Quick and Easy Distributed Processing
The steps below describe the simplest and quickest way to start using distributed processing. Step 1: Install the software Install the appropriate software on the computers you want to include in your distributed processing network. Each computer in the network will require Apple Qmaster and/or Compressor software. To install the software: 1 Make sure the client software is on at least one computer in your network. In order to submit jobs and batches to the distributed processing system, you will need to run client (submission) software (either Compressor or Apple Qmaster). If you are reading this, you have probably already installed one or both of these. For further information, see the installation booklet that came with either of these applications. 2 Install Apple Qmaster software on each computer you want to use for distributed processing. (All computers must be on the same subnet.) By default, the Final Cut Studio installer will install Apple Qmaster software necessary for distributed processing.
However, in most standard distributed processing networks, you will need to install Apple Qmaster software on every computer in the network. You can use the standalone Apple Qmaster Node Installer to install the Apple Qmaster software on additional computers on your network. a Locate the folder containing the Apple Qmaster software: If you are using Compressor, insert the Final Cut Studio installation disc and locate the Apple Qmaster Node Installer package (AppleQmasterNode.mpkg). If you are using Shake, insert the Shake 4 installation disc and locate the Apple Qmaster Node Installer package (AppleQmasterNode.mpkg). b Do one of the following: Double-click the AppleQmasterNode.mpkg installer package, and follow the onscreen instructions. By default, this installer will install all the necessary Apple Qmaster software. Install Apple Qmaster software from the command line. See Installing Apple Qmaster from the Command Line on page 67 for more information.
About the Compressor Service Sharing Pane
Both the Final Cut Studio installer and the Apple Qmaster Node Installer include the Compressor Service Sharing pane, in which you can quickly set up the computer as an unmanaged service node. Selecting the Yes option in this pane is the first of two steps in setting up AutoClusters in Compressor. An AutoCluster is a temporary QuickCluster which you create automatically when you submit a batch. For more information about AutoClusters, see Using Compressor AutoClusters on page 23. Note: You can change any of these settings at a later time in the Apple Qmaster pane in System Preferences. If you are unsure which role each computer will play in your network, just install the Apple Qmaster software on each computer in your network. You can sort out the details later. See Basic Components of the Apple Qmaster Distributed Processing System on page 6 for additional information on what roles individual computers can play in the distributed processing system.

Chapter 1 Getting Started Quickly
Additional Installation Tips m In order to use the Apple Qmaster distributed processing system to process Dolby Digital Professional audio, each node (computer) in your distributed processing network must have Final Cut Studio installed. m Shake users can create distributed processing clusters containing computers that do not have any Apple Qmaster software installed. See the Apple Qmaster User Manual for more information. m If you are using the Apple Qmaster distributed processing system with Compressor or Shake, all nodes (computers) in a cluster must have the same version of QuickTime installed. To download the most recent version of QuickTime, go to: http://www.apple.com/quicktime/download/mac.html Step 2: Configure a QuickCluster Use the Apple Qmaster pane in System Preferences to configure the cluster controller and service node computers. 1 Open System Preferences. 2 Click the Apple Qmaster button, located in the Other section. The Apple Qmaster pane appears.
3 If the pane is locked, unlock it by clicking the padlock in the lower-left corner to enter the administrator name and password. 4 Click Start Sharing. This creates a QuickCluster with this computer as its controller, and an instance of processing services for each processor on the computer. Step 3: Add service nodes to the cluster On each computer that you would like to make a service node on your cluster, do the following: 1 Open System Preferences. 2 Click the Apple Qmaster button, located in the Other section. The Apple Qmaster pane appears. 3 If the pane is locked, unlock it by clicking the padlock in the lower-left corner to enter the administrator name and password. 4 Click the Services Only radio button.
5 Click Start Sharing. This creates a service node that will automatically process jobs submitted to the QuickCluster you set up in Configure a QuickCluster on page 17. Step 4: Create a batch In the Compressor Batch window, or in the Apple Qmaster window, create a batch with one or more jobs. See the Compressor User Manual or the Apple Qmaster User Manual for details.
Step 5: Submit the batch 1 Depending on whether you are using Compressor or Apple Qmaster, do one of the following: a In the Compressor Batch window, click Submit, and in the resulting dialog, do one of the following: Use the Cluster pop-up menu to choose the cluster you created in Step 2.
Leave the Cluster menu set to the default This Computer setting, and click the Include unmanaged services on other computers checkbox. For more information on this option, see Using Compressor AutoClusters on page 23. b In the Apple Qmaster window, click the Submit To pop-up menu and choose the cluster you created in Step 2.
2 Click Submit. The distributed processing system processes the batch.
For more advanced information on creating and controlling clusters and services see any of the following: Basic Components of the Apple Qmaster Distributed Processing System on page 6 Sample Setup for Part-Time Processing on Desktop Computers on page 27 The Interfaces in the Apple Qmaster Distributed ProcessingSystem on page 31 Apple Qmaster Pane in System Preferences on page 33 Apple Qadministrator on page 35 An Overview of Configuring a Cluster on page 42 Configuring Service Nodes and Cluster Controllers on page 42 Creating Clusters with Apple Qadministrator on page 50 About QuickClusters on page 53 Modifying and Deleting Clusters With Apple Qadministrator on page 58

