topic Re: Cloud rendering and Azure/AWS/Google in 3ds Max Forum

Cloud rendering and Azure/AWS/Google

Dantetron — Tue, 17 Nov 2020 18:55:04 GMT

Hello, all.

I'm checking in to see if anyone has discovered practical avenues to using today's cloud services to render animations.

I had a stint with Azure with ok results. I chose a PC, created a Windows 10 virtual machine with robust CPU and RAM and cut a project's render time by 80% compared to my studio machine. It also cost me $200.

For the amount of time I spent on the process and the cost I paid, I feel like I could be doing a lot better,

I had some issues with my VM and they were very helpful which lead to more ongoing conversations with Azure tech folks who showed a great interest "in our industry" and its needs.

I'm happy to expand on my experience with Azure but in the meantime, I'd like to see if anyone else has made better progress in this area. It still feels very underdeveloped.

Thanks!

Re: Cloud rendering and Azure/AWS/Google

darawork — Tue, 17 Nov 2020 21:33:01 GMT

Hi,

I have had good results with utilising Corona Renders DrServer process in an office environment. Even if the workstations that the process resides on are not solely visualisation PCs. That in conjunction with Pulze Render Manager negates the need to seek out of house computational power. A lot of companies would prefer not to export their projects outside of an office environ due to privacy issues, and opening up port addresses that can be piggy-backed for nefarious purposes. VMware is not accessible to set up due to office internal policies.

What render engine are you using?

Re: Cloud rendering and Azure/AWS/Google

Dantetron — Tue, 17 Nov 2020 22:31:06 GMT

You bring up a great point about the security situation. That was part of my conversation with the Azure folks and they felt with the right port settings I'd be fine. But we all know nothing is iron-clad.

I also should have originally addressed the render engine I'm using which has a profound effect on what services are available to a designer.

I'm committed 100% to Arnold. My logic was- hey, if Autodesk is going to buy a company and commit themselves to a powerful render engine like that, then they must be planning on the aggressive assertion of its standardization and support across multiple services. That's sort of happening but I'm disappointed at how long it took to get where it is today and I'm still finding deficiencies in too many places. Sometimes, as an Arnold user, I feel like I'm left out and missing the party. V-ray is so dominant and there also seems to be such a slant towards Maya, I've become insecure in my choice of tools.

Don't get me wrong, I can Max 3D max with Arnold sing. But it feels like I have to work a little harder to get the results I need compared to others.

Sorry, this went into an Arnold rant.

Yes- whatever solution is out there for taking advantage of cloud rendering, it needs to be Arnold compatible for me.

And may I add- Autodesk puts a button in its animation software toolbar for "cloud rendering" but it can't cloud render animation?? Am I still seeing that's the case?!

Thanks!