, post the specs of your laptop and desktop.

(RAM, processor and graphics cards).

[Purple Puppy]

you can get two quad core2 duos [...]

So are those two Core 2 Quads (8 cores total), or two Core 2 Duos (4 cores total), or quad Core 2 Duos (8 cores total), or two quad Core 2 Duos (two computers each with a 4-socket motherboard, thus holding a total of eight Core 2 Duos for 16 cores. Although, such a thing doesn't exist)?

 

Anyway, you should get a Core i7 computer. Thanks to the superiority of the Nehalem architecture, those outperform comparable Core 2 processors by a wide margin. A moderately decent Core i7 computer costs only about $1300 anyhow.

[ihabkal]

So are those two Core 2 Quads (8 cores total), or two Core 2 Duos (4 cores total), or quad Core 2 Duos (8 cores total), or two quad Core 2 Duos (two computers each with a 4-socket motherboard, thus holding a total of eight Core 2 Duos for 16 cores. Although, such a thing doesn't exist)?

 

Anyway, you should get a Core i7 computer. Thanks to the superiority of the Nehalem architecture, those outperform comparable Core 2 processors by a wide margin. A moderately decent Core i7 computer costs only about $1300 anyhow.

 

was that a question or you being funny?

[adarsh]

In order to build a render farm, one has to have:

 

1) 3D applications and Plugin renderers ( 3ds Max , Maya, mental ray, 3delight, v-ray, XSI , Cinema4D, After Effects and others)

 

2) 1 to N machines with the above 3D applications installed and configured with licenses connected via High Speed Switch and a file server.

 

3) You can use the build in batch render software that comes with the 3D applications. For example :

a) backburner - 3ds Max, Maya, XSI, Toxik

b) Cinema4d - Net Render

c) After Effects - aerender engine

 

4) If you are having mixed render farm with machines/nodes running Windows/ Mac OS and Linux , you can choose other options of render farm managers.

Example: EnFuzion3D and google for other render farm managers.

 

Let me know if you need any help

 

Thank you,

Adarsh

[cmrhm]

Thank you all for your replies. adarsh's reply especially answered some of my specific questions.

 

I need to get busy in other issues for a few days then will come back to post further questions.