"Path Translation Rules" (PTR) are actually always required, even in networks where all computers share the same operating system. There, you need them if you trigger jobs with a local path to a scene. In so-called heterogenous networks it is a little more difficult, because different operating systems also use different path notations. Without these path translations rules it is impossible for RealFlow to identify the directories where the simulation data are stored. The result is that the node cannot contribute to a simulation. One of the most important things with path translation rules is to look at everything from the view of the computer with the “Job Manager” running.
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Computer 1 | Windows | IP 192.168.1.15 | RealFlow GUI | Job Manager | Job Node |
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Computer 2 | Windows | IP 192.168.1.16 | Job Node | ||
Computer 3 | OS X | IP 192.168.1.17 | Job Node |
The “Job Manager” can also be installed on any other machine – it is only important that the IP under “Manager Location” points to this computer and the “Job Nodes” can see it in the network. Under Windows there is the “Documents and Settings” folder – this can also be seen as your home directory. In this example, the RealFlow projects are stored in this directory, but any other path is valid as well. The question is: “Which path do computers have to follow to reach the folder given above?” To get the path for “Computer 1”, one possibility is to use Window's "Explorer" or "Internet Explorer" and type in the path to the desired folder. Please use the normal slash to separate the directories. If the path is valid, the folder's content pops up in the form of a new window. Now, the path can be used under "Prefix"
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Prefix | C:/Documents and Settings/rfnode/RealFlow Projects/ |
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Windows | /Documents and Settings/rfnode/RealFlow Projects/ |
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Computer 1 | Windows | IP 192.168.1.15 | Job Node | ||
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Computer 2 | Windows | IP 192.168.1.16 | Job Node | ||
Computer 3 | OS X | IP 192.168.1.17 | RealFlow GUI | Job Manager | Job Node |
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