How to use QNAP NAS as a network render node to support Adobe Creative Suite multiple machines workflow?

Release date: 2019-04-02

Adobe support to render one or more compositions from a project using multiple computers over a network in a fraction of the time that a single computer would require. Network rendering involves copying the project and source files to a networked folder, and then rendering the project. This article is to demo how to use virtual machine on QNAP NAS with GPU to accelerate rendering.
*For more information: Adobe official website.

Please take these steps on NAS.

Add the VGA into the NAS (You need to consider the size of VGA card can be inserted into limited space)
Create the Windows 10 virtual machine via Virtualization Station from App center.
Insert Guest Tool before you assign a GPU on this VM (optional)
Select CD Driver.
Select “qnap-guest-tools”
Install all of components.
Assign GPU on VM
*Remember to install the GPU driver.
Add an HDD as your render file storage space.
*Interface: select VirtIO so that your HDD can be same as your NAS IO speed. (In QNAP test environment is 10Gbs)
Set network adapter 1 to VirtIO, so your VM can reach NAS network speed. (In QNAP test environment is 10Gbs)
Install the Adobe After Effects in this VM- Windows10
Create the shortcut from "C://Program Files/Adobe/Adobe After Effects XXXX/Adobe After XXXX Render Engine" to the desktop
Launch this render engine and appoint to the NAS shared folder. (Render Engine >> File >> Watch Folder >> select NAS folder)
* This VM also needs to install all plugins & fonts which used in AE project.

Back to your PC / Mac

Launch AE, and set the render setting from "Basic" to the "Multi-Machine Settings" & "Multi-Machine Sequence"
AE >> File >> Dependencies >> collect Files
[Collect Source Files] => Project Only
Check the option of [Enable "Watch Folder" render].
Check the option of [Reveal collected project xxxxx] and set the machine number.
Press the Collect button and choose the target folder. (NAS shared folder)