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후디니에서 Hqueue를 이용해서, 네트웍 시뮬레이션하는거 보셨었죠? 11월12월경에 이 기사가 나갔고, 이슈가 되고 있는거 같아요. 이제는 아마존의 EC2클라우딩컴퓨터 시스템을 이용해서, 후디니 내부에서 언제든지 온라인으로 큐를 보낼 수 있게되었습니다. 작은 규모의 회사에서도 얼마든지 큰 프로젝을 할 수도 있고, 노트북에서도 시뮬레이션을 할 수 있는 시대가 왔네요. 대단합니다. 꼭 메뉴얼과 기사를 살펴보세요.

http://www.sidefx.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1630&Ite...

TORONTO: November 19th, 2009 - Side Effects Software, an industry leader in 3D animation and visual effects software, is pleased to announce the public beta release of new artist-friendly HQueue cloud computing tools. Studios and individuals who are looking for an artist-friendly way to harness the processing power of Amazon’s EC2 compute cloud will now be able to launch renderings and simulations from right inside Houdini.

“Studios and artists can for the first time expand their computing power quickly and securely without worrying about buying new computers or finding space for an ever-expanding farm,” says Kim Davidson, President and CEO, Side Effects Software. “In addition, students and artists using Houdini Apprentice HD can let HQueue work for them on the cloud while leaving their workstation free for day-to-day work.”

While the HQueue cloud has clear benefits for Houdini users, it can also offer a path for other Digital artists. Houdini Master, Houdini Escape and Houdini Apprentice HD can all import FBX or Collada files from packages such as Maya, 3D Studio Max, Sketch-up, Z-Brush and Poser. Houdini’s Mantra renderer can then be used to render these scenes on the cloud.

More and more studios are discovering the performance benefits of Houdini Mantra and with access to cloud computing tools things will only get faster. Mantra includes micropolygon, raytraced or physically-based rendering as well as depth of field, fast motion blur, high dynamic range image support, deep raster files and high quality displacement mapping. Renderings can be distributed on up to 20 machines while simulations can be set up on a single machine. Distributed fluid simulations are planned for a future release of the cloud computing tools.

HQueue on the Amazon EC2 Compute Cloud

Earlier this year, Side Effects Software announced HQueue, a Python-based job manager which can distribute Houdini jobs and Mantra renderings to local render farms. The same HQueue technology is used by Houdini to give artists easy access to the Amazon EC2 Compute Cloud. To get started, artists simply add an HQueue node into their Houdini scene then point it to the Cloud. The scene files are then organized and uploaded to the Amazon network where HQueue is preloaded and ready to render shots and run simulations.

When using the cloud, artists can choose from several configurations based on memory and processing power. A 32-bit machine with 1.7 GB of RAM is only 50 per machine per hour while a 64-bit machine with 7.5 GB of RAM is only $1.99 per machine per hour. These rates include the base Amazon costs and licensing fees for the Houdini software tools. Other configurations with even more memory are also available. In addition to per hour rates, there are minimal costs for uploading and downloading the files at around 10 to 17 per GB.

“The cloud offers a cost effective way of expanding your processing power without impacting your current IT infrastructure,” says Paul Salvini, CTO, Side Effects Software. “Render farms often sit idle because they need to be ready for peak demand. With the cloud, you only pay for what you use and this creates a much more scalable back end. And for Apprentice HD users, the addition of just a single computer can make all the difference when rendering out animations for a demo reel or finishing up a school project.”

Win Back up to $100 of Cloud Time!!

The beta testing for the cloud begins right away and will run until December 11th, 2009. At that point a feedback questionnaire will be available online. Everyone who fills out this questionnaire before December 15th, 2009 will be entered in a draw to win back up to $100 of time spent using the cloud. There will be ten prizes available and the winners will be announced on December 21st, 2009.

The final gold release of the HQueue cloud computing tools is planned for January 2010.

Get Started Now!

To learn more about HQueue on the Amazon EC2 cloud, download the HQueue Cloud Computing User Guide PDF. This guide will show you how to register with Amazon, what you can do on the cloud and how to set up your scene files. Particular attention is paid to creating proper file dependencies to make sure your scene passes the preflight check that is made before files are uploaded to the cloud.

The HQueue Render operator needed to output to the cloud is available in Houdini 10.0.465 or higher. Download the latest version. You can also Download Apprentice to get the latest build. Artists who use Houdini Apprentice or Houdini Apprentice HD for personal projects can also use the cloud computing tools but will be subject to the same restrictions such as limited render sizes and non-commercial usage of the final artwork.