Distributed Computing?

danielsangeo · 10-21-2013

Hey, folks! I have a radical idea but I don't know if it's possible or not so I wanted to get y'all's input on this.

I have two computers (a desktop and a laptop). The laptop I don't use too often except at night when I should be going to sleep, so I was wondering if it was possible to distributing processing power to my laptop to ease some of the burden my poor desktop computer takes with all I demand from it.

Is something like this at all possible, like through a network cable or something?

Thanks!

Drachen · 10-21-2013

The software would have to be written to be distributed. No idea what software you are using, but here's the Blender page on distributed rendering. Allocating to each machine frames manually seems like a reasonable way to do it.

danielsangeo · 10-21-2013

I can do this with Poser (the program I'm using) but I was hoping for a way to divvy out the processing power itself, regardless of what it is, to the laptop. Probably not possible with current tech, but I'm hoping that there's something I could use.

Drachen · 10-21-2013

Quote:

Originally Posted by danielsangeo

I can do this with Poser (the program I'm using) but I was hoping for a way to divvy out the processing power itself, regardless of what it is, to the laptop. Probably not possible with current tech, but I'm hoping that there's something I could use.

If you have Poser Pro, you can investigate the Render Queue Manager. I don't know how smart it would be splitting up the job, but it would send the job to the laptop from the desktop.

I don't think what you really want exists. Distributed systems involve a lot of complex code and synchronization and you can't just "install clustering software" and expect it to properly divvy up resources properly for every random program. Windows (server only) supports clustering, but only software that's written to take advantage of that feature can use it properly.

vincent_richter · 10-21-2013

Couldn't he make a variation of a Beowulf cluster from that hardware?

Daichi Azure · 10-21-2013

you're going to have to make a cluster system to share resources from multiple PC/Laptops

danielsangeo · 10-21-2013

On my laptop is Windows Vista Home Premium (32-bit) and on my desktop is Windows 7 Home Premium (64-bit).

I'm assuming that there are no "free" programs that I could put on my systems to automatically do this, right? Set one machine up as host (desktop?) and one machine as client (laptop to receive the data to crunch?) and automagically get everything started without much in the way of configuration from me (I'm a near luddite outside my comfort zone).

danielsangeo · 10-21-2013

Yeah, that's what I was afraid of. I do have Poser Pro and Queue Manager and I do use it, but the problem is is that it sends individual frames to each frame fully on one computer (two computers means two frames are rendering simultaneously). That means that my desktop computer STILL is being fully used to render; I was hoping to shunt some of that processing power to the laptop to free up some processing power on the desktop so I can use it while I'm rendering.

10-21-2013	#1
danielsangeo Process Moderator Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 2,908	Distributed Computing? Hey, folks! I have a radical idea but I don't know if it's possible or not so I wanted to get y'all's input on this. I have two computers (a desktop and a laptop). The laptop I don't use too often except at night when I should be going to sleep, so I was wondering if it was possible to distributing processing power to my laptop to ease some of the burden my poor desktop computer takes with all I demand from it. Is something like this at all possible, like through a network cable or something? Thanks! __________________ Tell me, where in the world is Daniel Sandiego?

10-21-2013	#2
Drachen Pinocchio Pornographer Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: In the shadow of the Empire State Building Posts: 2,137	Re: Distributed Computing? The software would have to be written to be distributed. No idea what software you are using, but here's the Blender page on distributed rendering. Allocating to each machine frames manually seems like a reasonable way to do it. __________________ Ceterum censeo Carthaginem esse delendam.

10-21-2013	#3
danielsangeo Process Moderator Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 2,908	Re: Distributed Computing? I can do this with Poser (the program I'm using) but I was hoping for a way to divvy out the processing power itself, regardless of what it is, to the laptop. Probably not possible with current tech, but I'm hoping that there's something I could use. __________________ Tell me, where in the world is Daniel Sandiego?

10-21-2013	#5
vincent_richter ミンナニナイショダヨ Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: St. Canard Posts: 6,091	Re: Distributed Computing? Couldn't he make a variation of a Beowulf cluster from that hardware? __________________ If you're not outraged, you're not paying attention.

10-21-2013	#7
danielsangeo Process Moderator Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 2,908	Re: Distributed Computing? On my laptop is Windows Vista Home Premium (32-bit) and on my desktop is Windows 7 Home Premium (64-bit). I'm assuming that there are no "free" programs that I could put on my systems to automatically do this, right? Set one machine up as host (desktop?) and one machine as client (laptop to receive the data to crunch?) and automagically get everything started without much in the way of configuration from me (I'm a near luddite outside my comfort zone). __________________ Tell me, where in the world is Daniel Sandiego?

10-21-2013	#8
danielsangeo Process Moderator Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 2,908	Re: Distributed Computing? Yeah, that's what I was afraid of. I do have Poser Pro and Queue Manager and I do use it, but the problem is is that it sends individual frames to each frame fully on one computer (two computers means two frames are rendering simultaneously). That means that my desktop computer STILL is being fully used to render; I was hoping to shunt some of that processing power to the laptop to free up some processing power on the desktop so I can use it while I'm rendering. __________________ Tell me, where in the world is Daniel Sandiego?