Team Render Troubleshooting

No Computers appear on Team Render list.

Problem: Computers are not displayed in the Team Render list despite Bonjour being installed.

Solution:

1. Make sure both computers (server and render client) are physically connected with each other or connected to the network (LAN).
   
2. Make sure the Announce Service Via Bonjour option and/or Announce Service To Local Network is enabled in the Preferences menu.
   
3. For Windows: Resetting the system Firewall or an incorrectly configured connection rule for a third-party firewall can prevent Bonjour and/or Cinema 4D from accessing the network. With regard to the system firewall, re-installing Bonjour (e.g., by re-installing iTunes) should resolve the problem. Experienced users can manually correct the firewall’s connection rules.
   

General information regarding firewalls

Current-generation operating systems are all equipped with a firewall software (also referred to as "personal" or "desktop" firewall) by default. This software monitors network traffic and blocks unknown network queries. The firewall must therefore be informed that a newly installed software is "permitted" to access the network and vice-versa.

Firewall types:

• Default Windows and macOS X firewalls, which are installed automatically with the respective operating system.
• Firewalls from third-party providers such as AntiVir, Kaspersky, Zomealarm, Agnitum, etc.

Local computer cannot be accessed

Problem: It can occur that a server cannot access its own render client named "local machine". This can be caused by a firewall blocking access to its own computer (but can in turn allow external computers access). Cinema 4D cannot access "localhost" or the IP 127.0.0.1.

Solution: Check your firewall settings.

Client computer(s) cannot be accessed

Problem: The server does not display computers in the Team Render Machines list although they are in the same network.

Solution 1: Manually defined (via the Add Machine... command) IP addresses or host names are invalid. Make sure that these are correct.

Solution 2: The render client’s firewall is blocking the connection. Check the firewall settings.

Problem: The render client is grayed out (wrong build ID).

Solution: The render client has a different software version as the server (e.g., R15.024 instead of R15 R15.037). Update your render client’s software version.

Problem: The render client doesn’t respond ("no answer").

Solution: The render client’s firewall is blocking outgoing connections or its own firewall’s incoming connections. Check the firewall settings.

Problem: Security Token incorrect/modified.

Solution: The render client’s Security Token (Preferences / Renderer / Team Render) may have been changed. Check and re-verify the Security Token.

A render client is not rendering

Problem: Even though render clients (green) are defined for Team Render, they are not participating in rendering.

Solution 1: Check if the render clients are using the same software version as the server. In addition, all plugins must also be installed on all respective computers.

Solution 2: In rare instances, synchronization problems can lead to faulty information being displayed. The render client will nevertheless render.

Miscellaneous

• If you set up your own firewall, make sure that the UDP port 5353 that is used by Bonjour is free (this is done automatically by the Windows firewall when Bonjour Print Services is installed)
• If you use the SSDP Service (see Announce Service To Local Network), make sure that the UDP port 1900 is free.
• As was the case with NET Render, the following also applies to Team Render: Any plugins used must be installed on all computers used for rendering. When using inhomogeneous networks (PCs/Macs simultaneously), animations prone to render errors (e.g., dynamics simulations) should be baked.
• In rare instances it can occur that a firewall warns of a "flood attack" as a result of the high number of Buckets (the small squares visible during rendering) that are trafficked across the network. If this happens, configure your firewall accordingly.
• If computers on which render clients are running are assigned dynamic IP addresses, these may change and the computers will subsequently be appear in the Team Render Machines list with the comment "Unknown Error". Double-click on the computer and enter the correct IP address in the prompt that appears.
• If the name of the server’s installation path is changed (after the server has already been started), verified render clients will no longer be valid. A revalidation can also fail. In this case, delete the directory and reinstall/reconnect the render clients.