repository offline during rendering stopped the rendernode

Deadline
1

Hello



The repository server crashed (for reasons not linked to deadline) while the farm was working on a big render (3dsmax9 64bits).



While I expected that a simple reboot would work out, one rendernode stopped while at 25% rendering because it did not find any path to the repository (which was offline for a few minutes). I was not expecting this because I though the node was communicating with the repository only at the end of a render!..



I have 2 questions that I would like to get feedback on:



1- since the rendernode was at 25% (single billboard-size image) after 37 hours of render… did I loose everything? is there a hidden saved state somewhere and my render would restart from where it was?



2- the deadline repository is currently handled by my main workstation. what procedure should I follow in order to move it to another (new) machine?



tks

Olivier

2

Hi Olivier,



The render nodes constantly communicate with the repository to update

their status, but if the repository is down, it should continue to

render regardless. I’ve logged this as a bug and we’re going to look

into it. Unfortunately, the slave does not save a state of what it is

rendering at the time. Out of curiosity, which version of Deadline are

you currently using?



To move your repository:

  1. Create a windows share on the other machine where your new repository

    will be stored.
  2. Suspend all of your jobs and shutdown all of your slave applications.
  3. Copy the contents of the old repository folder to the new repository

    folder.
  4. Update all of your slave machines to point to the new repository

    share, either using the Deadline Launcher on each machine, or by using

    DeadlineConfiguration.
  5. Restart your slave applications and unsuspend your jobs.



    Cheers,
3

tks Ryan,



I am using Deadline version 2.7.27948



Your explanation for moving the repository looks simple, but what about the licences? I think there is a licensing server running on the repository, isn’t it?



Olivier

4

The license server is separate from the repository, so it is not

required that they run on the same machine. If you plan on moving over

the license server as well, we’ll have to cut you a new license because

the license is bound to the machine’s MAC address. So if you decide to

change license servers, please email us directly with your license

server’s hostname and MAC address.



Cheers,

  • Ryan
5

Hello,



I’m currently using DFS system from w2k3 for the repository. for the moment ( with 2 nodes ) , i can switch easily from one server to another.



if its can help …

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserver2003/technologies/storage/dfs/default.mspx