Setting Render Node Availability
 
 
 

By default, nodes are always available for processing. However, you can easily limit render node availability in order to manage network resources. For some creative applications, such as 3ds Max and Maya, creative seats themselves can be set up as render nodes. In such cases, it can be helpful to limit rendering activity on those workstations to after hours.

For others, such as the Visual Effects and Finishing applications (including Smoke for Mac OS X), render nodes are always separate workstations. Nevertheless, scheduling can be useful. Burn nodes, for example, require access to the full-resolution versions of the frames needing processing. This can result in a great deal of data moving across the network. Scheduling some Burn nodes for only off-peak availability can assist in balancing network traffic levels until a more permanent network solution is put in place.

To schedule the availability of a render node:

  1. Select the render node(s) of interest.
  2. Do one of the following:
    • Right-click the node and choose Week Schedule.
    • From the Servers menu, choose Week Schedule.

    The schedule for the render node appears.

    Periods of time that are green indicate the node is available to process jobs. By default, nodes are always available.

  3. Select the time of interest:
    • Select a single hour by clicking the hour of interest.
    • Select the same hour for each day with one click using the hour buttons.
    • Click and drag to select a number of hours at once.
    • Select a whole day using the days-of-the-week buttons.
    • Select the entire week by clicking the button at the top left.

      The selected time is shown in white.

  4. Click the Allow or Disallow buttons, as desired.

    Green indicates node availability. Red indicates processing is prohibited during this time.

    The following schedule shows a render node that is available weeknights and 24 hours a day on weekends. This might be the case for a creative workstation used as a render node after-hours, for example.

  5. Click OK to update the schedule for the node and close the dialog.