Microsoft Knowledge Base

• Softimage 3D for IRIX, versions 3.0, 3.5, 3.51

SUMMARY

This procedure is provided to show you how to run multiple versions of mental ray in network rendering.

Network rendering with multiple versions of mental ray is possible with SOFTIMAGE 3D version 3.0 and up.

MORE INFORMATION

Complete the following procedure if you intend to use multiple versions of mental ray in network rendering.

1. Add entries similar to the following in the /etc/services file of each machine that will participate in the network render:

      mi-ray-30    5030/tcp    #softv3.0
      mi-ray-301   7031/tcp    #softv3.0SP1
      mi-ray-35    5035/tcp    #softv3.5
      mi-ray-351   7036/tcp    #softv3.5.1
   
   

2. Add entries similar to the following in the /usr/etc/inetd.conf file of each machine that will participate in the network render. Each entry should be on one line.

   mi-ray-30 stream tcp nowait nobody /usr/softimage3.0/path_to_mental_ray_exec /usr/softimage3.0/path_to_mental_ray_exec -server [-threads n]

   mi-ray-301 stream tcp nowait nobody /usr/softimage3.01/path_to_mental_ray_exec /usr/softimage3.01/path_to_mental_ray_exec -server [-threads n]

   mi-ray-35 stream tcp nowait nobody /usr/softimage3.5/path_to_mental_ray_exec /usr/softimage3.5/path_to_mental_ray_exec -server [-threads n]

   mi-ray-351 stream tcp nowait nobody /usr/softimage3.51/path_to_mental_ray_exec /usr/softimage3.51/path_to_mental_ray_exec -server [-threads n]

   These lines define how each rendering server responds to a request on the mi-ray-XXX service. Replace path_to_mental_ray_exec with the correct path to the mental ray executable (ray.irix5). This is usually a shell script that sets the LM_LICENSE_FILE variable, then executes ray.irix5. The most common name is ray.irix5.sh.

3. After modifying this file, enter the following command:

   /etc/killall -v -HUP inetd

4. Add the following entries in the shell scripts (ray.irix5.sh) that execute each version of ray.irix5 (Normally found in $SI_LOCATION/mental_ray/bin where $SI_LOCATION points to the appropriate version of softimage):

   MI_RAY_SERVICE=mi-ray-XXX export MI_RAY_SERVICE

   Replace XXX with the version number specified in the /etc/services file (step 1). This should appear before the exec line.

REFERENCES

If you have any questions concerning the information contained in this article, contact support@softimage.com by e-mail.