Set up a Render Farm

Installation

1. Give your Render Machine a unique name.
2. Install your version of AE on the remote machine(s). Follow the on-screen instructions for installing After Effects, and select Render Engine when you are prompted for the type of setup you prefer.
   • Verify it was correctly installed.
3. Run the program normally as if you were to create a new project.
   • check if it's a trial or not activated copy
   • If it's a trial, the key was not properly entered.
   • If it's not activated, you're all good. (DO NOT ACTIVATE!!!)
4. Install all 3rd party plugins for your render farm.
   • Some plugin keys will not work with a render farm, so search on the companies website for information on how to obtain render farm keys.
   • you may need to contact the company to obtain render farm keys.
5. Install all Compression Codecs
6. Install all fonts
7. Create a RenderFarm shortcut of AE on the desktop so it can be run easily.

Setting up Your Farm Machine

1. Start the Render Farm's After Effects
2. File->Watch Folder
   • Navigate and select a network folder which both project machine and render machine can have access to.
   • You can use a local folder on either machine, but the folder must be mapped as a drive to both machines. (ex. Both machines must have the folder mapped as X: drive)
   • Make sure this path has no spaces or special characters _underscores_ and -dashes- are okay. This will prevent a lot of errors. I would use X:\RenderFarm\
   • Map your Project Drive ( ex. P: ) so that both your project machine and render farms can locate your assets using the same path.

Resources

• Also see Using a Render Farm