Which Windows version is officially supported for a 3ds Max renderfarm (Backburner + V-Ray/Phoenix)?

[CampoVerde01]

Hi all,

We are setting up a small renderfarm for 3ds Max with Backburner, V‑Ray GPU and Phoenix FD, and we want to choose the correct operating system for our render node(s).

At the moment Autodesk lists only Windows 10 (1809+) and Windows 11 as supported operating systems for 3ds Max 2025/2026 (workstation use).
However, no information is provided about support for Windows Server editions like:

• Windows Server 2019
• Windows Server 2022
• Windows Server 2025 (latest LTSC)

My questions:

1. Is Windows Server officially supported for 3ds Max render nodes (Backburner Server / 3dsmaxcmd.exe)?
2. If not officially supported, is it still considered compatible or commonly used in production renderfarms?
3. Is Windows Server 2025 technically safe to use for Backburner + V‑Ray GPU + Phoenix rendering, even if not certified?
4. Does Autodesk have any limitations regarding:
   • GPU rendering on Server OS
   • Backburner Manager running on Server OS
   • 3dsmaxcmd behavior on Server OS
5. What OS does Autodesk recommend for a dedicated render node that must run 24/7?

Our setup in short:

• 3ds Max 2024/2025
• V‑Ray GPU
• Phoenix FD (render only)
• Backburner Manager + Backburner Server
• Hardware: HP Z8 Fury, 4× NVIDIA RTX A5000

We want to avoid OS choices that could cause instability, driver issues, or “unsupported environment” when asking Autodesk support.

Any official guidance or real‑world experience from others would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks in advance.

[A娘]

you can use any systems you list , i am working at a farm , we have farms with different windows 

[navya_gelli]

Hi @CampoVerde01,

I wanted to check in and see if the response from @A娘 helped or you still needed assistance, or if you found a solution to your question already? Let us know if you need further assistance by providing an update or if you have found a solution, please share it with the community so other members who may have the same question could learn from your experience.

All the best,

Navya | Community Manager