Preparing a Network for Distributed Processing
A distributed processing network can consist of as few as one or two computers, while a high-volume network may include many computers, an Xserve and Xserve cluster nodes in a rack, and high-speed networking infrastructures.
You can scale up a distributed processing system as your workload demands by adding features and devices to the network that supports it. This chapter helps you prepare your network by describing the following: The Minimum You Need to Know (p. 21) Using Compressor AutoClusters (p. 23) Sample Setup for Part-Time Processing on Desktop Computers (p. 27)
The Minimum You Need to Know
The following are the basic rules for setting up a distributed processing network: A cluster must contain one (and only one) computer acting as the cluster controller, and at least one computer acting as the service node. (These two can be the same computer, as shown next in Example of a Minimal Distributed Processing Network.) The client computers and the computers in any cluster that supports them must be on the same network. The network must support the Apple networking technology built in to Mac OS X. All the computers in a cluster need Read and Write access to any computers (or storage devices) that will be specified as output destinations for files.
Example of a Minimal Distributed Processing Network
A very small distributed processing setup could include as few as two computers: One computer connected to the client and configured to act as both the service node and the cluster controller One client computer
Minimum setup for distributed processing

Client

Service node with cluster controller enabled
Though simple, this setup is useful in a small-scale environment because it allows the client computer to off-load a lot of processing work. See Example of an Expanded Distributed Processing Network on page 26 for an illustration of a more powerful setup.
Using One Computer to Serve Two Distributed Processing Roles
To maximize your resources, you may want to consider using some computers for more than one distributed processing function. Service node and cluster controller: In a small setup, one of the service nodes in a cluster can also act as the cluster controller so that it performs both functions. However, in a cluster of many service nodes, the processing load required for the cluster controller could be so high that it would not be efficient to use one computer as both a service node and a cluster controller. Client computer and cluster controller or service node: You could also set up a client computer to act as a cluster controller or service node in a cluster, but again, keep in mind that the more available processing power a computer has, the faster it can manage or process jobs.

