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Work with TerraBuilder Fusers

Eylon Sirotkin
  • Updated

In this article:

TerraBuilder allows you to share the workload of massive 3D database creation between several computers and processors on the same network. The master computer utilizes the computing power of the network’s client computers by connecting to TerraBuilder fusers on the client machines.

What is a TerraBuilder Fuser

A TerraBuilder fuser is an application that allows TerraBuilder to utilize the resources of the local computer or other computers on the network for the generation of an MPT file. The fuser operates as a copy of TerraBuilder on the client machine, adding its resources to the MPT generation process.

TerraBuilder fusers are also used by SkylineGlobe Server DirectConnect to exploit the combined computing power of any available server-side computers. This provides scalability for the resources needed to handle the performance-demanding workload of on-the-fly 3D terrain database creation. The fuser remains idle until activated by the master computer.

All fuser computers must be connected to the master computer using the same LAN, and be on the same Microsoft Windows Network. The master computer must be able to access each of the clients (i.e., they must be accessible as “\\ComputerName” from File Explorer). Furthermore, the master and fuser computers should be able to access the project source files and the project file (TBP).

Mapping a Shared Network Drive

An MPT file can be created using network fusers only if source and pyramid file directories are made network compatible. Network compatibility is also required for publishing a DirectConnect Project.

To map a shared network drive and adjust TerraBuilder project settings for network compatibility:

  1. On the Home tab, in the Project group, click Project Settings. The Project Settings dialog box opens.
  2. Click the Directories tab.
  3. Share the source and pyramid file directories so that the computer running TerraBuilder, and the computers running the fusers can all access them:
    • Open File Explorer > This PC > On the Computer tab, click Map Network Drive. The Map Network Drive dialog box is displayed.
    • In the Drive field, enter the drive letter to map to the shared resource.
    • In the Folder field, enter the server and share name of the resource, in the form \\servername\sharename, or click Browse to locate the resource. Map each folder to the same drive letter on all computers.
    • Click Finish.
  4. In the Source and Pyramid File Directories section, select the Keep directory names network compatible check box to convert all directories to UNC format. If this operation completes successfully, skip to step 6.
  5. If this operation fails, in the Source and Pyramid File Directories list, select a directory and click Edit. Then type a path that leads to the directories using a network path. This can be a UNC path, or mapped network drive. For example: if your source is located in “C:\Projects\Mysources\” that is mapped to the drive letter “M”, change it to “M:\Mysources\”. This allows the fusers running on other computers to access this file, using the same mapping.
  6. Repeat steps 4-5 for each of the directories in the project.
  7. Save the project. The project is now ready for creating an MPT file over the network.

Installing TerraBuilder Fusers

To install a TerraBuilder fuser:

  1. On your computer, browse to the exe file and double-click. The TerraBuilder Fuser Setup License Agreement is displayed.
    fuser1.gif
  2. Select I agree… and then click Install. A dialog box is displayed informing you that the setup process is being initialized. When initialization is complete, the Destination Folder dialog box is displayed.
    fuser2.gif
  3. Select the location of the TerraBuilder fuser installation. The Ready to Install dialog box is displayed.
    fuser3.gif
  4. Click Install to begin installation. A dialog box is displayed when the installation is complete.
  5. Click Finish.

Managing Fusers on the Master Computer

creatingmpt.gif

When you create an MPT or a resolution pyramid, the Create MPT dialog box includes a fuser management section from which fuser status can be monitored and fuser operations performed: 

  • Host Name - Shows the name of a client computer on the network.
  • State - Shows the fusers state: stopped if the fuser manager has stopped it, suspended if the owner of the client computer has temporarily stopped the fuser, or connected if the fuser is connected.
  • Blocks - Indicates the number of blocks the fuser is processing.
  • Comments - Displays comments about the status of the fusers or the connections to the fusers.

Perform any of the following fuser operations in the Create MPT dialog box, in the fuser management section:

  • Fuser Search - Search the network for new potential fusers.
  • Add Network Fuser - Add a client computer from the network to the list of fusers by clicking and entering the Host Name or IP of the required fuser to the fusers list.
  • Add Local Fuser - Add another local fuser.
  • Remove Fuser - Remove an existing client computer from the list of fusers by clicking and selecting a fuser from the list.
  • Start Fuser - Activate a "stopped" fuser by selecting the fuser from the list and clicking. The fuser’s state changes from Stopped to Connected.
  • Stop Fuser - Temporarily stop a fuser by selecting the fuser from the list and clicking. The fuser’s state changes from Connected to Stopped.
  • Use local fusers only -Use only local fusers

Managing Fusers on the Client Computers

The owner of the fuser computer has full control over activation of the fuser.

  1. To start a fuser, click Start > Skyline TerraBuilder > TerraBuilder Fuser. A TerraBuilder fuser icon is placed in the Windows Notification Area.
  2. Click the TerraBuilder Fuser icon. The TerraBuilder Fuser dialog box opens. This dialog box shows the state of the fuser, and details of the current MPT generation tasks.
    tbfuser4.png
  3. Do any of the following:
    • To temporarily stop a fuser, click Suspend. When you want to reactivate the fuser, click Resume. The activating computer attempts to reactivate the fuser every five minutes. The fuser is reactivated only if its owner has selected Resume.
    • To permanently remove the fuser from the initiating computer’s fuser list, click Terminate.
    • To automatically launch the fuser on Logon, select the Launch TerraBuilder Fuser upon logon check box. The fuser automatically starts the next time you log on.
  4. Click Close.

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