Chaos Corona Forum
Chaos Corona for 3ds Max => [Max] Feature Requests => [Max] Resolved Feature Requests => Topic started by: FrostKiwi on 2016-04-24, 13:05:09
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The DrServer as windows service thread by Frood was moved to resolved (https://forum.corona-renderer.com/index.php/topic,11556.msg74552.html), since --noGui was added. While this is great and hides the DrServer, it still starts a cmd instance to call 3dsmax and the 3dsMax render window.
This is not a complete noGui function.
Using Frood's nssm method (https://forum.corona-renderer.com/index.php/topic,7890.0.html) you can make it true Silent with no windows whatsoever.
As such, it would be great if this functionality could be implemented fully, if not it is actually not that important, since Frood's method works like a charm.
No issue really, just wanted it noted.
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Some more notes about this:
- Having no popups is only a side effect (for me) although it´s pretty handy when people here fooling around with photoshop do not even notice that their box is frequently captured for rendering :) But most of our DR servers are dedicated anyway.
- When running DrServer as service it gets quite fail save (power loss, reboots if by accident automatic windows updates are enabled, possibly other users working at a node/ws and so on) because it is automatically restarted when a reboot occurs and any logged in users have absolutely no influence. This is equally or even more important for the LicensingServer (which I also run as service for this reason).
- A windows service is easily remotely controllable. You can do this with standard windows GUI tools or by script. So a manual deploy even of dailies which come as installer is a matter of seconds to deploy for me: extract to a directory, run script, wait 1 minute, done. (screenshot: script updating render nodes). I would never update/test dailies such frequently if I hadn't this option.
Implementing drServer.exe and LicensingServer.exe as windows service should appear on the agenda in the long term imho.
Good Luck
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But most of our DR servers are dedicated anyway.
[offtopic]
Naming your Nodes "Knecht 01, Knecht 02" gave me a good laugh, that's some next gen serious form of dedicated PCs :D
I name nodes based on berries Strawberry - Cranberry - Blackberry.
[/offtopic]
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Many of them are caged inside tight and uncomfortable IKEA Helmer drawers which get hot at work. A real minions life! :)
Good Luck
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we have a way to run it as windows service, we will release it with 1.4 in form of a support article
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Official solution for running Distributed Render and Licensing servers as Windows services is here:
https://coronarenderer.freshdesk.com/support/solutions/articles/12000007896
All who need it, check it out!
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Glad to see this adopted (and officiall/supported) now. Do you have some agreement with Iain to "redistribute" nssm?
Good Luck
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the license is very permissive, there are no requirements in place. So we just acknowledge its use