To process the batch using AutoCluster 1 Leave the Cluster pop-up menu set to the default selection (This Computer). 2 Select the Include unmanaged services on other computers checkbox. Compressor and Apple Qmaster will coordinate the distribution of the processing tasks between the available computers and deposit the resulting output files at the location(s) you designated in Compressor.
Other Possible Components of a Distributed Processing Network
There are many ways to expand the capacity of a distributed processing network. You could include any of the following: High-speed switch and cables: A 100BaseT or Gigabit Ethernet switch and compatible cables to allow your data to move over the LAN at maximum speed. Multiple clients: Multiple client computers can use the services of the same cluster. And, you can have multiple client applications on the same client computer, using the same cluster. Multiple clusters: Depending on how extensive your network is and how many clients it needs to serve, you may want to divide up available computers and create more than one cluster to serve various clients. (Users select the cluster they want to send a batch to when they submit the batch.) Multiple service nodes: In general, more service nodes means more processing power. In deciding how many service nodes to have in a cluster, consider the ratio of data movement time to computing time. If the processing demand is greater than the network demand required to move job segments throughout the cluster, as is the case with rendering, more service nodes are a good idea. If the computing load, per job, is closer to the network load, having a smaller number of service nodes per cluster may be more efficient. If you are using the Apple Qmaster distributed processing system with applications other than Shake or Compressor, consult the applications user manual on how to optimize the number of service nodes. Storage device: A storage device, such as a remote disk or group of disk arrays, can be used as cluster scratch storage, which is a place for short-term storage of temporary data generated by the cluster controller, clients, and service nodes. (You set the scratch storage location in the Apple Qmaster pane in System Preferences. See Cluster Storage: Setting a Scratch Storage Location on page 62.) Alternatively, a storage device can be used as a final destination for the files after they are processed. Many of these items are incorporated in the example that follows.

Configuring Access for Part-Time Distributed Processing
Step 1: Install Compressor 3 and/or Apple Qmaster The necessary components of Compressor 3 or Apple Qmaster need to be installed on each computer. See Install the software on page 15 for more information. Important: The Compressor distributed processing feature for Dolby Digital Professional (AC-3) and Final Cut Pro is limited to computers that have Final Cut Studio installed. Step 2: Make sure each computer has a volume dedicated to media Make sure each computer has the necessary available storage, preferably a dedicated media volume. For example, give each computer a second volume, such as a FireWire drive, that is used for media. Each computer can use this volume for all source and destination files associated with distributed processing. If you are a Compressor user, you can skip to one of the following chapters to complete the setup of your part time distributed processing system: Chapter 1, Getting Started Quickly, on page 15 Chapter 4, Creating and Administering Clusters, on page 41 If you are a Shake user and you cannot consolidate all of the necessary source files (Shake scripts, media files, etc.) on a single-cluster storage volume, skip to Additional Steps For Part-Time Distributed Processing With Shake on page 29 before going on to Step 3. Step 3: Create a cluster First, use the Apple Qmaster pane in System Preferences to enable cluster controlling on one of the computers and enable the processing services on all the computers (making them service nodes). Then, you can assemble these computers as a cluster. Apple Qadministrator may not be necessary. See Chapter 4, Creating and Administering Clusters, on page 41, for detailed instructions.
Additional Steps For Part-Time Distributed Processing With Shake
The following additional steps may be necessary for Shake users who cannot consolidate all of the necessary source files (Shake scripts, media files, etc.) on a single cluster storage volume. Step 1: Turn off the UNC (Universal Naming Convention) setting for Shake To make sharing and volume mounting work smoothly in this setup, you need to turn off the Shake UNC setting on each computer. The UNC setting uses the entire file pathname, with the network address, in a convention that starts with //ComputerName/DriveName/path. You dont want Shake to use this filenaming convention because it conflicts with the file sharing and volume mounting used in this setup. Note: All the media volumes created in Step 2 of Configuring Access for Part-Time Distributed Processing, above, should have the same name. The Shake startup.h file In the three steps below, you make this change in a Shake startup.h file. As described in the Shake documentation, the startup.h files, located in the startup directory, are used to customize Shake settings (similar to setting preferences). To turn off the UNC setting, do the following on each of the computers: 1 Log in as the user who will use Shake on the computer. 2 Double-click the Terminal icon in /Applications/Utilities to open a Terminal window. 3 Enter these two command lines in the Terminal window, pressing Return after each command line:

To open the Apple Qmaster pane in System Preferences: 1 Open System Preferences. 2 Click the Apple Qmaster button, located in the Other section. The Apple Qmaster pane appears.

