View Full Version : Interested in Mac Network Renderer?
DarkLight
10-01-2003, 08:20 PM
Just a simple poll to check out the level of interest here.
Myself and Alain Bertrand developed a network rendering solution for lightwave called Amleto (check sig) which at the moment runs on PCs only.
I am currently looking at re-writing this software and i'm thinking of making a version for both the PC and the Mac. Are there any Mac users out there who would like to have something like this?
I would like to know if there is any interest in such as system before i start.
Steve
Beamtracer
10-01-2003, 09:13 PM
Hi Darklight. There's a lot of interest in network rendering on the Mac, and a lot of interest in using something other than Screamernet.
I don't know whether or not Lightwave 8 will have any improved network rendering features for the Mac. I guess we'll have to wait and see. Otherwise it'll be third party solutions.
drclare
10-01-2003, 10:03 PM
I'm definetely interested. I read about your plugin a little while back and was sad that it wasn't for macs. It looks like exactly what i think network rendering should be...easy.
DarkLight
10-02-2003, 02:55 AM
Originally posted by Beamtracer
Hi Darklight. There's a lot of interest in network rendering on the Mac, and a lot of interest in using something other than Screamernet.
That's basically what i wanted to know before i start any major re-writes. Is there much requirement for OS9 now, or are most people now running OSX?
Hi Darklight,
looks wonderfull, I hope you'll manage to make it run smooth on the mac… I think you shouldn't make a Os9 version : with this Os one application can't use more than 1 Gb, and that is just not enought to render with lightwave.
btw, something I would like to see is beeing able to use both intel (win or linux) and mac (osX) nodes (with screamernet, mac and pc fail to load the scenes, because of the way directories are written in the job file ( Z:content:scenes vs Z/content/scene )…
thomas
3dworks
10-02-2003, 05:52 AM
yes, very interested - if it makes network rendering easier to manage! a split image render option would be very welcome, we are working more for print and render times with actual G4s for high resolution images are near to prohibitive at the moment. Of course G5 macs will be much faster, but many mac users will use their old G4s as parts of their small or big renderfarm - like we do, i guess.
best regards
markus groeteke
3dworks visual computing
jpburns
10-02-2003, 07:34 AM
I'd be very interested.
I even went so far as to write a Mac OSX (AppleScript) application for setting up LWSN -3 renders, called LW Sequencer, (http://www.jamesburnsdesign.com/TOT/LWsequencer.html) but would love something more distributed (and, no doubt, better written).
I am holding out for a complete re-write of screamernet.
Amleto looks very good, much better than screamernet in fact, but it cannot be expected to solve screamernet's flaws. Above and beyond the UI and design flaws, I have found that screamernet is Not consistently reliable. Crashes, weird renders, lost images, and render stoppages halfway through a render cannot be avoided by simply putting a snappy outfit on this tired and worn out application.
I have tried other third party screamernet controller apps in the past, and the net result is that even with clever programs, that do the setup work for you, there is no getting around the bugs in screamernet. Screamernet is in the heart of every LW network rendering solution, and its just not a viable piece of software (on the mac).
-eblu
mlinde
10-02-2003, 11:26 AM
You should also be aware that there are ... issues with scene files not being completely cross-platform, and plug-ins not working in a cross-platform rendering environment. Lots of lovely headaches when trying to develop cross-platform stuff for LW. I'm still working on a good solution, most of my LScripts I write have completely separate branches when it comes time to access the platform information or files.
OS9 is dead, make it pure OSX and UI savvy.
Include stuff like being about to support dual cpus, shut down any cpu, restart any cpu, NAME any cpu. Screamernet controller kinda does this but is expensive.
DarkLight
10-02-2003, 12:30 PM
Well i'll be starting work on this on the weekend and it's my first attempt at a Mac application, so this may take some time.
I'll keep you posted on progress.
1. Dont be shy to ask for beta testers.
2. Dont be shy to ask for advice and help from the mac programmers here.
3. Brush metal would be a nice interface
DarkLight
10-02-2003, 12:44 PM
Originally posted by Ade
1. Dont be shy to ask for beta testers.
2. Dont be shy to ask for advice and help from the mac programmers here.
3. Brush metal would be a nice interface
I will probably look for beta testers at some point as i have plenty of PC's here, but only the one Mac.
At the moment i would be happy with any interface, let alone a nice one :)
first attempt at a mac app?
I suggest Apple's home grown dev tools.
DarkLight
10-02-2003, 04:08 PM
I'll take a look at the Apple devtools, but have actually got Codewarrior for the PC and i can use that to develop Mac applications. That's how i compile Amelie for the mac.
drclare
10-02-2003, 05:12 PM
Good luck Darklight. We really appreciate anyone willing to get more Ligtwave tools onto the mac. Thank you.
