ScreamerNet Mac idiots guide?

[Otterman]

Ok heres the deal. I really wanna set up a renderfarm from my mac. Ive been given a boxx render machine to try out but im at a loss where to begin as the pc/mac thing is already thrown me so ive put this on the back burner!

Plan B-within my studio, theres a few other macs on the network-I gonna attempt to utilise these! Walk before i can run so to speak. Anyways....

Problem is, ive updated lw to 9.3.1 ub and i cant for the life of me find an idiots guide on how to set this up! Newtek support on ScreamerNet really suks! Ive also had a look at third party render controllers-namley ScreamerNet Controller and RenderFarm Commander which both seem to be well documented but doesnt really be compatible with 9.3! Arnt LWSN cmdlines obsolete?....Dunno-im getting a little dizzy going around in circles.

Is it a question of using an earlier version of lightwave perhaps and does the fact im running the ub version of lw on non-intel machine gonna screw me over at all?

Please, if anyone can point me in the right direction, offer some suggestions etc, you would save my desk-im repeatedly banging my head against it.

My Machine spec....4 x 2.5 GHz PowerPC G5, 4.5 GB, Mac OS x 10.4.8

[Matt]

I take it you seen this thread?

http://www.newtek.com/forums/showthread.php?t=26572

[Matt]

The Mac one has moved here:

http://www.the-worms-of-art.com/files/pdf/SNETII_Mac.pdf

And the support files

http://www.the-worms-of-art.com/files/zip/cmdLines.zip

[Otterman]

The Mac one has moved here:

http://www.the-worms-of-art.com/files/pdf/SNETII_Mac.pdf

And the support files

http://www.the-worms-of-art.com/files/zip/cmdLines.zip


Hey Matt-yeah, I delved into that 1 but began to think i was barking up the wrong tree. I think since 9.3, LWSN is handled a little differently. Used to be the case that screamernet got it's command line flags from the LWSN cmdline text file but this isnt the case anymore-dunno, i maybe wrong! Its confussing as heck for a non-tekkie like me! Do u know the differences?

I really dont want avoid going back to 9.2 if i can help it-its buggy as hell!

[BeeVee]

I'm presuming you are talking about the UB version of 9.3? The CFM version still uses those cmdlines. Even so: http://www.lightwiki.com/Screamernet_for_OS_X_UB

B

[Otterman]

Hey ben

Yes indeed UB! Where do these cmdlines files reside??

Since 9.3-these files have dissapeared infact the whole file structure is completely different. Is it a case that i simply create these files within the root folder then follow the instructions- Hey presto-instant renderfarm!

Frustrated-stumped at the 1st hurdle me!

[BeeVee]

Read the link given and all will become clear...

B

[Scazzino]

I've updated my Mastering LightWave ScreamerNet for Mac OS X (http://dreamlight.com/insights/10/welcome.html) tutorial for Mac OS X Tiger and LightWave 9 including both LWSN PPC & ScreamerNet UB. One more advanced network rendering UB example with third-party controllers remains to be added, but the bulk of it is now LW9 friendly...

:beerchug:

[Otterman]

Cheers guys! I gota whole lot of bedtime reading to do-gonna stifle my love life somewhat. 1 step to geekdom...

I still got a feeling this is gonna stretch my tekkie comprehension a little too far though. But i really dont want give up on lightwave because of this!

I had a company in the other day who supplys renderfarm hardware and deal with mostly autodesk customers. I felt highly embaressed trying to explain screamernets awkwardness to them!

Im worried if i dont get this sorted im gonna be forced to go over to the darkside of maya and on a pc-Yeek!!

[John the Geek]

I may try and drum up a video tutorial on this... Give me a day or so to find the time though.

[Otterman]

Hey John-that would be fab.

I can say with authority, u would help out alot of numpties such as myself. A simple step by step guide, comprehensive guide just to get us going! Words and pictures as well! Make it colourful and loud hey just to drill it home!

If u need a guinepig-im that pig!

Will watch this space