Apple Qadministrator

Use the Apple Qadministrator application to create and modify Apple Qmaster clusters. Apple Qadministrator can be used on any computer that is on the same network as the cluster you want to administer. With the administrative password (if one was created), you can also use Apple Qadministrator to see and modify existing clusters on the network.
Use Apple Qadministrator to assemble clusters:
Drag available service nodes to assign them to a cluster.
For details about using Apple Qadministrator, see: Creating Clusters with Apple Qadministrator on page 50 Modifying and Deleting Clusters With Apple Qadministrator on page 58 Monitoring Cluster Activity on page 59 Setting Cluster Preferences on page 60 Setting Cluster Administrator and User Passwords on page 61
To open Apple Qadministrator: m Double-click the Apple Qadministrator icon in the Applications folder. The Apple Qadministrator window appears. If a password was created for the currently selected cluster, you will not be able to see or modify the cluster until you click the Lock button and then enter the password in the dialog that appears.
Client Interfaces: Compressor and Apple Qmaster
Client computer users use either Compressor, or the interface called Apple Qmaster, to submit batches for processing.
Use Compressor to submit a batch to a cluster:

Cluster A

Use Apple Qmaster to submit a batch to a cluster:

Cluster B

Using Compressor
Use the Cluster pop-up menu in the Compressor Batch window to choose a cluster for any given batch. For more information on submitting batches with Compressor, see the Compressor User Manual. To open Compressor: m Double-click the Compressor icon in the Applications folder. The Compressor default window layout appears.

Using Apple Qmaster

For Shake processing batches, you can drag Shake files into the Apple Qmaster window. A default script for submitting the jobs is automatically created. In Apple Qmaster, you can then specify certain details, such as which cluster to use, and make adjustments to certain settings. For Maya batches, there is also a special interface within Apple Qmaster for submitting and customizing Maya jobs. You can use the Generic Render command in Apple Qmaster for the distributed processing of projects from other frame-based rendering applications (such as After Effects and LightWave). For complete information about the Apple Qmaster application, see the Apple Qmaster User Manual.

An Overview of Configuring a Cluster
Assuming Apple Qmaster software is installed on all the computers that you plan to use as part of the cluster, there are three basic steps involved in configuring a cluster. Note: If you are an Apple Qmaster user and you want to create a cluster that includes computers that do not have Apple Qmaster installed, see the Apple Qmaster User Manual for instructions. Step 1: Configure service nodes Configuring a service node to perform distributed processing is a matter of turning on processing services in the Apple Qmaster pane in System Preferences. Optionally, you can also set passwords at this time. See Configuring Service Nodes and Cluster Controllers, below, for details. Step 2: Configure a cluster controller To configure a computer to control the cluster, turn on the cluster control services in the Apple Qmaster pane in System Preferences. See Turning Cluster Controller Services On or Off on page 48 for more information. Step 3: Create a cluster Important: You can create a simple QuickCluster in the Apple Qmaster pane in System Preferences, or you can create a managed cluster from the service nodes and cluster controller using Apple Qadministrator. After a cluster is created, client applications on the same network can start sending batches to the cluster. You can use Apple Qadministrator from any computer (with Apple Qadministrator installed) that is on the same network as an Apple Qmaster cluster. See any of the following for more details: Getting Started Quickly on page 15 Creating QuickClusters on page 53 Creating Clusters with Apple Qadministrator on page 50
Configuring Service Nodes and Cluster Controllers
Once service processing or cluster controlling is enabled on a computer, the computer is advertised on the network as available to be used in a cluster. There can only be one cluster controller in a cluster. However, a computer can be designated as both a cluster controller and a service node (see Using One Computer to Serve Two Distributed Processing Roles on page 22).
Chapter 4 Creating and Administering Clusters
Configuring Service Node Processing
Use the Apple Qmaster pane in System Preferences or Apple Qadministrator to set processing services on a computer. To turn on processing services: 1 Open the Apple Qmaster pane in System Preferences. 2 Optionally, you can configure a number of settings before you turn on the processing services. (See Options in the Apple Qmaster Pane in System Preferences on page 45.) Note: Its easiest to do this now because you cant make these settings when processing services are enabled. To make these settings after services have been enabled, you need to turn off the services, make the settings, and then turn the services on again. 3 In the Share this computer as section, select one of the following buttons: QuickCluster with services Services and cluster controller Services only 4 In the Services section, do one of the following: In the Share column, select the checkbox for Compressor Processing (for Compressor services). In the Share column, select the checkbox for Rendering (for Apple Qmaster services). 5 Click Start Sharing. The processing service is enabled, making this computer a service node that can process batches.