JackDeL
10-05-2003, 09:50 PM
Yes! Thanks for thinking of us!
darkLight,
Sounds like CodeWarrior is the right tool for you. While you can use Apple's tools to do exactly what you are doing, you'd have to do it on a mac, It would take some finagling, and there would be a learning curve for the dev environment.
I'm all over Apple's tools because they offer significant advantages to developers, but for the most part moving your code to new tools would probably undermine many of the advantages.
There are some tricks to making code light and very portable, but most of them Have to be implemented in the planning stages.
DarkLight
10-06-2003, 09:07 AM
I've been looking at Apple's developer tools and they seem good. I've been using gcc on linux for many years so it's not too much of a learning curve.
I've been looking at a system called wxWindows (http://www.wxwindows.org) which will allow me to develop a single codebase for the pc and windows version. This would be the ideal solution for me if i can get it to work on the mac. At the moment i'm having a few problems in getting it to compile.
renrique
10-06-2003, 10:16 AM
Interesten in being beta tester.
I´m the educative Director of a NewTek School center in Guadalajara, México, and we have a bunch of iMacs, eMacs and 3 G4 to test your develop if you want.
keyframer
10-08-2003, 10:09 AM
Yes, that would be great!
dark_lotus
10-08-2003, 10:32 PM
DarkLight.
Be sure to check up on Rendezvous, if you could develop a render framework that used Rendezvous, that would be incredibly awesome.
In terms of developing, be sure to check out Xcode, which ships for Panther.
I very much look forward to seeing what you guys come up with.
And thanks for developing for the Mac community - too often we are overlooked.
DarkLight
10-09-2003, 03:27 AM
Thanks dark_lotus,
I'll take a look at that.
Before LW, I used Infini-D on the Mac - I think the last version I used was 4.5 Now, it goes without saying that this piece of software in no way compared to the awesome LW, however, the Network Rendering was a cinch to use: Infini-D would automatically detect other Mac nodes, and they would kick in when needed. If one CPU went down, it became greyed out in the CPU list, but wouldn't harm the render process at all. If that node rebooted, it would make itself known in the list, and immediately begin work. You could suspend and resume renders at any time, even after power-off. Only one copy of Infini-D on one CPU was required - the slave nodes used a small utility.
Now, that is a considerable feature list, bearing in mind its age. I appreciate that LW is a hugely more complex beast, but are any [or all] of the above features feasible? If you really wanted to go to town, could I suggest a wish-list in addition to the above features? How about making it multi-platform; Multi OS; with the network available over the internet [I have friends/colleagues with large numbers of under-utilised Macs and PCs] and perhaps installable as a screen-saver which actively seeks out available CPUs and starts rendering!
Man, that would be incredible!
If that is all a bit over-optimistic, don't worry, we really do appreciate any Mac/LW software over here! Many thanks and good luck!
Oh, and feel free to use us as beta-testers...
Screamernet controller has a nice feature of being able to name your cpu's!
This is great for dual systems that have a third single mac linked up.
The more mac technologies that are added and used to program this app the better.
E.G. While this renderer is in the dock, its icon in the dick displays a progress bar of the rendering percentage.
When one cpu goes down the icon jumps up and down in the dock as an alert.
The more mac savvy the more it will become the number one choice as we dont have many LOL...
I have never got screamernet to work on the mac with LW. Will wait for this eagerly!
Originally posted by Ade
I have never got screamernet to work on the mac with LW.
Ade, you are not alone. Neither have I. Screamernet is the single most frustrating part of LW.
Please, somebody, help us!!
http://www.the-worms-of-art.com/tutorials/lightwavetutes_221.html
this has an excellent tutorial to set up screamernet II in os x, if you haven't taken a look at it before. i worked very well for me, although i've only tested it once. may as well keep rendering while waiting!
kief
Originally posted by Ade
Screamernet controller has a nice feature of being able to name your cpu's!
This is great for dual systems that have a third single mac linked up.
The more mac technologies that are added and used to program this app the better.
E.G. While this renderer is in the dock, its icon in the dick displays a progress bar of the rendering percentage.
When one cpu goes down the icon jumps up and down in the dock as an alert.
The more mac savvy the more it will become the number one choice as we dont have many LOL...
I have never got screamernet to work on the mac with LW. Will wait for this eagerly!
its icon in the What?!!!??
heh heh
Freudian slip.
battery555
10-10-2003, 11:58 AM
this is music to the ear! hurray!!! one more mac plug added. hehe:p
...er
sorry to join this topic late but i only just saw it on the board and just so happened to be askin how in blue blazes do i network render my 2 Macs?
i would like the dual mac to be dealin with the renderin while i can get on with what ever on the single processin mac...would that be possiable???...
i to used uae Infini D 4.5 which was great if your machine crashed or anthing bad happened cause you could re-boot and continue to render were the app left off.
