Itoo Software Forum

Forest Pack => Forest Pro (*) => Topic started by: aurelarchi on February 19, 2013, 01:26:08 PM

Title: Network render max2013 vray 2.30.01 and forest 4
Post by: aurelarchi on February 19, 2013, 01:26:08 PM
Hi,

I just installed the new forest today.
And the plug don't work on network render.
I got a main machine and 2 slaves without any problem of network rendering using vrayspawner.
Forest was installed on the main machine as workstation and on the others as slave.
Please look the attached image :
it's not a map or shader problem because the slaves don't rendered any geometrie.

Can you tell my why ?
For information the old version of forest worked very well.................

Thanks !
Title: Re: Network render max2013 vray 2.30.01 and forest 4
Post by: Jose on February 19, 2013, 02:38:23 PM
Please, try inserting the library objects using "merge" mode, instead of "XRef"  mode in the library browser. The problem may be related to render nodes with different installation paths that can not find the Xref'd  object. Do you have mixed 32 and 64 bit nodes ?

Please tell me the results, if the problem continue send us more details about your render farm and 3dsmax installation for further checkings.
Title: Re: Network render max2013 vray 2.30.01 and forest 4
Post by: aurelarchi on February 19, 2013, 03:37:41 PM
Thank for the reply,

I use only 64 bits system with the same OS /max and update / vray............
For the test i made i used preset grass in forest, no xref, proxies or models in my library.
And like i said with the old one , no problem during network render.
Title: Re: Network render max2013 vray 2.30.01 and forest 4
Post by: iToo on February 19, 2013, 07:42:35 PM

We are trying several configurations here, but we cannot reproduce the problem. The DR nodes work fine, even using XRefs, and without adding the texture paths to Max.

Please, try reinstalling Forest in the slave nodes. But be sure that VRay DR spawner and Max are not running, because they would block the plugin upgrade.

Title: Re: Network render max2013 vray 2.30.01 and forest 4
Post by: Bjoern Radler on February 20, 2013, 06:39:44 PM
I have the problem just in this second. HQ plants leave an empty space in Rendering on the slave buckets.

I have checked all pathes to be network pathes and the slave maschine runs perfectly without ForestObjects

Plz help

Title: Re: Network render max2013 vray 2.30.01 and forest 4
Post by: iToo on February 20, 2013, 07:00:22 PM
I have the problem just in this second. HQ plants leave an empty space in Rendering on the slave buckets.

Please, try this in the slave node:

1) Stop VRaySpawner
2) Delete these files: <maxdir>\ForestVRay20.dll and <maxdir>\plugins\ForestPackPro.dlo
3) Reinstall Forest
4) Check that the files listed above has been installed correctly

Do you use VRay 2.30.01 as well ? We made our tests using 2.40.02... theoretically that should not matter, but i want to be sure.

Update: i just tried with VRay 2.30.01, it works fine too.

Title: Re: Network render max2013 vray 2.30.01 and forest 4
Post by: Bjoern Radler on February 20, 2013, 08:40:52 PM
Actually I am using 2.40.03  ::) which is the official build since yesterday.

I will try the what u mentioned and then a roll back.


EDIT: deletion and reinstall didnt work so far, and i cant rollback since there is no more 2.40.02 on the official build side.

Now im stuck again !!
Title: Re: Network render max2013 vray 2.30.01 and forest 4
Post by: iToo on February 20, 2013, 10:05:04 PM
I think should not be differences using a version of Vray or other, because both 2.40.02 and 2.30.01 work fine here. Anyway, i will repeat the tests tomorrow using 2.40.03.

