3DS MAX 9 Crashing on slaves

Deadline
1

Hi



Im new to Deadline and am currently trialling with a view to purchase for an 8 node renderfarm im setting up. We are wanting to use a number of different renderers but mainly focusing on 3DS Max 9. So far I have successfully rendered a 100 frame scene with no output enabled but as soon as I specify a location for the saved files the slaves start throwing an exception. The output location is accessible by all slaves, have tested a standalone render from one node and works fine. Nodes are running Windows Server 2003 and 3DS Max 9 is a licensed educational version (I hope thats not the problem)



The slave log is as follows, really need some help on this one.



---- February 19 2007 – 03:03 PM ----

Scheduler Thread - Plugin loaded in 0.02 seconds.

0: Loaded job: InkPaintChameleon (00a_050_o_7212c1f3)

0: INFO: job file: c:\deadline\slave\jobsData\00a_050_o_7212c1f3.job

0: INFO: Forcing 32 bit version of Max 9

0: INFO: Verifying installation of 3ds max 9 at “C:\Program Files\Autodesk\3ds Max 9”

0: INFO: Network log file: “C:\Documents and Settings\franticn1\Local Settings\Application Data\Autodesk/3dsmax/9 - 32bit/enu/Network\Max.log”

0: INFO: Ignoring popup windows matching “.Brazil Console.”

0: INFO: Ignoring popup windows matching “.MSP Acceleration.”

0: INFO: Handling popup windows matching “.VRay authorization.” by hitting the “Cancel” button

0: INFO: Handling popup windows matching “.File Load: Units Mismatch.” by hitting the “Adopt the File’s Unit Scale?;OK” button

0: INFO: Handling popup windows matching “.Frame Rate Change.” by hitting the “OK” button

0: INFO: Handling popup windows matching “.MAXScript Auto-load Script Error.” by hitting the “OK” button

0: INFO: 3ds max plugin for Deadline 2.6.24779, built Nov 27 2006 03:13:21 R

0: INFO: Using “C:\Program Files\Autodesk\3ds Max 9\3dsmax.exe” to render.

0: INFO: LoadMaxTimeout is 1000 seconds

0: INFO: StartJobTimeout is 1000 seconds

0: INFO: ProgressUpdateTimeout is 8000 seconds

0: INFO: FailOnExistingMaxProcess is 0

0: INFO: AlternatePluginIni is “”

0: INFO: Rendering using plugin.ini: C:\Program Files\Autodesk\3ds Max 9\plugin.ini

0: INFO: Copying over 32 bit lightning file: c:\deadline\slave\plugins\lightningMax9.dlx

0: INFO: Starting 3ds max in slave mode

0: INFO: Silent mode is disabled

0: INFO: Strict 3ds max installation check is enabled

0: INFO: 3dsmax command line parameters: " -deadlineSlave -p “C:\DOCUME~1\FRANTI~1\LOCALS~1\Temp\deadlineplugin_252745500.ini” -q -s “c:\deadline\slave\plugins\deadlineStartupMax9.max”"

0: INFO: Connected to max plugin: Lightning 2.6.24779 Nov 27 2006 03:07:29 R

0: INFO: [filename]

[format]

[size] 640x480

[aspect] 1

0: INFO: No camera specified, rendering active viewport

0: INFO: RestartRendererMode is disabled

0: INFO: Frame Buffer is enabled

0: INFO: Saving output to R:/chameleon.jpg

0: INFO: Padding output file

0: INFO: FailOnBlackFrames is disabled.

0: INFO: Ignoring missing external files

0: INFO: Ignoring missing UVW coordinates

0: INFO: Executing script: c:/deadline/slave/plugins/customize.ms

0: STDOUT: Applying customizations to max file…

0: STDOUT: >General Renderer Settings:

0: STDOUT: +Image Width set to 1920

0: STDOUT: +Image Height set to 1080

0: STDOUT: +Pixel Aspect set to 1.0

0: STDOUT: +Atmosphere set to true

0: STDOUT: +Effects set to true

0: STDOUT: +Displacements set to true

0: STDOUT: +Area Lights/Shadows As Points set to false

0: STDOUT: +Force 2-Sided set to false

0: STDOUT: >Render Environment Settings:

0: STDOUT: +Background Color set to (color 255 255 255)

0: STDOUT: +Use Environment Map set to false

0: STDOUT: +Ambient Color set to (color 0 0 0)

0: STDOUT: +Global Light Tint Color set to (color 255 255 255)

0: STDOUT: +Global Light Level set to 1.0

0: STDOUT: >Default Scanline Renderer detected as current renderer.

