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Work with Fusers

Ayelet Rabinowitz
  • Updated

PhotoMesh fusers are the worker components of PhotoMesh, which allow you to share the demanding processing requirements of the different build steps (photo preparation, AT, point cloud, mesh model, texture, 3DML/other outputs) between several computers on the same network. When beginning the build process, the PhotoMesh Build Manager application determines what build steps are required and assigns them to the different fusers. PhotoMesh Build Manager and PhotoMesh fusers use the working folder to communicate: to deposit and collect pending tasks, and share information about fuser availability, status and progress. Before beginning the build process, you should start the fusers that will be participating in the build, and set their working folder.

To start working with fusers, do the following:

On the Master Computer

  1. Check that the project was created in a network folder with read-write access permissions, for both the master and client computers. It is recommended to use UNC format (\\[UNC Master] \folder\ProjectFolder, e.g.: \\Machine1\c\PhotoMesh\ProjectFolder), though a mapped network drive can also be used as long as the same letter is mapped to the same share on all computers. More about: Creating a PhotoMesh project >
  2. Set the location for the working folder in the Build Manager: In the Build Parameters dialog, start the project build. Then in the PhotoMesh Build Manager, browse to the location for the working folder.
    Note: The working folder must also be set to a network folder with read-write access permissions, for both the master and client computers. It is recommended to use UNC format (\\[UNC Master] \folder\WorkingFolder, e.g.: \\Machine1\c\PhotoMesh7.0\WorkingFolder), though a mapped network drive can also be used as long as the same letter is mapped to the same share on all computers. More about: Setting the working folder on the master computer >
    buildmanager_new2.png
  3. Click Build. If no fusers were started, PhotoMesh asks you if you want to start a local fuser. Click Yes.
  4. Start the fusers on the client computers, and configure the correct location for their working folder. More about: Using fusers on the client computers >
  5. In PhotoMesh Build Manager, select the master computer's fuser and all client computer fusers, and click Build. 
  6. All available fusers are listed in the Fusers section of PhotoMesh Build Manager. As the build process is progressing, PhotoMesh Build Manager displays fuser information (which fusers are in use, which aren’t, etc.). More about: Monitoring a build > 
    twofusers2croppednew2.png

On Each of the Client Computers

  1. Install a fuser on the client computer: Browse to the PhotoMesh Fuser.exe file and double-click, and then follow the fuser setup wizard. More about: Installing PhotoMesh fusers >
  2. Start the fuser on the client computer: Click Start > Skyline PhotoMesh Fuser > PhotoMesh Fuser. A PhotoMesh fuser icon is placed in the Windows system tray. More about: Starting fusers >
  3. Set the location of the fuser's working folder to the same location as was set for the Build Manager: Click the PhotoMesh Fuser icon, and then click Open PhotoMesh Fuser. In the PhotoMesh Fuser dialog, click Change and browse to the location for the working folder. More about: Setting the working folder on a client computer >
    pmfuser2cropped22.png

More about: Using fuser pools > and Using AWS fusers >

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