User manual APPLE SHAKE DISTRIBUTED RENDERING SETUP GUIDE

[. . . ] m The network must support the Apple Rendezvous technology built in to Mac OS X. m A cluster must contain only one computer acting as the cluster controller, and at least one computer acting as a service node. One computer can be used as both a cluster controller and a service node. (The rendering is distributed across a cluster, which contains a cluster controller that manages the cluster, and one or more service nodes, which perform the rendering. ) m The cluster computers (cluster controller and service nodes) and the client computers (user workstations) need to be on the same local network (subnet). [. . . ] The steps that follow describe how to configure this render farm environment. 6 Assumptions for This Setup These setup steps assume the following: m You have read the essentials described in "Shake Qmaster Network Essentials" on page 2. m For the Xserve, you have a static IP address that can be assigned within your DHCP subnet. If you need to purchase Apple Remote Desktop, see http://www. apple. com/remotedesktop, or contact your local Apple Store or Apple Authorized Reseller. Getting More Information About Server Administration Tools You can find the most up-to-date, step-by-step procedures for using the Mac OS X Server tools mentioned here, such as Open Directory Assistant and WorkGroup Manager, by using the onscreen help that is available with all server administration programs. Administration tasks are also described thoroughly in the Mac OS X Server documentation. Step 1: Start up the Xserve and use Server Assistant for the initial setup Turn on the Xserve and follow the Server Assistant onscreen instructions to get the Xserve up and running. Be sure to: m Configure it for a static IP address that can be assigned within your DHCP subnet and that is outside the range of your dynamically assigned DHCP addresses. If you don't know what address to enter, see your system administrator for assistance. Note: The DNS (Domain Name Server) address will be provided by DHCP and therefore doesn't have to be entered now. If this is the first time you've set up this Xserve, Server Assistant appears when you start it up. When you are finished with Server Assistant, Open Directory Assistant appears. If neither of these appear automatically, you can always access them in /Applications/Utilities. Note: Remember to plug in and connect all of your network cables, since you will need the network for these steps. 7 Step 2: Use Open Directory Assistant to configure directory and password services This step assumes that your Xserve is new and is not hosting any existing directory service. If your Xserve is already hosting, skip this step and enter the information for the currently hosted directory service when prompted in the upcoming steps. Warning Using the Open Directory Assistant deletes any directory service hosting that currently exists on the server. Follow the Open Directory Assistant onscreen instructions, making sure to: m Select the option to use a permanent IP address. m Select the option to provide directory information to other computers. Note: Selecting this option automatically starts NetInfo directory services. m Select the option to provide password and authentication to other computers. Step 3: Use Directory Access to specify the Xserve as the NetInfo server Open the Directory Access utility (located in /Applications/Utilities) and use it to: m Specify that you want to connect to a specific NetInfo server. m Enter the Xserve IP address as the NetInfo server address, with the server tag "network. " You need to restart the Xserve after using Directory Access. Step 4: Use System Preferences to configure the Xserve for static IP and name sharing 1 Open the Network pane in System Preferences and configure the network for static IP, making sure to: m Choose to configure manually in the TCP/IP pane. m Enable Sharing for the media disk, and give everyone Read and Write access to it. m In the Protocols tab, choose NFS Export Settings and make sure that you enable exporting to World. m In the Automount tab: m Select the option to automount to clients in the domain. Be aware that the export to World setting could be a security risk for your content if the network you are using is connected to the Internet without firewall protection. Important Step 8: Use Server Assistant and Open Directory Assistant to configure the cluster nodes For this step, the cluster nodes need to be on and connected to the network. Open Server Assistant on the Xserve and use it to configure NetInfo on each of the cluster nodes. Be sure to: m Choose to "Set up a server, " then click Refresh List. [. . . ] Use Shake Qadministrator on the Xserve to create a cluster that contains the Xserve and the cluster nodes. After you finish this final step, the client computers can start submitting Shake jobs to the cluster for distributed rendering. 2 3 Submitting Render Jobs in the Render Farm Setup Because of the way access is configured in this setup, all file pathnames are conveniently consistent for the purposes of specifying them in Shake scripts and in Shake Qmaster, assuming that: m Users place all source media for the Shake scripts on the second Xserve drive (which each user will see mounted in /Network/Servers/XserveName. local/Volumes/). m All folders and files on the second Xserve drive (the media volume) have Read and Write access enabled for everyone (for Owner, Group, and Others). You can make this access setting by selecting the folder or file and choosing File>Get Info. [. . . ]