AFANASY TIPS

(Version Française...)

Here are some Tips about Afanasy, the open source renderfarm manager from CGRU.

   CONFIGURE AFANASY   

To configure Afanasy there are two important files :

• config_default.json located in  C:\cgru-windows\ (previous article)
• config_default.json and farm_example.json located in C:\cgru-windows\afanasy\

Those files contain the default parameters of Afanasy, it's recommanded to not touch them. To make your own parameters you have to create a new config.json file and save it in C:\cgru-windows\. Use Notepad or any script editor, and don't forget to change its extension to .json (JavaScript).

There are two config_default.json but you will need only one config.json and it must be located in C:\cgru-windows\. Copie the parameters you need from both config_default.json and paste them in your new config.json file to change their attributes.

An example of the config.json file with a server named :

You will find all informations about available parameters on the CGRU website :
http://cgru.info/afanasy/server#page_top
http://cgru.info/afanasy/gui#page_top

You can do the same with farm_example.json making a copy named  farm.json. For more infos : http://cgru.info/afanasy/server#farm_setup

Know that the default parameters of Afanasy are already quite good and there is no need to change them manually to use it (except at setup, previous article).

    "GOD" MODE  

One parameter you can already change is the  "GOD" password (super-user). By default it's "IDDQD" and if you look into config_default.json you'll find this : "pswd_god":"73bcaaa458bff0d27989ed331b68b64d", . This code is in fact IDDQD encrypted with the MD5 algorithm .

Your password must be 5 letters, no more no less. Just pick the one you like, let say "TRUCS" and convert it with the help of a converter you can find online. So we get "cc86e8f5c0f90fed14fbd2353bb37c6d".

Your config.json file must be :

Et voilà!
Restart Afanasy (server and afwatch) to update all new parameter.

    DJV_VIEW  

From afwatch you can launch a preview of your image sequence during render. Double clic on your Job then make a right clic on one of your finished task then choose "preview".

By default you have 3 different options that you'll find in the config_default.json at "previewcmds" :  
"previewcmds":["nuke -v \"@ARG@\"","imf_disp \"@ARG@\"","mplay \"@ARG@\""],

If you just want to use djv_view change the code like this :  "previewcmds":["djv_view \"@ARG@\""],

Then on your workstation change your Windows environment variables to configure the path towards djv_view.exe (more info about that step here or here).

Once it's done restart Afanasy (server et afwatch) to update all new parameter.

   ULTRA VNC  

To access your clients from your workstation you can associate to Afanasy a remote desktop controler like UltraVNC (open source) and launch it directly from afwatch. In the "RENDERS" tab make a right clic on one of your clients then choose "custom". It works with or without the render already open on your client.

To change the default options same step as before :
"af_rendercmds":["vncviewer @ARG@","start ping /t @ARG@","start ping /t @IP@"],

Afanasy can already work with VNC. To use only UltraVNC : "af_rendercmds":["vncviewer @ARG@"],

Then on your workstation change your Windows environment variables to configure the path towards vncviewer.exe (more info about that step here or here).

   CUSTOM GUI    

With a right  clic on the afwatch "border" you will access to graphical settings. You can chooze one already made theme or you can create your own by selecting "Customize GUI".

When you clic "Save GUI Preferences" Afanasy create a file named watch.json in C:\Users\"your host name"\AppData\Roaming\cgru\. Create a new folder with the name of your new theme in C:\cgru-windows\afanasy\icons\watch\ and paste watch.json. In the icons folder you'll find the other themes (Civil, Hello Kitty...). Use them to customize your own by copying the buttons folder and modifying the .png.

Now when you right clic on afwatch you'll see your new theme under "Chooze Theme".

Et voilà!
I'll continue to update this article according to your remarks and my experiments.

JR
creature-studio