Distributed Rendering is a technique that uses multiple computers to render a single scene or image. It significantly speeds up rendering, especially for complex scenes and high-resolution outputs.
To set up your Distributed Rendering Settings you need to:
How do I switch from Swarm to Classic Distributed Rendering?
- Open the Asset Editor > Settings and enable Distributed Rendering.
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In the Mode dropdown, select Classic DR instead of Swarm.
- Add each render node by hostname or IP address and enter its server port (As of V-Ray 7.30.00, the default port is 20209). Enable the hosts you want to use and disable or remove any that should not participate.
- Start a test render and check the V-Ray progress log to confirm the servers connect and contribute.
How do I set up render nodes for Classic DR?
All render nodes must have the same V-Ray version installed, you can download the latest available version from here.
- Run the V-Ray Installer.
- On the Host App Version screen, uncheck all versions and click Advanced.
- On the Additional Components screen, select V-Ray Standalone and complete the installation.
- Use the provided Windows shortcut to run V-Ray Standalone as a server.
- Note the port shown in the command output (default is 20209 as of V-Ray 7.30.00; older versions used 20207).
- Find the machine’s IP address using the ipconfig command in a Command Prompt.
Can I keep hosts in the list without using them?
Yes. Use the checkbox next to each host to enable or disable it. Disabled hosts stay in the list but do not participate in rendering. Host information is stored at the system level and is available across projects.
What does the “Don’t Use Local Machine” option do?
When enabled, the local machine is excluded from rendering while the other configured nodes handle the job.
What image sampler is recommended for production Distributed Rendering?
The Overall Bucket image sampler is recommended for production distributed rendering jobs.