Can’t get render host out of offline status

That surely sounds a bit weird, never had that kind of problems while using muster and the evaluation mode only limits nodes to 2, other than that it´s fully functional.

The red dots usually means that something is wrong. and since it´s in your case is under the S it seems like there is something weird with the service.

(Page 41 in the manual says)

(red lightning) Service is either uninstalled or an unknown error happened querying the service

So let´s try a few things

First make a uninstall and, just for safety remove all trace of any config you might have done.

Just delete the following folders after the regular windows uninstall
(for x64) c:Program FilesVirtual VertexMuster 6
(for x32) c:Program Files (x86)Virtual VertexMuster 6

Make a fresh complete install but, Install the renderclient not as services but as batch mode instead during the install.

(if you get it to work you can easily just make them services afterwards by just running the exes with the “renderclient.exe -install option” works for the dispatcher as well)

This will also eliminate and network problems/blocked ports/user permissions and such since it´s running on your local user that is currently logged in.

Start both the dispatcher and renderclient from the start meny as a first step, they should pop up as separate command line windows with a lot of text in them.

Start the Muster Console and Connect to 127.0.0.1 in you should now have a green dot indicating that the computer connected correctly to the dispatcher.

You should be ready for the next step and the service should be running as it should.

Try to submit a local job and see what happens.
If you get other errors, like J or T. check the manual on how to solve those.

*Next step would be to make a connection from another computer to your dispatcher

Do the same thing on your other computer but only install the renderclient and enter the name of your first as dispatcher during the install.

Disconnect the Muster console on your first and Change the muster console connection to the first computers network name instead of 127.0.0.1 (rendernode1) or what you might have called it.

Try starting the muster console on your second (rendernode2) and connect the muster console to rendernode1.
If you don´t get a connection there is something that is blocking the connection. Like a firewall. Check page 14 of the manual to see what ports that is in use.

If Everything checks out. install the dispatcher as services with the -install and assign a log-in user manually to the service (page 16 in the manual). Make sure that the user is called the same on both computers and that it has admin rights.
If it´s not the service wont be able to access the network.

Good luck

More Troubleshooting Log folders and such

c:Program FilesVirtual VertexMuster 6Logsclient
Both the dispatcher log and client log are located there.

If those folders are empty try to start the renderclient.exe and dispatcher from a command line window with
renderclient.exe >debug.txt to make sure that you actually get a log from the renderclient or dispatcher.exe.
(they wont pop up as before but should output all that text to a file instead)