...
...
oh nice 1 for dealin with the macs and OSX!!!:p :D :) ;) :p :D
jdavidbakr
10-14-2003, 12:54 PM
Check out the download of the ScreamerNet controller (see the link in my sig); it will instruct as to how to set up the network rendering. There are also several very good tutorials on the web. If you are going to want to continue to work while the render is going and want the safeguards of a crashed render where you left off, you will need a third party controller. (Incidentaly, the ScreamerNet Controller does just that :D )
:(
er......hello?....anyone there?
Just wondered what happened to this thread, and, more importantly, the software that promised so much?
Just another example of Mac VapourWare?
Shame, because it is sorely needed.
DarkLight
12-08-2003, 03:54 AM
The software is still being written. It's taking time to write as i'm only doing this in my spare time.
I'm hoping to have a working version some time early in the new year.
Dont hesitate to post some break through progress or ask for alpha testers..
I can tell you that we have a new PC client that should compile without too much work on Mac OS X. As soon as we have something running we will let you know...
Alain Bertrand
policarpo
12-09-2003, 02:30 AM
Originally posted by garg
I can tell you that we have a new PC client that should compile without too much work on Mac OS X. As soon as we have something running we will let you know...
Alain Bertrand
sweet...keep up the good work. :)
NickLambert
12-16-2003, 05:12 AM
Just thought I'd put my support to Amleto
on OS X. As I run Mac & PC will you be supporting cross platform rendering?
If I can help in beta testing let me know,
good luck & thankyou for thinking of us
Mac users :-)
IversonDesign
12-16-2003, 03:18 PM
Greetings,
A solution running on OSX that could connect to multiple operating systems would be helpful and fabulous.
I too started out using infini-D years ago, and found the network rendering solution it offered was useful and very easy.
That simplistic aproach to autodetecting nodes would be a welcome change to the usual lengthy setup needed for network rendering. Having access to the processing power of a variety of Macs and Windows PC's running a variety of operating systems could easily prove itself to be an invaluable tool, particularly for smaller businesses who want to intelligently manage their assets to stay competitive.
archiea
12-16-2003, 05:28 PM
keep at it, darklight.....
Can't wait.....
Cross plateform rendering is one features we want to support. However it seams that LW do not render on all plateform the same way. For example light intensity seams to be a bit different on Mac than PC.... Maybe with the new LW 8 this isssue will be solved.
Alain
Going back to an earlier point raised, using Rendezvous to communicate between nodes would be great. A thought occurred to me - The windows version of iTunes supports Rendezvous for music sharing (Rendezvous itself is just an Apple-rebadged version of ZeroConf IIRC). Would this raise the possiblity of a network renderer controlling a hetrogenous network of OS X and Win2000/XP machines through Rendezvous?
Originally posted by IversonDesign
I too started out using infini-D years ago, and found the network rendering solution it offered was useful and very easy.
That simplistic aproach to autodetecting nodes would be a welcome change to the usual lengthy setup needed for network rendering. .
Iverson, - yeah - wasn't it a pleasure to use something *so* easy! I thought I'd repost the salient features of Backburner, as the Infini-D distributed rendering system was called:
Before LW, I used Infini-D on the Mac - I think the last version I used was 4.5 Now, it goes without saying that this piece of software in no way compared to the awesome LW, however, the Network Rendering was a cinch to use: Infini-D would automatically detect other Mac nodes, and they would kick in when needed. If one CPU went down, it became greyed out in the CPU list, but wouldn't harm the render process at all. If that node rebooted, it would make itself known in the list, and immediately begin work. You could suspend and resume renders at any time, even after power-off. Only one copy of Infini-D on one CPU was required - the slave nodes used a small utility.
Now, that is a considerable feature list, bearing in mind its age. I appreciate that LW is a hugely more complex beast, but are any [or all] of the above features feasible? If you really wanted to go to town, could I suggest a wish-list in addition to the above features? How about making it multi-platform; Multi OS; with the network available over the internet [I have friends/colleagues with large numbers of under-utilised Macs and PCs] and perhaps installable as a screen-saver which actively seeks out available CPUs and starts rendering!
Man, that would be incredible!
If that is all a bit over-optimistic, don't worry, we really do appreciate any Mac/LW software over here! Many thanks and good luck!
Oh, and feel free to use us as beta-testers...
I am looking for a network rendering solution using a MacOS X machine at the controller and a bunch of Linux boxen for the render farm to keep Windows licensing/viruses right out of the equation. Anything like that available yet?
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