I suggest you try rendering a basic test scene, as some teapots, with no materials or external objects. That will let us to know if Forest is being loaded in the slaves or not. Then, please post again with the results.
Title: Re: Network render max2013 vray 2.30.01 and forest 4
Post by: Bjoern Radler on February 21, 2013, 10:45:27 AM
Teapot test runs fine...

but, when I tried to merge the scene I got this --->

The Object XRef file: "\\Blz666-pc\g\Assets\3D_Modelle\vegetation\maple_2_06.max" can not be found
The Object XRef file: "\\Blz666-pc\g\Assets\3D_Modelle\vegetation\maple_2_05.max" can not be found
The Object XRef file: "\\Blz666-pc\g\Assets\3D_Modelle\vegetation\bush_1_03.max" can not be found
The Object XRef file: "\\Blz666-pc\g\Assets\3D_Modelle\vegetation\bush_1_07.max" can not be found
The Object XRef file: "\\Blz666-pc\g\Assets\3D_Modelle\vegetation\bush_1_08.max" can not be found
The Object XRef file: "\\Blz666-pc\g\Assets\3D_Modelle\vegetation\vray-models-clover-01.max" can not be found
The Object XRef file: "\\Blz666-pc\g\Assets\3D_Modelle\vegetation\vray-models-clover-01.max" can not be found

WHen i add those manually by browsing they render on main maschine but not on slave.


I never had problems like this before :/
Title: Re: Network render max2013 vray 2.30.01 and forest 4
Post by: Bjoern Radler on February 21, 2013, 11:12:10 AM
Now  I have added all missing pathes on the network maschine manually in a default scene and it render just fine.

Forest seems not to be able to detect those files even if they are all set to a network path.

Confusing me! :'(
Title: Re: Network render max2013 vray 2.30.01 and forest 4
Post by: iToo on February 21, 2013, 11:22:05 AM

It is really strange, because the path management is managed exclusively by Max, we have not control over it. Anyway we will do some tests here...

What Max version do you use ?
How did you add these plants to Forest: using the library and then converting the paths to UNC in the Asset Tracker, or merging them manually in the scene ?

Title: Re: Network render max2013 vray 2.30.01 and forest 4
Post by: Bjoern Radler on February 21, 2013, 11:30:50 AM
I use 3ds maxdesign 2013 64bit with Vray 2.40.03 on alle maschines

I have added the items through Forest Library.

All pathes are manually edited in the asset tracker. (The Converting to UNC function never worked for me somehow )

Since this is a used workflow by me I dont really get whats going on.

Maybe u can take a look via Teamviewer !
Title: Re: Network render max2013 vray 2.30.01 and forest 4
Post by: aurelarchi on February 21, 2013, 12:30:25 PM
Ok,

Still have problem with network rendering , i just reinstalled the plug on the slave without any max or spawner running.
I test with a teapod scatter and its work good, but not with the forest preset like grass or rock.
Please tell my why.

Regards.
Title: Re: Network render max2013 vray 2.30.01 and forest 4
Post by: iToo on February 21, 2013, 12:42:59 PM
I use 3ds maxdesign 2013 64bit with Vray 2.40.03 on alle maschines

I have added the items through Forest Library.

All pathes are manually edited in the asset tracker. (The Converting to UNC function never worked for me somehow )

Since this is a used workflow by me I dont really get whats going on.

Maybe u can take a look via Teamviewer !

Please, lets follow you case in this thread: http://www.itoosoft.com/forum/index.php?topic=1427.msg5050#msg5050 (http://www.itoosoft.com/forum/index.php?topic=1427.msg5050#msg5050)
Title: Re: Network render max2013 vray 2.30.01 and forest 4
Post by: aurelarchi on February 21, 2013, 12:45:17 PM
I tried this one :
1) Stop VRaySpawner
2) Delete these files: <maxdir>\ForestVRay20.dll and <maxdir>\plugins\ForestPackPro.dlo
3) Reinstall Forest
4) Check that the files listed above has been installed correctly

And it still no working.......................
Title: Re: Network render max2013 vray 2.30.01 and forest 4
Post by: iToo on February 21, 2013, 12:47:28 PM
Still have problem with network rendering , i just reinstalled the plug on the slave without any max or spawner running.
I test with a teapod scatter and its work good, but not with the forest preset like grass or rock.
Please tell my why.

Please, open References->XRef objects and XRef scenes, and post a screenshot of both.

