I found that it is easier to set up a managed cluster. I have done so many times.
In the qmaster control panel, stop qmaster, select "managed" in the compressor line, and start it again.
Then run Apple Qadministrator. You should see the mac pro's cluster but when you select it, there should be no services in the services tab.
There should be services listed at the bottom in the qmaster service browser. Select the mac pro and drag it up into the services tab. Open the triangle and make sure all the compressor tickboxes (one for each instance on the mac pro) are selected. Then click Apply, which updates the managed cluster in the mac pro to use all the instances.
Right-o.
Next, start up compressor and set up a compression test job. When you submit the job, you should be able to select a cluster: either "this computer" or the mac pro cluster.
The same in Final Cut Server - you should be able to choose the mac pro cluster in the preferences of the client's admin pane.
However, This is how it is supposed to work. I have found quite a bit of instability:
One system does not create a cluster controller. I have tried everything. It is a G5 quadcore. I have given up. It just does not show up in qadmin.
Some client computers don't appear to be "managed" in the qadministrator program, no matter what you try. I have 10 macs, three of them just won't be managed - they can only share qmaster jobs in an unmanaged fashion.
Others always only allow one less instance to be set up in qadministrator than you set up. Always. Set up 4 instances, you get three. Set up 8 in a mac pro, you only get 7 in qadmin.
AND then for the cicker. Be prepared to re-install compressor every few days after it's been working hard. Like doing a FCServer SAN scan of 6 TB footage. I have found that I have to run the ProApplicationsUpdate2008-01 every few days to re-install compressor after it stops working.
If you have as many problems with compressor, please tell apple about it here so they can fix it!
http://www.apple.com/feedback/compressor.html
Thanks
Francois
