User Guide

Clusters

When a client sends batches to the Apple Qmaster system, all the processing and

subsequent moving of any output files is performed by a group of Apple Qmaster–

configured computers called a

cluster.

To set up Apple Qmaster services, you use the

Apple Qadministrator application to create one or more clusters of service nodes,

with one cluster controller included in each cluster. Each computer in the cluster is

connected to the other computers in the cluster through a network connection. See

Distributed Processing Setup

for more information on cluster setup. In particular, see

“Preparing a Network for Distributed Processing.”

Note:

See the Shake Support web site (http://www.apple.com/support/shake) for an

online guide to setting up a full-time render farm, incorporating an Xserve computer

and cluster nodes.

Service Nodes

When you combine multiple nodes into a cluster, they function as one very powerful

computer because all their resources are shared. You make a computer available as a

service node by configuring it in the Apple Qmaster pane in System Preferences. The

steps involved in using System Preferences to configure a service node are described in

“Creating and Administering Clusters” in the

Distributed Processing Setup

guide.

Cluster Controllers

The cluster controller software acts as the manager of a cluster. The cluster controller

directs the distribution of batches within the cluster. It has the ability to determine the

best use of the cluster resources based on work and availability variables. (See the

Distributed Processing Setup

guide for more details.) You make a computer available as a

cluster controller by turning on the cluster controlling service in the Apple Qmaster

pane in System Preferences. (See “Configuring Service Nodes and Cluster Controllers,”

in the

Distributed Processing Setup

manual.)