Setting up a LAN encode script.

[Trip Machine]

I have 2 computers that I want to do a LAN encode with. I can't seem to get the slave computer to work. I am not using VDubMod. The master comp has several movies on it so one comp will be encoding one movie and the other comp will be doing another (which is my intended plan).

But I can't get the proper avs file set up properly without having to create duplicate the files (avs and d2v) and altering the source lines. There must be an easier way.

When I open the avs in Vdub, i get a line XX error which pertains to the source of the vobs. I input the path name correctly (I think) by no cigar.

ie:
\\Computer1\Computer1\dvd movie\vts_01_1.vob

where the first Computer1 is the computer name and the second Computer1 is the C drive.

Anyone else tried to LAN encode?

[DDogg]

Assuming you want to use machine A and Machine B with the source on A,

On A share the source drive or directory that contains the source files and map a drive letter, let's say Z, to that directory or drive. To say that in another way, you will map a drive on machine A to a >shared< directory on machine A.

On machine B you will also map a drive using the Z drive letter to the directory on machine A. Obviously, you will specify Z as the output drive to your software instead of the true drive letter.

Now, on machine A the d2v and avs files all say Z and on machine B Z drive is the same destination as on A so no editing of the d2v or avs file should be needed.

You can copy the avs file if you wish to break the job up into parcels by using the trim command, like this:

#Machine A
Loadplugin("MPEG2Dec.dll")
mpeg2source("Z:\THE_MATRIX_16X9LB_N_AMERICA\VIDEO_TS\matrix.d2v")
trim(0,101500)

#Machine B
Loadplugin("MPEG2Dec.dll")
mpeg2source("Z:\THE_MATRIX_16X9LB_N_AMERICA\VIDEO_TS\matrix.d2v")
trim(101501,0)

Now you will end up with two output files that you can join in VDub or some other utility. /Add - Note: probably better to output machine B to a machine B local directory, then copy after encoding is finished to keep network traffic lower.

Let me know how this works, I just did it from memory and I might have missed something.

DD

[Trip Machine]

Ok, I tried for about 2.5 hours last night and this is where I am:

I can finally open the avs script with Machine B by mapping a drive Z, (which is Machine A's directory) onto B.

The only problem is that I have to go in, make duplicates of the d2v and avs files and change the C and Z drive letters for each computer. You suggested that "A" map a drive Z of itself but the comp wouldn't let me do that - mapping a drive of A onto A. The mapping option seems to be limited to accessing only other computers and not your own.

The two computers have full access to the other and I'm running them on Win98SE with the same directories and same programs installed on both btw.

Everything else that you've explained though is all good and makes perfect sense.


<random rant>
P.S: my second comp is really slow. My source comp, A, finishes the job approx. 4x faster. But it's so cool watching them work in tandem. :D Athlon 900 and a PII 330. The PII adds about 3-5fps in speed for an average of 9-14fps in total.
</random rant>

[DDogg]

Well, I don't know what to tell you. My suggestion doesn't have any value if you cannot map a drive on machine A to itself. I have not used Win98 in several years so maybe 98 can't do this. Perhaps somebody with Win98 can help you, or verify the mapping issue.

[Belgabor]

How did you try to map? You have to map the net Path, not the local path (aka "\\MyMachine\D_Drive", not "D:\"). Alas I can only speak for w2k, dunno if there are further problems on w98.

[Morbid]

For the Win9x box you could try using the "subst.exe" command.
It will allow you to "map" a virtual drive to a physical drive path on a local machine.

i.e.

SUBST Z: C:\whatever\your\path\is

to delete the virtual drive use SUBST Z: /d

You will need a "lastdrive" statement in the congfig.sys for this to work on drive letters higher than E: and the subst command can be run from the autoexec.bat at boot.


HTH

Morbid