Modifying and Deleting Clusters With Apple Qadministrator
Using Apple Qadministrator, you can change and delete clusters. Once a cluster is configured, you can use Apple Qadministrator to deactivate and reactivate the processing services on a computer in the cluster, to add a service node to the cluster, or to remove a service node from the cluster. Note: Unless Apple Qadministrator and the QuickCluster are on the same computer, QuickClusters are not visible in Apple Qadministrator. Only managed clusters can be modified and deleted in Apple Qadministrator. Managed clusters are clusters that were created in Apple Qadministrator. QuickClusters must be modified in the Apple Qmaster pane in System Preferences. Note: If you want to change the cluster controller in a cluster, you need to delete the cluster and then re-create it with a new cluster controller. To modify a cluster: 1 Open Apple Qadministrator. 2 In the Cluster list (on the left side of the window), select the cluster you want to change. If the clusters Service Nodes list isnt already showing individual services, click the disclosure triangle in the Name column to reveal them. Make any of the following changes: To temporarily turn off the processing services on a computer in the cluster, deselect the Active checkbox for that service node. To remove a service node from the cluster, select the computer and drag it back to the Qmaster Service Browser at the bottom of the Apple Qadministrator window.
To remove nodes from a cluster, drag them to the Qmaster Service Browser.
To add a service node to the cluster, drag it from the service browser list at the bottom of the window to the service nodes list.
3 Click Apply Now. Note: To turn off the service node or cluster controlling services on any computer within a cluster, see Configuring Service Node Processing on page 43 and Turning Cluster Controller Services On or Off on page 48. To change a clusters name in Apple Qadministrator: 1 In the Cluster list, double-click the cluster name. 2 Type a new name, then press Return. 3 Click Apply Changes. To delete a cluster in Apple Qadministrator: 1 In the Cluster list, select the cluster you want to delete. 2 Click the Remove ( ) button.
Monitoring Cluster Activity
You can use Apple Qadministrator to find out what is happening within a cluster by examining details (such as CPU usage, which batch is being processed, disk space usage, and data activity) about each node in the cluster. To monitor cluster activity in Apple Qadministrator: 1 In the Cluster list, select the cluster you want to examine. 2 Select a node in the cluster service nodes list. 3 Click the Info ( I ) button near the bottom of the Cluster list. 4 In the resulting window, click the CPU, Memory, Volume Info, or I/O Activity tabs to see a variety of details about the selected node.