0: STDOUT: +Antialias Filter set to Area

0: STDOUT: +Mapping set to true

0: STDOUT: +Shadows set to true

0: STDOUT: +Auto-Reflect/Reflect and Mirrors set to true

0: STDOUT: +Auto-Reflect Rendering Iterations set to 1

0: STDOUT: +Force Wireframe set to false

0: STDOUT: +Wireframe Thickness set to 1.0

0: STDOUT: +Antialiasing set to true

0: STDOUT: +Antialiasing Filter Size set to 1.5

0: STDOUT: +Filter Maps set to true

0: STDOUT: +Enable Global Sampler set to false

0: STDOUT: +Global Sampler Class set to Max 2.5 Star

0: STDOUT: +Global Sampler Supersample Maps set to false

0: STDOUT: +Global Sampler Quality set to 0.5

0: STDOUT: +Global Sampler Adaptive set to false

0: STDOUT: +Global Sampler Adaptive Threshold set to 0.1

0: STDOUT: +Apply Object Motion Blur set to true

0: STDOUT: +Object Motion Blur Duration set to 0.5

0: STDOUT: +Object Motion Blur Samples set to 10

0: STDOUT: +Object Motion Blur Subdivisions set to 10

0: STDOUT: +Apply Image Motion Blur set to true

0: STDOUT: +Image Motion Blur Duration set to 0.5

0: STDOUT: +Apply Image Motion Blur To Environment Map set to false

0: STDOUT: +Image Motion Blur Transparency set to false

0: STDOUT: +Enable SSE set to false

0: STDOUT: +Conserve Memory set to false

0: Plugin rendering frame(s): 0

Scheduler Thread - Render Thread 0 threw an error:

Scheduler Thread - RenderTask: 3dsmax exited unexpectedly (it may have crashed, or someone may have terminated)



Exception Details
RenderPluginException -- RenderTask: 3dsmax exited unexpectedly (it may have crashed, or someone may have terminated)
RenderPluginException.Cause: JobError (2)
Exception.TargetSite: Void RenderTasks(Int32, Int32)
Exception.Source: DeadlinePluginLoader
Exception.StackTrace:
at Deadline.Plugins.PluginLoader.RenderTasks(Int32 startTask, Int32 endTask)
at Deadline.Plugins.PluginLoader.RenderTask(Int32 task)
at Deadline.Plugins.Plugin.RenderTask(Int32 frame)
at Deadline.Slaves.SlaveRenderThread.RenderCurrentTask()

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3DS Max Log shows

2007/02/19 15:04:21 DBG: Starting network
2007/02/19 15:04:22 INF: Loaded c:\deadline\slave\plugins\deadlineStartupMax9.max
2007/02/19 15:04:22 INF: Job: c:\deadline\slave\plugins\deadlineStartupMax9.max
2007/02/19 15:04:22 INF: Loaded c:/deadline/slave/jobsData/InkPaintChameleon.max
2007/02/19 15:04:22 INF: Job: c:/deadline/slave/jobsData/InkPaintChameleon.max
2007/02/19 15:04:25 ERR: An unexpected exception has occurred in the network renderer and it is terminating.

2

Hi Stuart,



The following error is being printed to the max log:

An unexpected exception has occurred in the network renderer and it is

terminating.



I googled this error, and there seem to be two common causes for it:

  1. If /every frame/ is crashing with this error, it is typically due to

    a corrupt .max file.
  2. Occasionally it is caused by a bug in a plug-in that only shows up in

    a render farm environment.



    Can you try creating a very simple test scene that reproduces the

    problem? If so, you can send it to us and we can try testing it out on

    our farm.



    It could also be possible that running Windows Server 2003 on your nodes

    could be an issue. I checked the 3ds Max system requirements, and they

    suggest Windows 2000 or XP. This is just a guess though.



    Hope this helps.



    Cheers,
3

Hi Ryan



Couple of things to note. The scene im using to test the setup is the standard rabbit one that ships with 3DSMAX9. /samples/scenes/characters/complete/rabbit.max



I can render that scene perfectly fine on each of the nodes directly using MAX. I can render the scene fine using deadline “when no output is enabled”



The nodes throw an exception when I use deadline AND have file output enabled.



I also tested a scene with a simple box and had the same experience



I would hope that Windows Server 2003 wouldnt be an issue, surely someone else uses it sucessfully . In any case I will setup a couple of nodes using XP and see if there is any difference.



Cheers



Stuart

4

Hi Stuart,



I work for Frantic, but at a remote office. I have been able to reproduce

this problem, but Ryan has not. I am continuing to look for clues, and will

have Ryan remotely log into my computer in the morning.



In the meantime, try this test:



Set the file output path to a local drive letter. (NOT a mapped network

path, mapped local share, or UNC path.)



David Marks

5

Hi David



Rendering a file to a local path works. ie c:\output.jpg renders successfully.



Cheers



Stuart

6

Update to this… I just used my Windows XP Workstation as a slave node and same problem exists.

7

I’ve placed a patch to the 3dsmax 9 plugin here:

http://support.franticfilms.com/WB/default.asp?action=9&boardid=2&read=444&fid=7



This should hopefully fix this problem. David tested it out on his workstation, and it worked for him. Let us know if you have any problems.



Cheers,

  • Ryan