The most reliable way is to use UNC paths. For example, you have the Xref in the scene:-
C:\My Scenes\My Xref File.maxAnd the output file is:-
C:\My Renders\Rendered Frame0000.pngBut that is just the file's address localy on the computer, not on the whole network
The render slave looks on it's own C: drive, doesn't find the file or folder and returns an error.
With UNC paths it's written like this:-
\\My Workstation Computer Name\My Scenes\My Xref File.max\\My Workstation Computer Name\My Renders\Rendered Frame0000.pngThis gives the full address on the network: which computer, which shared folder and which filename.
Make sure the folders are shared and the user account on the render slave has permissions to read the source file folder and to write in the output folder.
A tip for browsing to a UNC path, instead of typing it is to browse through "My Network Places" to the location.
You can use this for all file types referenced by the scene, such as Point Cache, FG maps, or anything else. You can also use it for texure maps instead of using the Include Maps option.
If you still don't get UNC paths, some people like the analogy I use to explain it in
this thread.