Why do we bother?

Question

I've had it now. I spent hours fiddling the network and making sure all computer are on the same segment etc.
I took the trouble to read all the supplied docs on how to do multi-host distributed rendering: Setting up service nodes (Qmaster pref pane), setting up controller node (Qmaster pref pane), creating a cluster and adding services to the cluster. I learned a few things on the way, andfinally got to the point where I am about to add my (two) service hosts to the cluster.
Then it is, for some peculiar reason, not possible to drag them into the "Services" pane form the Service Browser. I click on their little lines, they turn blueish, and I drag my little mouse in a futile attempt to add these service nodes to my cluster. But no. NOthing happens. Except for the cute little useless blueish background color that each entry gets when highlighted with the mouse.
WHY? WHY? WHY?
I know this is complicated computing here. These are not trivial tasks we are venturing into. But Apple, in support of the creative businesses like they have always been, tries to make them so, and they FAIL. Methods described on your official docs FAIL. Something is missing here, and why won't you let us know?
I have spent far too many hours figuring out little secrets of Final Cut, Compressor and Qmaster. Most of my knowledge I thank myself, experienced individuals in these discussion forums, and other third-party sources for.
I want stuff that actually works, I can't use good intentions alone.
Best regards;
Eivind Sivertsen,
Atmel corp.
Message was edited by: edvinpedvin

Answer 1

OK guys, confession to make before ranting on...
Getting back home and cooling down, I came to think of one thing left to check: whether or not the same license is installed on the other station. I know it is stupid to rush into a rant, but now I'll check that out and I PRAY that this is the problem.
Still, being on a rant; I still think this supports my point: why on earth would an application capable of authorizing software instances in the same network, NOT mention it if there was a problem? This point is not mentioned in the written (.pdf) docs either, even though the procedures are written to the detail where opening the Qadministrator application is described as a process of double-clicking wth your computer mouse on the appropriate icon...
I know this is the case for many other posters, I have seen it posted many times over in the compressor forum. Jobs simply stop, crash, or fail producing an error msg stating that "Some file was missing" (the file lying right there on the desktop of course), or something with the same level of irrelevance. Software that has been in stable releases for this long shouldn't
behave like that. Apple's pro video apps has some of the worst error trapping I have ever seen, it's right there next to MS OutLook.
For potential license problems: It could even just open a "purchase through iTunes" dialog box, and my guess is the better part of those unhappy posters would (almost) happily pay for another license if that stood between them and getting their job done. At least the professionals.
I love my iPod Touch, and the way you can get online and purchase new contents for it is just amazing! So I can definitely see how Apple would rather focus on this smooth way of giving dollars worldwide the wings to fly back to Cupertino, CA. But we need some of that mass-market gadget smoothness into the pro apps, too! Logic 8 looks good, so now it's time to look at the FCP/Compressor/Qmaster/Shake line.
And believe me, the rant from my first post was only ONE of all the strange things I encountered, fiddling with Qadm etc. It was the point where I gave up, crouched into my fetal pose and fell over sobbing on the floor. Almost :}
Message was edited by: edvinpedvin