Accessing Activity Logs

Apple Qadministrator provides log information for a selected service or cluster. This information is useful for troubleshooting distributed processing issues, and it can be saved to a file and processed with XML tools and UNIX scripts. To view or copy log information in Apple Qadministrator: 1 In Apple Qadministrator, select the service or cluster whose log you wish to view. 2 Click the Log button near the bottom of the Cluster list. A new window appears displaying the log information for the selected service or cluster. The log file is deleted when you close the window.
Setting Cluster Preferences
You can use Apple Qadministrator Preferences to configure several aspects of Apple Qadministrator. To set cluster preferences: 1 Open Apple Qadministrator. 2 In the Cluster list, select the cluster for which you want to set preferences. 3 Click Preferences.
Click Preferences to display the Preferences pane.
4 Set any of the following preferences: Queue Maximum number of jobs in the queue: Enter the maximum number of batches that can be queued up at one time for this cluster. If the maximum number is reached, the cluster does not accept new batches until there is an opening in the queue. Keep job history for: Set how long batches are listed in the History table of the Batch Monitor. Email notification for service down after: Set how much time should pass, after a service becomes inaccessible, before the cluster controller sends an alert message to the administrator. (See Email Notification, below.) Status Interval: Set how often status information about this cluster should be generated and sent to the Batch Monitor. Email Notification To have the cluster controller send service failure alerts to an administrator, enter the relevant information in the fields provided. See Recovery and Failure Notification Features on page 65 for more information. Admin Email: Enter the administrators email address. Send with mail server: Enter the administrators mail server. Domain: Enter the cluster controllers domain. Note: The Apple Qmaster distributed processing system does not currently support SMTP servers that require authentication.
Setting Passwords and Scratch Storage
You can create several different types of passwords for the Apple Qmaster distributed processing system. All these passwords are optional; you can use the system without creating them. Cluster administrator password: A password required for modifying a cluster in Apple Qadministrator, and for modifying the status of the clusters batches in the Batch Monitor. See Setting Cluster Administrator and User Passwords, next. Cluster user password: A password that client users will need in order to submit batches to a cluster and to modify the status of those batches in the Batch Monitor. See Setting Cluster Administrator and User Passwords, next. Service password: A password required for an administrator to add a specific service node or cluster controller to a cluster. See Setting a Service Password for Including a Computer in a Cluster on page 62. You can also change the default scratch storage location for a cluster, or for each computer in a cluster. See Cluster Storage: Setting a Scratch Storage Location on page 62.

[-password <value>] [-batchname <name>] [-clusterid <user name:password@IP address:port number>]
[-priority <value>] [-jobpath <url>] [-settingpath <url>] [-destinationpath <url>] [-info <xml>] [-timeout <seconds>]

[-show]

[-help]
Example of Compressor Command XML The code below is an example of XML code for submitting a Compressor command. Notice that because it needs to be entered as one command line, every character after -options that isnt alphanumeric must be preceded with a backslash (\).
./Compressor -clusterid tcp://127.0.0.1:51737 -batchname myBatch -jobpath /Volumes/Source/ShortClips/NTSC24p.mov -settingpath /Users/stomper10 /Library/Application\ Support/Compressor/PhotoJPEG.setting destinationpath /Users/machinename/Movies/myDestinationFilename.mov.
This command has the following elements: Cluster address is tcp://127.0.0.1:51737. Batchname is myBatch. Job path is /Volumes/Source/ShortClips/NTSC24p.mov. Setting path is /Users/stomper10/Library/Application Support/Compressor/ PhotoJPEG.setting. Destination path is /Users/machinename/Movies
Shell Commands for Submitting Apple Qmaster Jobs
You can use the Apple Qmaster command, Apple line options for submitting jobs.

Qmaster, with

a number of command-
In the command-line descriptions below, angle brackets < > indicate a mandatory argument in a command and brackets [ ] indicate an optional argument. Synopsis Below is a synopsis of the command for submitting a job to a cluster. The Apple command is located in /Applications/Apple Qmaster.app/Contents/MacOS.

Qmaster

Apple Qmaster[-clustername <name>] [-clusterid <user name:password@IP address:port number>][-command <command type> -options <XML command> [-wd <working directory>] [-timeout <seconds>] [-show] [-batchname <name>] [-help]
Once the job is submitted successfully, this command displays the batch ID (identifier) and job ID (identifier) in the shell.
Command options This table provides information about each of the command options for submitting jobs.
Submission command option [-clustername <name>] Description Use to specify the name of the cluster to which you want to send the job. Using the cluster name, Apple Qmaster looks for the cluster on the network in order to use it. Use to specify a name for the batch so that you can easily recognize it in the Batch Monitor. Optionally, you can use -clusterid to enter the cluster ID and port number instead of using -clustername. (When you enter the cluster ID and port, less time is required to find the cluster on the network.) Or, if you used -clustername and the cluster requires a password, use -clusterid to specify the user name and password. (You need to include the IP address: port number as well whenever you use -clusterid.) Tip: Use Apple\ Qmaster -show to see a clusters IP address and port number. Specifies the kind of command you are entering: Shell, Shake, Maya, or other command, depending on the application you want to use for distributed processing. Specifies the command with XML code. Enter the XML code after -options, with the necessary qualifiers for entering it in a shell. See Example of Shake Command XML, next, for an example. If no -option is entered, the values from the applications preferences file, in ~/Library/Preferences, are used (which are the values of the most recent job submitted). Use to specify the working directory path (from which the command should be executed). The default working directory is /Applications/Shake. Use to specify the number of seconds before Apple Qmaster can quit when looking for a cluster. The default value is 0, which puts no limit on the timeout and allows Apple Qmaster to browse the network for as long as it needs to find the cluster. Shows the ID information for the cluster specified with -clustername or -clusterid, or for all clusters if no cluster is specified. Displays information about supported options for Apple Qmaster.

