---
title: "Distributed Rendering Settings"
canonical: "https://documentation.chaos.com/space/VMAYA/111743344/Distributed%20Rendering%20Settings"
format: markdown
---
This page provides information on the Distributed Rendering rollout in the Render Settings.

 

## **Overview**

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## **Parameters**

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## **Distributed Rendering Settings**> Macro (anchor)



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## **XML Configuration File**

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Distributed Rendering settings are no longer saved in a collection of *.tmp* files but instead are all included in a single XML file called *vray_dr_list.xml*. If an XML file is not found, V-Ray will print a warning and automatically convert old .*tmp* files to XML. The default XML location is as follows:

**Windows**: C:\Users\<username>\Documents\maya  
**Linux**: /home/<username>/maya  
**OS X**: /Users/<username>/Library/Preferences/Autodesk/maya

Additionally, the environment variable **VRAY_FOR_MAYA_DRLISTS_PATH** can be used to set an alternative XML file path. This allows multiple users to use their own DR settings on the same machine.

The following is an example of an XML configuration file that can be [downloaded here](https://drive.google.com/uc?export=download&id=1q1azutEs7RsqTCqX_phTekeCnP0UJ_Aw):

```xml
<?xml version='1.0' encoding='UTF-8'?>
<hostlist>
<serversLimit>4</serversLimit>
<server>
<host>someaddress</host>
<port>20209</port>
<alias>render host name here</alias>
<enabled>0</enabled>
</server>
<server>
<host>127.0.0.1</host>
<port>20209</port>
<alias>My own computer</alias>
<enabled>1</enabled>
</server>
</hostlist>
```

 

For users who do not wish to switch to the new XML method, V-Ray provides Python functions for compatibility. These are mentioned in a warning after the first automatic file conversion. First, the **vray** module must be imported:

```python
import vray
```

 

To convert an XML file back to TMP, use the following:

```python
vray.vray_dr_manager.vrayDRConvertXMLToTmp()
```

 

To convert a TMP file to XML, use this function:

```python
vray.vray_dr_manager.vrayDRConvertTmpToXML()

```

 

## **Notes**

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- When you cancel a DR rendering, it may take some time for the render servers to complete their tasks, and they may not be immediately available for another render.
- Servers can be added, removed, enabled, or disabled while a distributed render is running. During a progressive or IPR rendering, nodes can only be added or enabled while the rendering is in progress. While rendering, some of the options will be disabled. Stop the render to make adjustments to such options.
- Distributed rendering on macOS via Autodesk Backburner requires special settings. *See the **[Distributed Rendering](https://docs-chaos.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/VMAYA/pages/111739824)** page for more information.*
- Depending on whether the "Use dispatcher for rendering" option is used or not, only the dispatcher and the servers participate in the rendering. If the dispatcher is the local machine and it is enabled to participate in the rendering process, you get the same result as  "Use local machine" from the [old distributed rendering workflow](https://docs-chaos.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/VMAYA/pages/111739562).