Problem : XRef geometry renders locally but not in DR

[theedge]

Hi,
Using VRay Next,3ds max 2021 and FP 6.3.0
ForestPack works perfectly on my workstation with XRef geometry objects. But when I do a DR render the nodes render blank buckets whre XRef geometry is used.
The nodes have access to the Nnetwork share where the XRef file is stored. They can pull bitmaps, VRayproxies, everything... but those XRef inside FP don't want to render.

[Rokas]

Hi

Does that happen for all the scenes? Or just the one You are currently working with?
Would You please do a test with fresh scene and freshly linked Xrefs.

We also have extensive Distributed Rendering Troubleshooter thread.

Hopefully You will be able to resolve the issue, or if not share what is working and what is not in more details.

[theedge]

So,
I set up a very simple scene to illustrate the problem and even made a screen recording to show the problem.
What is strange is that the XRef objects are definitely accessible by the nodes, as I illusrate in the video : they render fine on their own and even as a Railclone segments. But not inside Forestpack.

Link to the video : https://www.screencast.com/t/9PgjbI43KHa
Link to the scene file : https://we.tl/t-UmYsdfjdPh

[Rokas]

Thank You clear for informative video.

I have downgraded FP and vray to test on my machines, but it is working as expected here:



My followup questions:
1. Does it work if scattered geometry is not xref, but regular mesh?
2. Make sure nodes use the same FP version as Your workstation. That is known to be quite common misconfiguration that can cause this.

[theedge]

Thank you for checking this so quickly.
I'll try to find some time this evening to do further tests after reinstalling FP to make sure all versions match. And I'll do the test with regular mesh.

[theedge]

Ok, I performed some more tests but the problem is still present.

1. Does it work if scattered geometry is not xref, but regular mesh?

Yes it works with regular mesh.

2. Make sure nodes use the same FP version as Your workstation. That is known to be quite common misconfiguration that can cause this.

I checked and all PCs had the same version. But I downloaded and installed the latest version 6.3.1 on all machines to be sure eveything is up to date. DR still fails with XRef geometry.

[Rokas]

All four nodes do not render? In video You only used one.

[theedge]

Yes, I am currently testing them one by one and non of them renders.

[Rokas]

We must make sure You are using the same forest pack version.
Please do the following
go to
C:\Program Files\Autodesk\3ds Max 2021\Plugins

rename ForestPackPro.dlo to ForestPackPro.dll
and view its properties for each of the machines used:


Rename to dlo back again.

Please report the findings.

[theedge]

Yes, same version everywhere.

I might be onto something. I have to do more tests but I  think it's related to the XRef material :
When I convert a mesh to an XRef, its material is a replaced by an XRef material. For some reason FP does not seem to like XRef material
If I merge the material the DR seems to work.

[Rokas]

Please report Your findings. It worked fine for me.

[theedge]

Here is the video explaining how to get it to work :

https://www.screencast.com/t/mugARFBvXCu

Basically, FP won't render in DR as long as there is an XRef material assigned.