Digital Fusion

The overall process of setting up 'Fusion' with ButterflyNetRender is very straight forward:

Install:

(Windows):

• 1. Install Fusion locally on all the Windows Rendernode machines (in the same location on all machines)

• 2. Set the Install paths in the BNR Controller (see next step)

Configure:

Configure paths and settings in BNR Controller:

In the BNR Controller:

• 1. Turn on the 'Digital Fusion (consoleslave)' platform: (Options->Configure->Select Platforms)

(if the name is missing you need to add the rendertype cfg file below)

(download the updated 'File:Rendertype18 dfconsole.rfg' file and place into the 
BNR install folder - (you will need to rename to rendertype18.rfg or a different number that 
is not used)- Make sure the Controller is not running when you replace the file)- 

• 2. Set the location of the 'ConsoleSlave.exe' (the local path on each Rendernode) (Options->Configure Platforms - Digital Fusion)

• 3. Confirm you have the correct command line settings

check here for more info on the command switches for 'consoleslave'
http://www.vfxpedia.com/index.php?title=Eyeon:Manual/Network_Rendering/Console_Slave

Plugins: The renderslave will not use the fusion plugins directory. So you need to add the plugins to the renderslave directory.

Restart:

Restart the BNR Controller.

Add:

Now add Fusion scene file for rendering:

After you add the scene - you will need to:

• 1. Select the Frame range (Output Tab)
• 2. Select the priority settings for the render thread

Make sure you add the scene from the Shared Network folder (that all the rendernodes have access to - otherwise the rendernodes will not be able to load the scene)

Test:

The best way to test a to confirm the setup is working:

• 1. Make sure Fusion is installed on the controller (in the same location as the RenderNodes)
• 2. Add a Fusion scene into BNR
• 3. Select the 'Render' Tab
• 4. Press the 'Test Render Command" and then press 'Launch Locally'

This will run the same command the Rendernodes will get - but you will get to see more information directly. You will need to check the 'Task Manager' to see if the Nuke is running in the back ground

• Right click on the Scene and a select "Open Scene Trace Log folder" and you should find the output text "Render_*.txt" - Please open with notepad to view the text.

(note if you see *.csv files - these are BNR Controller state flows)