#!/bin/csh -f # # set env var, QMASTER_LOCATION if not set # if ${? QMASTER_LOCATION} == 0 then pushd `dirname $0` >& /dev/null setenv QMASTER_LOCATION /Applications/Apple\ Qmaster popd >& /dev/null endif # # launch qmaster # exec ${QMASTER_LOCATION}/Apple\ Qmaster.app/Contents/MacOS/Apple\ Qmaster $argv:q
Compressor Script Example
#!/bin/csh -f # # set env var, COMPRESSOR_LOCATION if not set # if ${?COMPRESSOR_LOCATION} == 0 then pushd `dirname $0` >& /dev/null setenv COMPRESSOR_LOCATION /Applications/Compressor.app/Contents/MacOS popd >& /dev/null endif # # launch Compressor # exec ${COMPRESSOR_LOCATION}/Compressor $argv:q
Batch Monitor Script Example
#!/bin/csh -f # # set env var, BATCHMONITOR_LOCATION if not set # if ${?BATCHMONITOR_LOCATION} == 0 then pushd `dirname $0` >& /dev/null setenv BATCHMONITOR_LOCATION "/Applications/Utilities/Batch Monitor.app/ Contents/MacOS" popd >& /dev/null endif # # launch Batch Monitor # exec "${BATCHMONITOR_LOCATION}/Batch Monitor" $argv:q

Troubleshooting

If you are having trouble with your Apple Qmaster distributed processing system, look here for answers to your questions.
The appendix includes the following topics: Exporting from Final Cut Pro and Distributed Processing (p. 77) QuickTime Reference Movies (p. 80) Cluster Settings for Extended Transcoding Sessions (p. 80) Cleaning Up Cluster Storage (p. 80) Using Apple Qmaster 2 with an NFS Server (p. 80) Apple Qmaster Distributed Processing and Xsan (p. 80) Compressor Command-Line Usage Requires Login (p. 81)
Exporting from Final Cut Pro and Distributed Processing
You can use Compressor to transcode sequences or clips from within other applications, such as Final Cut Pro. This saves time and hard disk space by eliminating the need to export self-contained media files before processing them. There are two methods you can use to avoid exporting self-contained media files for Compressor distributed processing: Export a sequence directly from Final Cut Pro to Compressor and then submit that job to a cluster in an Apple Qmaster distributed processing network. In this workflow, Final Cut Pro opens on each processing node in that cluster to complete the job. Export the Final Cut Pro sequence as a QuickTime reference movie and then submit the resulting movie to the cluster for processing. Although this method does not require that Final Cut Pro be installed on each computer in the distributed processing cluster, the media files specified in the reference movie must be available to each computer in the cluster.

