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Chapter 2 Preparing a Network for Distributed Processing 27
Sample Setup for Part-Time Processing
on Desktop Computers
This section takes you through the basic steps involved in a sample setup for “part-time”
distributed processing. You can use it to get an idea of the kind of distributed processing
environment you want to create, and as a guide in setting up that environment.
This setup is for an environment that uses desktop computers. It is called “part-time”
processing because each computer acts as someone’s workstation, but at the same
time is also part of the distributed processing cluster. The bulk of the processing jobs
can be submitted with Compressor or Apple Qmaster at the end of the day, so that the
computers are busy processing a large queue of distributed processing batches after
everyone has gone home. (See “Advanced Settings in the Apple Qmaster Preferences
Pane” on page 54 for information on scheduling service node availability.)
In this sample setup, as shown above, five computers act as both the clients (user
workstations from which users submit jobs for distributed processing) and cluster
computers (which do the processing). Each computer has an additional volume, such
as a FireWire drive, that is used for media before and after it is rendered, and for the
associated files.
Network
FireWire
drive
FireWire
drive
FireWire
drive
FireWire
drive
FireWire
drive
Each computer acts as:
•
A client that submits jobs for processing
•
A service node that performs the processing
All source and output files are stored on the FireWire drives.