Smaller and faster Windows versions?


There are some open source projects that try to reduce the size of Windows and/or increase the speed for gaming.

If it is good for gaming, why not use them for the render farm in your company?


We have taken a look at Tiny11, Altas and ReviOS.


Disk usage:

We would use Tiny11 if we need more space on the C drive. 
But over time, Windows updates are filling up your drive again.
So after some time the advantage is not that huge any more.



Speed:
For the speed improvement, we recommend to disable Windows features yourself instead of using Atlas or ReviOS.

Note that we do not know if there is a speed improvement at all as we have not done benchmarks yet.
If you are doing some test, please let us know about the results.

Please use our Benchmark Suite for any easy CPU and GPU test setup: https://binaryalchemy.de/babenchmark-suite.html



Please see this webpage for more details about using Tiny11, Altas and ReviOS:

https://binaryalchemy.de/smaller-and-faster.html



This webpage is a recommendation for installing professional workstations:

https://binaryalchemy.de/professional-workstations.html





How to pin an RR app to the taskbar?


If you use use the "Pin to taskbar" feature of windows, then you do not pin the original application, 
you pin the local cache of the RR application to the taskbar.
Which means you might use an outdated version!




Workaround:

  • Please use the rrWorkstationInstaller to install links in your start menu
  • Find the shortcut file
    Click on the Start Menu and enter the first letters to see the icon.
    Right-click on it and choose "Open File Location".
  • Right-click on the icon and open properties. Keep it open
  • Start the app 
  • Use "Pin to Taskbar"
  • Close the app
  • Hold the <Shift> Key and right-click on the pinned icon.
  • Open properties and paste the commandline from the start menu link




No app icons?

If you have created your own shortcuts, then you might miss the app icon.
Windows a security features: Application icons from a network could come from anyone, are therefore a security issue and are disabled automatically.
Please use the rrWorkstationInstaller to install links in your start menu. The rrWorkstationInstaller installs icon files into \Program Files\Royal Render.

And you can just copy the links that RR has installed into your start menu to your desktop,

To find the shortcut file in your start menu, click on the Start Menu and enter the first letters to see the icon. Right-click and choose "Open File Location".



Or you can enable them again via domain GPO policy:

run gpedit.msc

Computer configuration/Administrative Templates/Windows Components/File Explorer/Allow the use of remote paths in file shortcut icons





 Trusted Network


If you get this warning message,

then you have to change how windows

detects your local area network.



Please follow these steps:

  • Open the windows control panel
  • Choose "Internet Options".
  • Change to tab "Security".
  • Select the Icon "Local Intranet".
  • Click on the Button "Sites".
  • Click on the Button "Advanced"..
  • Add \\Your_Fileserver to the list. (replace "Your_Fileserver" with the name of the fileserver the RR files are on)


Note: This is a per user setting in windows.



Domain GPO:

If you are in a domain, then you should change this setting with a GPO:

1. Open GPMC in your Domain Controller. Create a GPO or use an existing GPO linked to the OU which contains all users.

2. Under User Configuration, expand Polices > Windows settings >Internet Explorer Maintenance >Security

3. Double click Security Zones and Content Ratings, then chose Import the current security zones and privacy settings.

4. Click Continue, then click Modify Settings.

5. In the Internet Properties windows chose Security tab, then click Local intranet, click Sites to add sites you want.

You might want to add your whole domain by adding your domain name, e.g. http://*.domain.local