2013

A mental ray distributed rendering can speed up all of the following tasks:
interactive rendering (through the Maya interface)
IPR rendering with mental ray for Maya
interactive batch rendering (a batch render started by Maya)
command-line rendering
The rendering process is typically initiated from the master machine (the
machine running Maya or where the command-line render starts from). The
slave machines (satellite rendering computers) process rendering tasks they
receive over the network from the master and send back results. The master
machine handles task distribution, load balancing, and the collection of
received rendering tasks which make up the rendered image.
For more information about mental ray satellite, including how to set up the
rayhosts file to get and receive data from Maya, see the Maya Help. In the
Maya Help, navigate to User Guide > Rendering and Render Setup >
mental ray Rendering > mental ray for Maya Rendering > Network
rendering using mental ray for Maya.
Setting up the rayhosts file is required for mental ray for Maya satellite
rendering to work.
Slave machine installation
The special version of mental ray standalone with satellite rendering
technology must be installed on all slave machines. The satellite-enabled
versions of mental ray for Windows, Mac OS X, and Linux are included with
this release of Maya on the Maya DVD.
(Windows) To install mental ray standalone with satellite licensing
1 On each slave machine, begin the installation process by inserting the
Maya DVD, opening the mental ray satellite folder and the
platform-specific Windows folder, and double-clicking the mental ray
standalone installer.
The installer appears.
2 Follow the installation steps.
During the installation, you can click Custom to change the installation
directory. The default installation directory is:
34 | Chapter 2 Appendix: Installing Autodesk Maya