Network Rendering Setup
| Original Version By: |
| JohnnyRandom |
| Latest Version |
| 30 August 2006 |
A short description of the steps to take to get AE's Watch Folder network rendering setup. This is for After Effects Pro Windows.
How
1. Open a command prompt and ping all of your render nodes to ensure visibility.
2. You can manually setup windows firewall to accept incoming
connections from AfterFX.exe on your render nodes.
3. Create a network folder that is visible to all of the machines,
can be on your local workstation. Simplicity can be helpful here.
- Try and put the "Network_Render" folder in the root of a drive
- (not c:\ unless you have no other option, it simplifies locating the
- folder, this is really the only reason)
Note: You can name the folders whatever you want:)
4. Create a mapped drive "z:\Network_Render" in windows exploder
on all of your render nodes. (doesn't have to be z:\ [ it should be
the same as the drive on you local workstation] every render node
for clarity) if found this to be helpful.
- Example:
Local machine - N:\Network_Render
Render Nodes mapped drive - Network_Render on 'local machine' ( N: )
5. Finish your After Effects project and add the composition to
the render queu and select "multi-machine sequence" as your
render output type.
6. Start all of your AE render engines (I.E. AfterFX.exe) on
all of your render nodes, goto file>watch folder, select either
the mapped drive "z:\Network_Render"
OR go to "my network places">local workstation>Network_Render.
7. Back to AE, save project and choose collect files, change
the render output folder if you want, select
"Enable WatchFolder render" + number of machines
(AFAIK windows XP can only handle 10 connections)
8.Click Collect...choose shared "Network_Render" folder.
After the files are collected to the shared folder nodes should automatically pick up frames. :)
Tips
--Why did composition not render on my local machine?
- When the files are finished collecting on you local machine goto File>Watch Folder on your local install of AE and direct it to the network shared folder you collected your files too.
- It should start up on it's own if it doesn't...
- Go to File>Watch Folder again this time start at
- "My Network Places>EntireNetwork>Microsoft Windows Network>*Your Machine*>*Network Folder*"
Example:
--How come AE doesn't see the folder I pointed it too?
- Most render farm management likes to see the "network" link as opposed to just drilling through the "browse" window down to the local location. (see image above)
--How can I start AE automatically?
- Create a project called "Watch This Folder.aep". Place this file in your startup menu.
- This page was last modified 21:24, 3 January 2007.
- This page has been accessed 3,375 times.
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