Installing Network Services Under Windows NT

To install network services under Windows NT, you must already have done the following:

• Used Desktop mode to make your rendering network operational.
• Used your network in production so you are sure it is running reliably.

Do not proceed unless these conditions are met.

Reference

Installing the network manager and rendering servers as Windows NT services allows background rendering and is convenient, but it also means that you have less information about problems when they occur. This is why your network needs to be running smoothly before taking this step.

In the procedures that follow, the manager and server services are installed and registered under Windows NT. This installation replaces the use of Desktop mode (running the manager and server manually each time you wish 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 INI and LOG files from Desktop mode remain in place, but the services operate under Windows NT instead of in a separate process.

To run the Manager and Server as an NT service, you must initialize and start the programs directly from a Command Prompt window using a -i switch (install as a service).

To remove the Manager or Server once they have been installed as an NT service you must start the programs directly from a Command Prompt window using a -r switch (remove service).

How To

To set up the Manager as an NT service

1. Go to the machine on which you will install the Manager as an NT Service.
2. Open a Command Prompt window and change the directory to the 3DS MAX root directory (for example, c:\3dsmax).
3. Enter manager -i

The following message should be displayed:

Installing Windows NT Service...

Service Installed

Note: If this is the first time you have run the Manager you will be asked to configure it. Click OK to accept the default settings and run manager -i again to install the service

4. Reboot the machine so the services are correctly registered. The services are automatically started and ready to use whenever you start up the computer.

Server Service Setup

1. Go to the machine on which you will install the Server as an NT Service.
2. Open a Command Prompt window and change the directory to the 3DS MAX root directory.
3. Enter: server -i

The following message should be displayed:

Installing Windows NT Service...

Service Installed

Note: If this is the first time you have run the Server you will be asked to configure it. Click OK to accept the default settings and run server -i again to install the service

4. Reboot the machine so the services are correctly registered. The services are automatically started and ready to use whenever you start up the computer.
5. Repeat these steps on every machine on which you want to setup Server as an NT Service.

Next Step:

Creating a Special User Account