Question on network render add on usage

[mafrieger]

We have some questions on network render addon usage and couldn't find answers in product details/FAQs

When having bought this addon for e.g. 32 core.

How could it be used exactly with a setup of a workstation with e.g. 12 core and 2x Render machines with 16 cores each in the network?

1. Are the 32 network cores additional cores? so we can utilized 12+16+16 = 44 cores for ONE render (combination of local and network)?

2. When rendering on the 16+16=32 cores of the render machines in network, can we at the same time still
a) use Keyshot on workstation as normal?
b) use live preview using all 12 cores of workstation?
c) start an additional local render on the workstation using all 12 cores of the workstation?

[mcramblet]

Nope, a 32 core license is the max that can be used with Network Rendering. You can divide it up however you like, but just make sure that you don't exceed a total of 32 cores in the slaves. As a tip, a workstation is accepted into the network as a whole. So if, for example, you connect your 12 core workstation, then one of the 16 core render stations, you are using 28 cores. If the next workstation tries to join and its available cores is set to more than 4, lets say 6 cores, the entire workstation will be rejected from joining. There isn't (currently) any intelligence that allows the network rendering to grab available cores until it reaches the max of the license, you have to do that yourself.

[cadjockey]

There isn't (currently) any intelligence that allows the network rendering to grab available cores until it reaches the max of the license, you have to do that yourself.

Yes, this is my pet peeve with network rendering. I wish it were smarter. It should requery machines too to select the fastest or if cores have changed (due to user) especially when machines come and go on the network. (I have around six machines I can use but only two at any time due to 32 cores, but it depends on which are in use. Currently not easy

Rich