Also send us the file 3dsmax.ini of the slave node. It can be found here:

C:\Documents and Settings\<username>\Local Settings\Application Data\Autodesk\3dsmax\<max version>\enu\3dsmax.ini

Title: Re: Network render max2013 vray 2.30.01 and forest 4
Post by: iToo on February 21, 2013, 08:13:54 PM
This test also would help, to check if there are missing XRefs or textures:

1) Convert the Forest objects to stand-alone instances, using Forest Tools
2) Delete the Forest object
3) Render.

Title: Re: Network render max2013 vray 2.30.01 and forest 4
Post by: aurelarchi on February 25, 2013, 12:34:22 PM
I converted the forest object as instance and the network rendering is ok.
I will send you the screenshot from the xref and the .ini files, can you give me the mail ?

Thx !
Title: Re: Network render max2013 vray 2.30.01 and forest 4
Post by: iToo on February 25, 2013, 12:56:11 PM

Please, send it to support@itoosoft.com.

Thanks,
Title: Re: Network render max2013 vray 2.30.01 and forest 4
Post by: BP2759 on February 25, 2013, 02:07:19 PM
I'm having the same issue.  Just upgraded the department, 24 slaves and 4 workstations.  Forest works on the slaves if I do not use there preset libraries.  When I do use the libraries on the render farm it only works on other workstation, not the slaves.
Title: Re: Network render max2013 vray 2.30.01 and forest 4
Post by: iToo on February 25, 2013, 02:57:44 PM
I'm having the same issue.  Just upgraded the department, 24 slaves and 4 workstations.  Forest works on the slaves if I do not use there preset libraries.  When I do use the libraries on the render farm it only works on other workstation, not the slaves.

This is basically a problem of the DR nodes, which for some reason cannot found the references used by Presets (as the XRefs or the materials). Anyway we don't use nothing special here: once applied, a preset is a standard Forest object, with their materials and custom objects.

In case the library is working in XRef mode (there is a selector for that), the Preset object is added to the scene as a XRef. It not, it is merged. And all the presets objects are installed with the setup program at C:\Program Files (x86)\Itoo Software\Forest Pack Pro\lib\Presets, so they should exist in the slave nodes, if Forest have been installed on them.

We are trying to reproduce the problem here, but our tests run fine. We don't know why certain configurations of DR fail to locate the preset references (xrefs, materials or something else). We also are in contact with ChaosGroup about this issue, i hope we have more information soon.

By now, the only workaround is to use the Presets in "Merge" mode, or merging the objects to the scene if you have imported them as XRef. Unfortunately, this seem to not work in all cases.

Title: Re: Network render max2013 vray 2.30.01 and forest 4
Post by: aurelarchi on February 25, 2013, 03:59:29 PM
Using forest object as instance made several crash on max 2013+vray 2.40................................
The same as slide forest mat from max material editor to forest mat slot............
Title: Re: Network render max2013 vray 2.30.01 and forest 4
Post by: iToo on February 25, 2013, 05:26:50 PM
Using forest object as instance made several crash on max 2013+vray 2.40................................
The same as slide forest mat from max material editor to forest mat slot............
Do you mean creating instances of Forest objects, or converting the items to stand-alone instances using Forest Tools ? In any case, please send us the minidump generated by Max at crashing, it will help us to identify the problem.

About the presets issue, we think it would be caused by missing textures in the slave node. To fix it, it is necessary to edit the file 3dsmax.ini as described here:

http://www.itoosoft.com/forum/index.php?topic=1417.0 (http://www.itoosoft.com/forum/index.php?topic=1417.0)

If you have problems to locate the ini file, please wait to the update that we will release in the next days. It will include a fix to add this path automatically in the render nodes.

Title: Re: Network render max2013 vray 2.30.01 and forest 4
Post by: aurelarchi on February 25, 2013, 05:59:59 PM
Thanks,

But this is not only missing textures for the network rendering, the slaves don't render any geometry.
So waiting for the new release.