[BruceJ]

My quick guide to network rendering.
If I missed anything, please feel free to post a correction.

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Here are the basic steps to set up a rendering farm:

Create a directory somewhere that you're sure all computers on the network can access by using Windows sharing. Log in to each computer and be sure you can create new files in that directory or drive.

Copy the standard materials and maps from 3ds max to that location and any special materials you may have created (downloaded images, etc.)

Install 3ds max on each computer as a basic installation (don't need to install help files, etc. except for the main computer)
You only need to authorize the copy on the main computer also.
If you don't authorize the other copies and therefore cannot run 3ds max on the server machines, you may need to edit the 3dsmax.ini file to change the directory paths where materials are located. Otherwise, you can change these in the preferences when you run the program. (customize -> configure user paths)

Create a directory where the rendered frames will go in your common/shared location.

You will need to render the scene as numbered stills (scene001.tga, scene002.tga, etc.) because that's how the work is divided among the computers.

In the Windows start menu under 3ds max, you will see 3 backburner programs.
On the main computer, run the backburner manager.
On the other computers, run the backburner server.
On the main computer, run the backburner monitor.

The manager program will get responses from the server programs if they are on the network and collect which computers are available for rendering.

In the monitor program, connect to the manager program to be able to track the render progress.

If you want the main computer to render also, then run the backburner server program on the main computer as well.

In 3ds max, go to the render menu and select "net render".

Now, when you are ready to render your scene, the manager should split up the frames among any running servers and you should be able to track the progress using the backburner monitor program.

Also, 3ds max has in-program help files where you can look under the section for "3ds max reference -> rendering -> network rendering"