4.1 SP1 and Softimage 2011 SAP - completed task but..

Deadline
1

…but nothing is rendered at all…
I’m testing 4.1 SP1 and so far no luck.

First I’ve installed repository to one test comp with CentOS 5.3 on it and 1 client on my computer.
Everything looked OK (except losing plugin path, that is because of mono as i saw on forum, still have problem installing mono 2.6, slave was there, repository folder accessible… Submitting script from SI 2011 SAP worked… but when rendering starts it just throws up complete in 1sec and moves to other file, and nothing is actually rendered.
Naturally I thought it was the problem with my setup on linux so I installed repository in local, same comp with that slave. Changed repository in slave and everything but same thing happening.

Any idea what could go wrong?
here is task log as well:

[size=85]=======================================================
Log Message

0: Task timeout is disabled.
0: Loaded job: test - Default_Pass (999_050_000_50ca9f63)
0: INFO: StartJob: initializing script plugin XSI
0: INFO: Any stdout that matches the regular expression “.ERROR :.” will be handled as appropriate
0: INFO: Any stdout that matches the regular expression “(Rendering frame: [0-9]+) (([0-9]+) % done)” will be handled as appropriate
0: INFO: Any stdout that matches the regular expression “(Rendering frame: [0-9]+) (([0-9]+.[0-9]+) % done)” will be handled as appropriate
0: INFO: Any stdout that matches the regular expression “'INFO : Rendering done!” will be handled as appropriate
0: INFO: Any stdout that matches the regular expression “'INFO : Couldn’t find the pass name ." will be handled as appropriate
0: INFO: Any stdout that matches the regular expression “.progr:\s+([0-9]{1,3}.[0-9]+)%\s+rendered\son.” will be handled as appropriate
0: INFO: Any stdout that matches the regular expression “.progr:\s+rendering\sfinished.” will be handled as appropriate
0: INFO: Any stdout that matches the regular expression “.Render completed (100% done).” will be handled as appropriate
0: INFO: Any stdout that matches the regular expression “.Unknown flag (ignored) : -render.” will be handled as appropriate
0: INFO: Any stdout that matches the regular expression “.INFO : 4000 - Comp.” will be handled as appropriate
0: INFO: Any stdout that matches the regular expression “.INFO : 4000 - Done.” will be handled as appropriate
0: INFO: Any stdout that matches the regular expression ".[arnold].* +([0-9]+)% done." will be handled as appropriate
0: INFO: Any stdout that matches the regular expression ".[arnold].* render done.*” will be handled as appropriate
0: INFO: About: XSI Plugin for Deadline
0: Plugin rendering frame(s): 1
0: INFO: Stdout Handling Enabled: True
0: INFO: Popup Handling Enabled: True
0: INFO: Using Process Tree: True
0: INFO: Hiding DOS Window: True
0: INFO: Creating New Console: False
0: INFO: Rendering with XSI version 9
0: INFO: Enforcing 64 bit build of XSI
0: INFO: Render Executable: “c:\program files\autodesk\softimage 2011.5\application\bin\xsi.bat”
0: INFO: Rendering using new batch mode introduced in XSI 6.01
0: INFO: Rendering to network drive
0: INFO: Render Argument: -render “X:\Crooked Robot Studios\07 Animation\Scene_015\Scene015_Shot005\Scenes\test.scn” -frames 1,1,1 -pass “Default_Pass” -output_dir “X:\Crooked Robot Studios\10 Render\01 Sequences\Scene015_Shot005\test” -skip False -mb False -verbose on -script “C:\Users\mirko.jankovic\AppData\Local\Prime Focus\Deadline\slave\plugins\AdditionalRenderOptions.vbs” -main SetAdditionalRenderOptions -args -passName “Default_Pass” -width “640” -height “480” -sampleMin “” -sampleMax “” -sampleFilter “” -sampleJitter “” -outputPrefix “” -xMin “” -yMin “” -xMax “” -yMax “”
0: INFO: Startup Directory: “c:\program files\autodesk\softimage 2011.5\application\bin”
0: INFO: Process Priority: Normal
0: INFO: Process is now running
0: INFO: Process exit code: 0

=======================================================
Log Details

Log Date/Time = Nov 10/10 16:33:44
Frames = 1-1

Slave Machine = Mirkoj
Slave Version = v4.1.0.43205 R

Plugin Name = XSI[/size]

2

Hi there,

Try using xsibatch.bat as the executable instead of xsi.bat. The former is Softimage’s command line renderer, whereas the latter launches Softimage in interactive mode.

Cheers,

  • Ryan
3

Tried with both, sry forgot to mention that. I had XSIBatch.bat first then tried changing as well to see if it helps…
Didn’t.
Now testing at home on another comp and works fine. Had that invalid pointer in line 2 problem that someone already mentioned but turning strict error checking off works so…

Now figuring out what is different and only thing so far is that at computer with the problem I have that python installed from earlier versions.
And at this home comp there is no python installed, using what is in SI 2011 SAP.

Could that be the reason or to keep looking? :slight_smile:
Will try to remove python at problematic comp and try again.

By the way, while testing I was trying to install repository on an old comp with CentOS and having problems with Mono. If anyone could point out to some nice howto install Mono 2.6 on centOS. I’m not so good with linux, got some basics and know how to find my way in it but… in download on Mono web page there is bunch of RPMs and there is always some dependency missing.
But if Mono for repository installation is only to get plugin paths then it isn’t sooo important but would be nice.
And on the same subject with linux, still ab it off topic… how to uninstall older version of repository and is it necessary at all, can old repository folder just be deleted and then install new one there?

4

I guess this is worth trying, but it’s hard to say if it will help or not. Something you can do though to simplify diagnosing this problem is to remove Deadline from the equation. Just us a command prompt on the problematic machine to test rendering by running this command (change the path to the scene file and the output folder as necessary):

"c:\program files\autodesk\softimage 2011.5\application\bin\xsibatch.bat" -render "X:\Crooked Robot Studios\07 Animation\Scene_015\Scene015_Shot005\Scenes\test.scn" -frames 1,1,1 -pass "Default_Pass" -output_dir "X:\Crooked Robot Studios\10 Render\01 Sequences\Scene015_Shot005\test" -skip False -mb False -verbose on

Once this command renders properly, you should be good to go with Deadline.

You should be able to use any package manager application to install the rpms, and it should be able to manage the dependencies for you. You just need to add “http://ftp.novell.com/pub/mono/archive/2.6.7/download/RHEL_5/” as a repository to your package manager first, and then you can use the package manager to install it.

Yes, you can just delete the old repository folder.

Cheers,

  • Ryan