Distributed processing setup guidelines – Apple Compressor (4.0) User Manual
Page 218
Chapter 8
Use Apple Qmaster to set up a distributed processing system
218
An Apple Qmaster cluster contains:
•
Service nodes: The computers that perform the processing of batches submitted via
Compressor or Apple Qmaster. A batch can include one or more jobs. The service nodes are
where the processing work is done. When you assign a group of service nodes to a cluster,
they function as one very powerful computer because all their resources are shared. If one
service node is overloaded or otherwise inaccessible, another service node is used.
•
A cluster controller: The software that divides up batches, determines which service nodes to
send work to, and tracks and directs the processes.
Cluster
(can contain multiple service nodes, but only one cluster controller)
Cluster controller manages the
distribution of client’s jobs across the cluster
Client computer from
which users send jobs to the cluster
Service node
processes jobs
Service node
processes jobs
Service node
processes jobs
Service node
processes jobs
Note: See the Distributed Rendering Guide on the Shake Support website
(
or an online guide to setting up a full-time “render farm”
incorporating an Xserve computer and cluster nodes.
Distributed processing setup guidelines
The following are the basic rules for setting up a distributed processing network:
•
A cluster must contain one (and only one) computer acting as the cluster controller and at
least one computer acting as the service node. (These two can be the same computer; see
Examples of distributed processing systems
on page 219.)
•
The client computers and the computers in any cluster that supports them must be on the
same network.
•
The network must support the Bonjour networking technology built in to OS X.
•
All the computers in a cluster need read-and-write access to any computers (or storage
devices) that will be specified as output destinations for files.
•
All of the computers in a cluster must use the same versions of Compressor, QuickTime, and OS X.