Installing Network Services

This topic describes how to install the network Manager and network Server as network services under Windows.

Start by doing the following:

1. Run the Application versions of the Manager and Server to properly configure the applications and make your rendering network operational.
2. Use your network in production so you are sure it is running reliably.

   Do not proceed unless these conditions are met.

Installing the network Manager and rendering Servers as Windows services allows background rendering and is convenient, but it also means that you have less information on the rendering server’s screen about problems when they occur. This is why your network needs to be running smoothly before taking this step. Running the Manager and Server as services does not change the information shown in the Queue Monitor.

In the procedures that follow, the Manager and Server services are installed and registered under Windows. This installation replaces the use of application mode (running the Manager and Server manually each time you want to use them). The services are started automatically every time you boot the computer, but can also be set for manual startup. The \Network subdirectory and initialization and LOG files from application mode remain in place, but the services operate under Windows instead of in a separate process.

You can run the Manager and Server as services directly from a Command Prompt window or the Run dialog using the -i switch (install as a service). Then go to Services and start the Manager and/or Server, or reboot.

To remove the Manager or Server once it has been installed as a service, you must run 3ds Max directly from a Command Prompt window or the Run dialog using the -r switch (remove service).

Procedures

To set up the Manager as a service:

1. Go to the machine on which you will install the Manager as a service.
2. Open a Command Prompt window and change the directory to the Backburner root directory: for example, \Program Files\Autodesk\Backburner\.
3. Type managersvc -i

   The following message should be displayed:

   Backburner Manager ... Service Installed

4. Go to Windows Control Panel Administrative Tools Services, right-click Backburner Manager, and choose Start.

   If you choose Properties from the right-click menu, you can also set users, passwords, and other parameters.

To set up the Server as a service:

1. Go to the machine on which you will install the Server as a service.
2. Open a Command Prompt window and change the directory to the Backburner root directory.
3. Type serversvc -i

   The following message should be displayed:

   Backburner Server ... Service Installed

4. Go to Windows Control Panel Administrative Tools Services, right-click Backburner Server, and choose Start.

   If you choose Properties from the right-click menu, you can also set users, passwords, and other parameters.

5. Repeat these steps on every machine on which you want to set up Server as a service.