For this tutorial we will be using Blender v2.48a, Indigo v1.1.18 and Blendigo v1.1.14 and Windows XP.

Let’s start with the basics:
The computer that starts a render is called the ‘Master’.
The computers that connect to the master are called ‘Slaves’.
A computer that is both managing the farm and chipping in it’s own CPU power is called a ‘Working Master’.

Step 1 – Installing Indigo

Download Indigo v1.1.18 and extract it to your C:\Program Files folder. It should look like this:

The exact location isn’t important, just make sure you alter the path in the next step if you decide to change it.

Step 2 – Creating the BAT file

BAT files are simply a set of written instructions for windows to follow. It produces the exact same result as typing into command prompt, but making a BAT file saves you having to retype it each time you use it.

You can quickly create a BAT file using notepad. Open it up and type the following:
cd C:\Program Files\indigo_v1.1.18
indigo.exe -n s

This is telling Windows to go to C:\Program Files\indigo_v1.1.18 and run indigo.exe in network (-n) slave (s) mode.

Save the file as ‘indigo_network_slave.bat’, change the type to ‘All Files’, and save it to your desktop:

Step 3 – Running the .BAT

Double-click the newly created icon on your desktop that looks like this:

This will open Indigo in ‘Slave mode’. The panel should say that it is ‘Listening on port XXXX’:

The slave is now ready! It will continue to wait until the master sends it some work.

Step 4 – Starting the Master

Go to your Master computer and open the scene you want rendered:

In the System Tab of Blendigo, turn ‘Working Master’ on and hit ‘EXPORT Scene’:

You are now rendering!

Step 5 – Check Slave and Master

Your slave machine should now be receiving instructions from the master machine and starting to render:

Your Master machine should display a message similar to this:

Receiving frame from 192.168.0.111:1105 :
num_samples: 1400000.000000
width: 1204
height: 904
Frame received. (lock wait time: 0.00 s, transfer time: 2.29 s)

You can kill the render on the Master machine whenever you like. When you export it again, the slaves will automatically reconnect.

That’s it! You are now part of the elite nerdy crew who can say “I value my rendertimes, more than my electrical bill”. Feels good doesn’t it?

Was this tutorial useful to you? If you got stuck at any step on the way, drop a comment below and I’ll be happy to help!