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:
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.
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.