To export a Final Cut Pro sequence directly to Compressor for distributed processing: 1 Make sure Final Cut Pro is installed on each computer in the cluster that you intend to use for distributed processing. Each installation of Final Cut Pro requires a product serial number. For information about volume licenses, go to http://www.apple.com/finalcutstudio. 2 Make sure all of the source media files and render files for your Final Cut Pro project are on a hard disk that can be shared (mounted) by all the computers in the cluster that will process the job. (The following instructions use an example of a shared hard disk named Media1.) If you copy all the media files to another hard disk for this purpose, you may need to reconnect the media files in Final Cut Pro before proceeding. Important: The hard disk you use to store the media files may not be a startup disk for any computer in the cluster. 3 In Final Cut Pro, set the scratch disk to the same hard disk used for storing media files in step 2: a Choose Final Cut Pro > System Settings, then click the Scratch Disks tab. b Click Set. c In the dialog that appears, locate and select the disk you want to use (Media1 in this example). d Click Choose. The specified disk (Media1) is listed next to the Set button, along with the amount of available disk space. For more information about Final Cut Pro scratch disks, see the Final Cut Pro User Manual. 4 Enable file sharing on the computer where the scratch disk (Media1) is located (in the Sharing pane of System Preferences, click Services and then select Personal File Sharing). 5 On each computer in the intended cluster, mount the scratch disk you specified in step 3 (in the Finder sidebar, click Network, navigate to the computer that contains the Media1 disk, click Connect, and select Media1). 6 In Compressor Preferences, specify cluster options settings: a Choose Compressor > Preferences, or press Command-comma ( , ). The Preferences window appears. b Choose Copy Source to Cluster as Needed from the Cluster Options pop-up menu. 7 In Final Cut Pro, choose File > Export > Using Compressor. Compressor opens with the selected media file (the Final Cut Pro sequence) in the Batch window. 8 In Compressor, double-click the selected file and play it in the Preview window to verify the integrity of the clip. 9 In the Batch window, assign settings and destinations to the selected file as necessary.

Strictly speaking, only actual QuickTime movies (not QuickTime reference movies) are supported for distributed processing. If you submit a reference movie for distributed processing, make sure media files specified in the reference movie are available to each node of the Apple Qmaster cluster. In other words, put the media on the shared (cluster storage) volume.
Cluster Settings for Extended Transcoding Sessions
If you are using Compressor 2 or later for distributed processing, and you anticipate a transcoding session that will last up to seven days or longer, you must make an adjustment in the Advanced section of the Apple Qmaster Preferences Pane. By default, temporary process files may remain on a clusters scratch location for seven days before they are automatically deleted. You can increase this value (the number of days) in the Apple Qmaster pane in System Preferences.
Cleaning Up Cluster Storage
If you are using cluster storage, and an error occurs, partial files may be left on the designated cluster storage location. Check the designated cluster storage location to make sure no partial media files are left there. If you find partial media files, delete them and submit the job again.
Using Apple Qmaster 2 with an NFS Server
By default, Apple Qmaster uses /etc/exports to define its Cluster Storage export. This can cause a conflict if you defined an NFS export in your local Netinfo database. When you enable a controller using Apple Qmaster 2 or later, Apple Qmaster will use /etc/exports, not entries defined in your Netinfo database. To work around this issue, either move the exports to /etc/exports, or move the controller to a computer that doesnt export anything.
Apple Qmaster Distributed Processing and Xsan
Here are some tips on using the Apple Qmaster distributed processing system with Xsan. Restarting Apple Qmaster and Xsan Using previous versions of Apple Qmaster distributed processing on an Xsan may cause mounting problems when restarting an Apple Qmaster distributed processing cluster controller.
Restart Apple Qmaster and Xsan computers in the following order: 1 Turn off the cluster controller by clicking Stop Sharing in the Apple Qmaster pane in System Preferences. 2 Restart the Apple Qmaster cluster controller computer. 3 Wait for the Xsan volume to mount on the desktop. 4 Click Start Sharing in the Apple Qmaster pane in System Preferences to restart the controller. Xsan Compatibility Xsan 1.3 is not compatible with Compressors Apple Qmaster distributed processing system when Xsan media drives are used for cluster (scratch) storage. To use Xsan with Apple Qmaster 2.3, update to Xsan 1.4. To download and install Xsan 1.4, go to: http://www.apple.com/support/xsan