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Panther Agents: You will need to download the Xgrid Agent for Panther from Apple’s website:
http://www.apple.com/support/downloads/xgridagentformacosx103.html
Once installed, there will be a new Xgrid option in System Preferences. It has a similar window as shown above and
should be filled out in the same manner.
Note: VisualHub does not need to be installed on an Agent. All necessary files are sent to the Agent prior to conversion.
Important notes on Xgrid
Number of files
Xgrid jobs are granular to the file-level. Meaning, each file to be converted becomes its own job. If you only convert one
video at a time, only one processor of one agent will be working on the video - potentially negating the entire reasoning
behind batch processing. Xgrid Encoding is best left for when you are converting multiple videos at a time.
Running the Controller as an Agent
If you have a fast single processor Mac or any dual processor Mac, it will be beneficial to use your Controller computer as
an agent as well. Also, a multi-processor Mac with no other Agents will still convert video faster than it would with Xgrid
off, since both processors will be utilized up to 100%.
If your Controller is a single-processor Mac and you have a large number of Agents on the network (10 or more), the
Controller computer will spend most of its time dealing with organizing the Agents, and very little processing power will
be left over for video conversion
Network Throughput
It’s strongly recommended that the Controller and all Agents be connected via a wired network. Each Agent must receive
the entire file it’s meant to convert before conversion begins. On a wireless network, throughput can be 1/20th that of a
standard wired network. Creating a network bottleneck like that may eliminate any benefit of running Xgrid in the first
place. Gigabit ethernet would sure be nice if you had it, but it’s in no way a requirement.
Network Ports
VisualHub needs ports 8264-8267 open for file transport. Ports 4111-4120 are used for regular Xgrid Controller/Agent
communication. Make sure your software firewall is off or has these ports open.
Xgrid Management
Apple makes available an Xgrid management program called Xgrid Admin included in the Tiger Server Admin Tools
software package. The Admin Tools are a free download from Apple and can be used with a standard Mac OS X
computer too. http://www.apple.com/support/downloads/serveradmintools1047.html
Xgrid Admin can be used to monitor the activity of your Xgrid cluster.
What Xgrid can’t do
•
Xgrid Encoding in VisualHub can’t convert QuickTime reference movies. Reference movies use video resources from
many locations on a hard drive and can’t be transferred.
•
Files over 4GB will not be correctly converted.
•
The TwoPass option is ignored.
•
Any packages for video files, such as .iMovieProject and .eyetv files aren’t supported.
•
Conversion from DVD discs or VIDEO_TS folders either won’t work, work slowly, or wear down your DVD drive.
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