How to set up Octane Network Rendering

OctaneRender is an unbiased rendering application. Pause. That first sentence, in my brain, does not compute. But chances are, if you’ve found your way to this page, most likely you have a pretty thorough understanding of what an unbiased rendering application means.

However, for those of you more like me - I’ve asked Eric Anderle to explain it in simpler terms. You’re welcome.

Basically, Octane renders lighting similar to the real world. Any light or emissive object throws rays of light around your scene, and octane continues to calculate how those rays bounce, reduce, and illuminate all the objects in your 3D scene (path tracing). It is very accurate, relatively fast, and allows 3D artists to view results of their scenes in almost real-time.

Eric is a Render Wizard. Actually, his official title is FX Jedi and/or 3D Generalist here at Pixel Planet Studios, but I feel like a Render Wizard could also be a thing - yea or nah?

Anyway, in the above Pixel Byte (Pixel Planet's super cool new YouTube series), Eric really nicely (like even I understand it) breaks down how to get started with Octane Network rendering. I recommend watching it.

Annnnd, if you recall, I did promise dinosaurs, and Eric delivers.

However, if you don’t believe me or just can’t spare the time, here you go.

TL;DW:

Benefits of Octane rendering

1. Speed

2. Improve Pipeline

What you need to get started (Windows/PC based tutorial)

• 2 or more Network GPUs (CUDA cards)

• Octane License

*Note: Use NVIDIA Studio Drivers

How to Install

1. Download Octane Render Node from Otoy

2. Find & Install Daemon on your network computers (or render nodes)

3. Choose consistent a port number

4. Choose which GPUs you want to be part of the network

5. Enable or disable Out-of-Core Textures

6. Run Daemon on your network computer(s)

Octane stand alone

1. On your primary workstation, launch octane standalone using the same version of the plugin as the network computer(s)

2. Open the scene you want to render

3. File > Preferences

4. Select Network Rendering

5. Click Enable

6. Confirm the Port Number is the same as Render Nodes

7. Enable All

8. Close and hit render

Cinema 4D - Live Viewer Method

1. On your primary workstation, launch C4D using the same version of the plugin as the network computer(s)

2. Octane > Live Viewer Window

3. Options > Network Rendering > Settings

4. Enable Network Rendering

5. Confirm the Port Number is the same as the Render Nodes

6. Enable All

7. Close

Cinema 4D - Picture Viewer Method

1. Render Settings > Octane Renderer

2. Enable Network Rendering

3. Confirm the Port Number is the same as the Render Nodes

4. Enable

5. Close

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Cheers, ya'll.