Network Rendering

About Network Rendering

KeyShot Network Rendering allows you to connect multiple computer systems in your office network and utilize the available hardware to reduce rendering times significantly. In addition, rendering over the network is convenient. You may continue working in KeyShot Studio or any other application without slowing down...

Network Rendering

Best Practices, CPU

The manager receives a job from the Client. It splits the job into tasks that are computed by the workers. When a Worker finishes a task, the rendered pixels are returned to the Manager. When all tasks are completed, the Manager assembles them into the finished image, video, KeyShotXR, or configuration. For still im...

Network Rendering

Clear the Render Queue

The Manager stores information about all completed jobs, which will be displayed in the Render Queue.

Network Rendering

Client Setup

Anyone on the network with KeyShot Network Rendering installed can connect to the Manager and view the queue via the Render Queue. If you have the right user privileges, you can administer users, reorder the jobs of the queue, and download and delete Jobs.

Network Rendering

Connect to the Manager

By default Network Rendering is set up to Auto detect manager and workers/clients.

Network Rendering

Get a TLS Certificate

If you want to increase the protection of your creative assets, you may want to encrypt the Network rendering communication. This can be done via TLS, see how in the Manager Setup.

Network Rendering

Get Email Notifications

In order for Network Rendering to be able to send notification, you must Enable Email Notifications in the Network Configurator, Email Settings on the manager.

Network Rendering

Get KeyShot Network Rendering

You can download the latest version of KeyShot Network Rendering here.

Network Rendering

Get Logs

If Logging is enabled for the worker/manager, you can access logs via the Render Queue. The log files keep track of Network Rendering state, information, and errors.

Network Rendering

Headless Setup

Network Rendering

Headless Setup Linux

The following is a typical step-by-step setup and install of a worker and manager as services:

Network Rendering

Headless Setup Mac

If you have a Node-Locked License file, copy the license file into ” /Library/Application Support/KeyShot12NetworkResources“

Network Rendering

Headless Setup Windows

If you have a Node-Locked License file, copy the license file into C:\Users\Public\Public Documents\KeyShot12NetworkResources

Network Rendering

How it Works

KeyShot Network Rendering consists of three roles: Clients, Manager, and Workers. The figure shown below illustrates the simplest interaction between the roles, where each computer only has one role.

Network Rendering

Install

When you have downloaded the installer, launch it and follow the prompts. During the install process you will meet following topics:

Network Rendering

Jobs

The Queue in the Render Queue shows you the waiting, in progress and finished jobs.

Network Rendering

License

You only need a license for the Manager. The License limits the number of worker cores that can be used at any given time, but it does not limit the number of users that can send jobs to Network Rendering.

Network Rendering

Limit Worker Availability

If your computer is available for the network as a worker, but is also used for other things you may want to limit the availability for Network rendering.

Network Rendering

Log In/Out

You can log into your user account via the KeyShot Render Queue from any manager, worker, or client computer.

Network Rendering

Manager Setup

If you want your computer to serve as Manager on your network you select the Manager Role (or Both Manager and Worker if you also want it to contribute to the rendering force) in the Network Configurator .

Network Rendering

Multiple Managers

Generally having one Manager on the network is the way to go. This Manager will have access to all cores allowed by the license, and all connections with workers and clients can be established by auto-detection.

Network Rendering

Network Rendering

KeyShot Network Rendering allows you to connect multiple computer systems in your office network and utilize the available hardware to reduce rendering times significantly. In addition, rendering over the network is convenient. You may continue working in KeyShot Studio or any other application without slowing down...

Network Rendering

Network Rendering Configurator

KeyShot Network Configurator allows you to configure your computer as a Manager, Worker, and/or Client.

Network Rendering

Network Rendering on the Cloud

Setting up Network Rendering on a Cloud Service is very similar to setting it up locally.

Network Rendering

Network Rendering User Interface

Network Rendering has three applications where you can interact with the service: KeyShot Render Queue, KeyShot Network Configurator and the KeyShot Network Worker Tray. This section contains a brief user interface overview.

Network Rendering

NR Release Notes

The following page contains an overview of updates for KeyShot 2026 Network Rendering.

Network Rendering

Render Over The Network

Once the client setup is complete and KeyShot Render Queue is able to connect to the manager, you will be able to send your render jobs to the network. In the instructions below we assume that KeyShot Studio is installed on your client computer.

Network Rendering

Set up Users

If User System has been enabled on the manager (view the Manager Setup to learn more), users can log into their accounts from any computer on the network via the Render Queue. Network administrators may access the user management system, add or remove accounts, and change privileges for each account.

Network Rendering

Setup

Once the Network Configurator is installed, it will launch automatically and you can choose which role you want your computer to have in Network rendering.

Network Rendering

Silent Installation

You or your IT department may wish to do a KeyShot Network Rendering silent install, i.e., unattended installation. This is especially useful for unattended deployment onto servers. Please note that service setup is still required. To set up your manager or worker services, click here.

Network Rendering

Update Your Software Version

Manager, Workers, and Clients should all run the same version of KeyShot Network Rendering.

Network Rendering

Worker Schedules

By default, a worker is active when connected to the manager. The worker schedules inside KeyShot Render Queue offer control of when each worker will be active or inactive. Network administrators can setup the Worker Schedules by logging into his/her account from any manager, worker, or client computer. Learn more a...

Network Rendering

Worker Setup

If you want your computer to serve as a worker on the network, you can enable this in the KeyShot Network Configurator. When you enable worker mode, you will need to set the manager hostname and worker Port, Process Priority and the Allowed Cores.

Network Rendering

Worker Tray

When the worker service is running on your computer the Worker Tray widget can be found in the Task menu on Windows or the Menu bar on Mac.

Network Rendering