> [!abstract] Summary
> **Deadline basics by Loris Eck** — worker management, power management, pools vs groups, concurrent tasks, mapped paths, statuses, submission (with and without Prism), jobs vs tasks vs dependencies.
> [!info] Legacy reference
> See also [[../../OUT OF PUBLISH/PIPE 2025 - ARTFX LILLE/Deadline|Deadline (2025 notes)]].
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# Worker
- **Remote Control / Worker Command**.
- **Remote Control / Machine Command** = start or remotely reboot the machine.
# Power Management
- `Tools / Configure` → power management settings, including machine groups that auto-shutdown.
# Pool / Group
- `Tools / Manage Pool` — designate a secondary pool if the primary is unavailable.
- `Tools / Manage Group`.
- **Difference between the two?** *To be defined.*
- **Always define pools at render time**, even if you want "all" — designate "all" explicitly.
# Concurrent Tasks
- Set to **1**: one machine = one frame. One-to-one is preferred.
# Mapped Paths
- Replace mapped drives (e.g. `V:`) with **network paths** — Deadline does not understand drive letters.
# Pulse and Status
Machine statuses:
| Status | Meaning |
|---|---|
| **Disabled (Offline)** | A user is actively working on the machine. |
| **Rendering** | Currently rendering. |
| **Idle** | Waiting for a job. |
| **Offline** | Powered off. |
| **Stalled** | Deadline has crashed → Restart Worker, or physically reboot. |
> [!tip] Pulse server
> A **Pulse** server is supposed to automatically restart stalled Deadline workers.
To make a machine available to Deadline when not in use → reboot it. You can also connect remotely via **Remote Desktop Connection**.
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# Submit
- `Submit` → choose the tool.
- Submitting **without Prism** is done directly from the Deadline Monitor:
- Job name.
- Pool selection.
- Priority.
- **Task timeout** — cancels the task if it exceeds the set duration without completing.
- **Machine limit** — max number of machines pulled from the pool.
- Launch renders from a **shared network location**.
- Set the **project** in the project directory field.
- Specify the scene file.
- Set the output folder to a **network path** — never local.
- For Maya: check **Submit File Scene**.
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# Job and Task
## With Prism — Job Dependencies
Job dependencies are important when submitting multiple jobs that rely on each other.
Example flow:
1. Job 1 — export USD from Houdini.
2. Job 2 — render the USD without using a Houdini licence.
3. Job 3 — delete the generated USD files (= **Cleanup**).
**Prism configures these dependencies automatically.** See them in the Monitor → **Job Properties** → **Dependencies** → **Jobs** or **Scripts** (depending on type).
Other Prism cases: a master product version update after a Houdini sim is cached, or media conversion configured to run after a render job.
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# Houdini
- [Andy Nicholas — `hou-farm` Deadline submission tool for Houdini](https://www.andynicholas.com/post/hou-farm-deadline-submission-tool-for-houdini).
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# Improvements
- **Throttle:** 10 tasks per 10, every 3 minutes.
- **Data analytics.**
- See [[DeadLine Roadmap|Deadline Roadmap]].
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# 🔗 Related
- [[../DEADLINE MOC|DEADLINE MOC]].
- [[Deadline For Alternatives Productions|Deadline for Alternatives Productions]] — production workflow.
- [[Render to Deadline without Prism|Render to Deadline without Prism]].
- [[Reconfigure Deadline|Reconfigure Deadline]].
- [[Deadline Error List|Deadline Error List]].
- [[DeadLine Roadmap|Deadline Roadmap]].
- [[Deadline script log analyser - Thomas Spony|Deadline Log Analyser — Thomas Spony]].
- [[../../TOOLS/Notes/Deadline Renderman Denoiser - Loris Eck|Deadline RenderMan Denoiser]].