Instructions for Running Locally (Shared Drive Just Isn't Working)

 

I know all the docs say that multiple render machines should be pointing to a shared network drive, but that simply isn't working for us. We have 4 render machines trying to load and play a 42Gb Unreal project, and it just won't work. Yes, we can trick the setup into loading one machine at a time, but our virtual set is in 10 different parts, and switching between different sections can take minutes. And we've seen when we run the set on a single machine that everything loads way faster, and plays back properly.

I've read about instructions for running each render machine off a local copy of the project, but I can't find them anywhere online. Can anyone share the details?

Thanks

Paul
TSN

   paulkaliciak

 
Profile Image
TwentyStudios
  -  

Just store a local copy of the UE5 project folder under a common file path structure on each machine, for example “Documents/Aximmetry/Projects. Use the buit in Sync tool in Aximmetry to push updates to each machine or use the file sync/version control tool of your choice. 

 
Profile Image
paulkaliciak
  -  

That's what I did, although not with the Sync tool. Even when every machine was seeing the same local files in the same place, and each Render Config was set the same, I kept getting all sorts of Projects etc not found errors.

Well at least I know I was headed the right way, so thanks. I'll try just with one render machine and see where I'm going wrong.

 
Profile Image
paulkaliciak
  -  

I'm still missing something. I've got all the same files in the same directory structure on both the control machine and the remote renderer (see below). But when I Start the remote render, it immediately coughs up the error below in red. I'm running the .xcomp file on the control machine from the local drive, and there's a matching one of that on the remote renderer too. I just don't get it.

Instructions for Running Locally (Shared Drive Just Isn't Working)

 
Profile Image
Eifert@Aximmetry
  -  

Hi,

You can have a local copy of the Unreal project on every computer with the same path, ensuring that the .uproject file is located in identical folders and drives on all machines. Afterward, you can set the Unreal module's Import Source to that path. Although you will receive a warning about a sharing problem, you can safely disregard it:

You should keep the Aximmetry libraries meanwhile in shared folders and make sure all computers have the same networked path (shared folder) as the Project Root folder in the Preferences of Aximmetry.

However, it is highly recommended to make this work with network paths (shared folder), potentially by preloading your levels (sections) or by having a faster router for your local network between the computers. Having the project centralized in one location greatly helps in editing it, and enables you to make quick changes between shots.

Warmest regards,

 
Profile Image
paulkaliciak
  -  

Yes, that's what I'm doing, and it's not working. I'm used to seeing that Sharing Problem dialog popup (and dismissing it), but the error I'm getting is more fundamental. The remote machine won't even start. In the Engine Status popup, I'll see it say "Running" for a split second, and then that error I referenced above shows up, and the renderer dies on the remote machine.

We're still running Composer build 2023.1, but that shouldn't matter, should it? There must be something else in our config somewhere that's not right.

Paul

 
Profile Image
Eifert@Aximmetry
  -  

Hi Paul,

You can not dismiss this error:
Instructions for Running Locally (Shared Drive Just Isn't Working)

All your project root folders should be network paths, and they must be identical on every computer. Network paths, for example, can be shared folders or drives, and they typically start with "\\", like:
Instructions for Running Locally (Shared Drive Just Isn't Working)
By doing so, you should no longer encounter the error stating that Projects are not shared.

Note that when you set the import source of the Unreal module to a direct path — one that starts with the drive letter, rather than to one of Aximmetry's project folders — the Unreal project isn't required to be in a shared folder or be part of the Project root folders.
However, the Aximmetry libraries (namely Common and Common_Studio) must be located in shared folders and be part of the Project root folders.

Running on version 2023.1 should not affect this, as these requirements have remained the same since then.
Note, starting with Aximmetry 2024.1 you can install multiple versions of Aximmetry on a computer, so you can easily test your setup with the newest version of Aximmetry.

Warmest regards,