Satellite Rendering Question

[SiNi5TER]

I have access to 2 mac pro each with 8 cores, can xsi utilize all 16 cores?
I've did a test run but on the host machine raysat seams to be running at low priority...is there a way to change that?



Thanks for any help
cheers

[StephenBlair]

Satellite rendering licenses are per CPU.
An instance of XSI.exe or xsibatch.exe can use at most four CPUs for satellite rendering.
So if those 16 cores are on 4 or less CPUs, then you can use them all for satellite rendering.


By default, the raysat service runs with Normal priority, at least it does on my computer.
Task Manager would not let me change the priority. Maybe you can use Process Explorer (http://www.download.com/8301-2007_4-9868661-12.html).

[SiNi5TER]

Thanks for replying. I was thinking the other day and this is probably a stupid question....is it possible to link a Mac with Maya that is using the same mental ray version as in xsi to help with Satellite render?

Thanks again.

[StephenBlair]

Not exactly.
If you installed Windows on the MAC, and then installed XSI, then you could use the MAC as a satellite render node.

[mirkoj]

heya, one more q about satellite rendering, not a problem but..
Any1 actualy could get some practical measuring how much is worth of using it?
I have satellite on on quad cpu (q6600) and one dual opteron 250 system. So satellite is using additional 2 cpus (opteron 250 = 1core 2.4Ghz) from another comp. But to be honest.. I'm not really seeing too much of improovement. Saw something around 20sec on one scene in HD resolution, true that add up in rendering times, saving hours, but those other 2 CPUs are not nearly at 100% as these on main quad cpu. So just checking are you guys experiencing same thing or what are your experiences.
So far, there is some small help in satellite but for final rendering there is much more improovement to split frames and render half on one and half on another comp, based on my testing.
Thank you

[Milosh]

on xsi wiki is information about this
http://softimage.wiki.avid.com/index.php/INFO:_Understanding_Rendering_Licensing