Hello all! I recently upgraded to 4P and have not figured out the network render node settings. I have 8 computers on my local network and would like to access 4 or 5 of them. In the preferencesrender roomdialogue box of 4P it displays 3 network rendering port settings (as does the same window on the network node stations). I think Eovia's site claims 4P will access up to 5 remote stations. Any help is greatly appreciated. Still learning the app and having some successes, however large files (over 10,000 pixels) still crash my machine, hoping the network stations will help with this. Also any help dealing with large files is appreciated. I wrap vehicles with self adhesive vinyl printed with a solvent based large format printer and try to include 3D elements as often as possible. Thanks for the help. Carrara rocks!

I just bid a car wrap project with Carrara! Are you on a Mac or PC?

PC. The sign biz was revolutionized in '83 by Gerber Scientific (an engineering/optical/textile company) which was PC based. Now that everyone from Adobe to Metacreations (Corel)have PC software PC's are pretty much the standard for sign companies. So you do wraps... Please provide details or PM me if you think it better for this forum.

Anyone with an answer to the problem??? I'm having it as well about not getting the network rendering to work.

Hi R_tist, I just create the content, not the output like you. I'm Mac based so I can't give you good direction on PC networking. However, Kix and Eric have PC networks running as do others on this forum. I'm sure you'll get an answer back PDQ. Mark

Firewall software used?

R_tist,

Here's steps to get it going.

1. Install Carrara on your main machine + patch.
2. Install Carrara Render Nodes on your other machines + render node patch.
3. Install plug-ins on all machines.
4. If you're running a firewall, open it up for Carrara. If you're using XP with service pack 2's firewall, launch control panel, select Windows Firewall, and on the Exceptions tab use the Add Program button to add Carrara 4 and Carrara 4 Render Node where they are installed.
5. The render node application will only have one port number. Make that the same on all nodes and make the first port in Carrara on your main machine match that. It defaults to 5020 and that seems to work good for most people. It does not for me, something else is using that port on my network so I changed it to 6000.
6. Start the render node application on all the nodes you want to use.
7. Go back to your main machine and launch Carrara, go to the render room, switch to the batch queue and load a file. On the render properties, make sure the Enabled network rendering option is checked.
8. Click Launch to render the file.

If everything goes well you should see numbered squares for each CPU on your main machine and grey squares with an N for every CPU on a render node. There will be a delay as the file is copied out to the render nodes.

Remember the port must match on all nodes and must be the first port number on the main machine. If it doesn't work try a different value than the default 5020.

If you've got some slower machines in the group, kick down the Tile Size. That way your slow machines won't hold your fast ones back.

Good luck and let me know if you have any questions.

Regards,
Eric Winemiller
Digital Carvers Guild
Plug-ins for Carrara
http://digitalcarversguild.com

Thanks Eric! Monday when I get back to my studio I will give it a try. I appreciate the info and hope to become a working part of this forum. As a way of saying thanks - please check out this movie... I was recently a part of a Hollywood production that is now playing on HBO and also available on DVD at blockbuster Video. It is called Tough Luck. It is about a crooked carnival owner played by Armond Assante (he was the cop in Striptease with Demi Moore a few years ago). I painted dozens of the 'freaks of the sideshow' banners, assorted props, t-shirts, logos and vehicle graphics for the film. check it out - its a strong 'B' movie.