BSA324, using Deadline slave system, 19 June, 2017

Deadline slave should automatically come up when you log on.  Don't exit, minimize the window.  All of the slaves in the building should be activated- we can only use 30 slave nodes at a time but they're roving and not attached to any particular computer.
When it comes on, DS talks to the repository.
Open deadline Monitor 8 should be opened if you want to render anything.

Can look at it by job and report view.
Rendering happens in the background as a user is working.  Otherwise, it'll use full computer capacity to render.
Super User mode can be used from any computer to restart the computers without having to go to the computer.

You can reboot computers, disable them if they're sending back bad renders,
Newer computers, like those in 242, are returning better renders.
DON'T use configure tool options.

This windows shows which computers are doing what in the repository.
There's a plugin in Maya to send files directly to deadline slave.

Things in maya to look out for when cleaning up files for DS.
set project windows as usual.
file must be set up correctly:
1. must have scene directory  (full file and all connections) on render farm
textures: check addresses in hypershade to make sure computer is looking at correct address: eg source images folder on Y drive in render farm folder.
2. maya options
project directory- points to where the project file is
Maya file is to actual scene to be rendered
output folder is to where the images go after rendering.  all 3 fields must be filled.
specify frames in scene to frame list.  frames per task:  how many frames will go to which computers "packet". 4 frames means small packets and if they fail to render, you have smaller bits to re-render
choose version of maya, rendering and 64 bits.
hit submit

can get out of somebody else's rendering by choosing deadline slave option- c?  something and choose close out when current task is finished.  restart computer to get back into DS system.
use mental ray rendering system

huge file names can be a problem for rendering
get rid of any unused nodes
scene optimisation before rendering.
bake textures in
turn off fire filtering