Re: [TER] Folding@home. Home thread.

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Hinton: We probably ought to start thinking about creating a new "perpetual" thread. 6 pages is the limit I believe?<BR><BR>Added 2242mhz btw. </div></BLOCKQUOTE><BR>Ya, maybe when we actually get to page 6, huh? No use making more home threads than needed, eh Xyzzy? Anyway, Hinton picked a good title.

I sit by the computer all day long, just waiting for a chance to lock a thread...<br><br>-- View image here: https://cdn.arstechnica.net/forum/smilies/devious.gif -- -- View image here: https://cdn.arstechnica.net/forum/smilies/gavel.gif --

Hinton for president! (of Denmark) -- View image here: http://episteme.arstechnica.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif --

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Hinton:<BR><BR>Edit: Denmark is a constitutional monarchy, so my options are kinda limited to either prime minister or king (or queen, but let's not go there). </div></BLOCKQUOTE><BR><BR><BR>OK . . .then PM will have to do!

Well, I just recently lost a borged machine. It was given away to someone who won't have it on all the time, or even long enough for it to really do anything. So I'll likely be dropping ranks soon. My 2 home machines fold on, however.

Well, I just recently found a lost borged machine (2.26 GHz Celery). Back to folding (24/7ish)

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Xyzzy:<BR>I sit by the computer all day long, just waiting for a chance to lock a thread...<BR> </div></BLOCKQUOTE><BR>Dang! I had an amusing picture of you that I wanted to post in the old thread before it got locked. <BR><BR>/me enjoys the new thread smell

I have a question: why is my FAH only using 49-50% of my CPU and not running another instance for the other half? Doesn't FAH make use of HT?<BR><BR>EDIT >>> OK . . .I set up another client in a new folder but when I tried to start it I was told that I could only run one client at a time.<BR><BR>If I cannot use HT I might as welll not run FAH again.

You need to set up two copies of FAH in their own directories. When you set up the second one, set the machine ID to 2 (say "yes" to advanced settings, and it will ask you for a "Machine ID"). This way the two copies will not interfere with each other.

OK I will try that because I have been running one instance of SoB to use the other processor.<BR><BR>BTW >>> Where do I enter ID #2 at?

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Jamilla:<BR>BTW >>> Where do I enter ID #2 at? </div></BLOCKQUOTE><BR><pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">Team Number [0]? 14
Launch automatically at machine startup, installing this as a
service (yes/no) [no]?
Ask before fetching/sending work (no/yes) [no]?
Use Internet Explorer Settings (no/yes) [no]?
Use proxy (yes/no) [no]?
Allow receipt of work assignments and return of work results greater than
5MB in size (such work units may have large memory demands) (no/yes) [no]?</pre><B><pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">Change advanced options (yes/no) [no]? yes</pre></B><pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">
Core Priority (idle/low) [idle]?
CPU usage requested (5-100) [100]?
Disable highly optimized assembly code (no/yes) [no]?
Pause if battery power is being used (useful for laptops) (no/yes) [no]?
Interval, in minutes, between checkpoints (3-30) [15]?
Request work units without deadlines (no-pref/no/yes) [no-pref]?
Ignore any deadline information (mainly useful if
system clock frequently has errors) (no/yes) [no]?</pre><B><pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">Machine ID (1-8) [1]? 2</pre></B><BR><BR>This is from the command-line interface. I don't know where it would be in the GUI version.

I found it in client.cfg which is in the FAH folder. I have them now listed as ID 1 and ID 2, but it still seems that it is only ID 2 running now because in my Task manager it lists only one instance of FAH.<BR><BR>Now how do I get both of them to run?

I think you need to use the -local switch when you start the clients.

Uh, where is that? I am running the GUI version.

Props to Hinton!! Started a new thread and now we're getting some activity. Way to go! <br><br>P.S. - I think your link to the previous thread will have people going in circles. -- View image here: http://episteme.arstechnica.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_smile.gif --

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Jamilla:<BR>Uh, where is that? I am running the GUI version. </div></BLOCKQUOTE><BR><BR>Hey, don't get me wrong. I mistakenly thought the new thread was mandated, not by choice. My bad, and nothing against Hinton either. And like I said, I thought Hinton picked a good title.<BR><BR>@ Jamilla, F@H only allows one instance of the screen saver version, aka the GUI version. If you want to run two copies, one of them needs to be the console version, aka the CLI version. Also note, the GUI only runs correctly as Machine ID 1, so don't mess with that ID #. Also note that while most text editors work just fine to modify the client.cfg file, that file is considered a binary file by F@H. Stanford recommends against manual edits, but no one listens as it works 99% of the time.

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by 7im:<BR><BR>@ Jamilla, F@H only allows one instance of the screen saver version, aka the GUI version. If you want to run two copies, one of them needs to be the console version, aka the CLI version. Also note, the GUI only runs correctly as Machine ID 1, so don't mess with that ID #. Also note that while most text editors work just fine to modify the client.cfg file, that file is considered a binary file by F@H. Stanford recommends against manual edits, but no one listens as it works 99% of the time. </div></BLOCKQUOTE><BR><BR>I do have the ID #s set correctly and I did it in notepad! Ok . . .later tonight I will install the console version. Man it has been a few years since I ran anything in console mode (FAH and GAH).<BR><BR>Thanks!<BR><BR>Jammy

Editing it manually in notepad may not work. The "client.cfg" file contains LF's only (instead of CR/LFs), and notepad may change this. I think you can edit it in some other programs that respect the end-of-line characters (EditPlus does).<BR><BR>EDIT: The console version has an option to install as a service; you may want to check it out.

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Paul Miner:<BR><BR><BR>EDIT: The console version has an option to install as a service; you may want to check it out. </div></BLOCKQUOTE><BR><BR>I know how to edit cfg files from doing it with my Seti Classic, DIMES, and the old Distributed Folding. I leearned a lot from MathGuy when using scripts for my SoB.<BR><BR>Yes I would probably install the second one as a service then I would not be looking for two little red flowers in my systray.

The default F@H service installer is very basic. For more bells and options, check out PK's service installer. <BR>http://devel.bluetentacle.co.uk/dc/fahservice/index.htm

I was able to install the second FAH as a service and it shows up in my Task manager but is not running eben though I started it! The thing cannot connect to get any work.<BR><BR>I give up now.

I refuse to put any of my machines to Team 0 until I see 30% of the teams behind us approaching move theirs over first. I do not see the logic behind asking people to move off this team to show a tribute to a guy that was never a part of this team. I say if you want to honor him, start a single user id of him on team #14. <BR><BR> That being said, I am hoping to have my parts ordered for the dually monster in a few weeks. I have some other financial stuff closing out later this week and should be ready to build it later this month. (crossing my fingers). This should increase my output by about 30-50%. No where near the power of HOW or OC-AMD but still doing my part.<BR><BR>*Jamilla - Make sure you have enough RAM to run both instances of FAH. Currently some of the projects take up to 900mb to run. If you have two setup for large WU, you would need almost 2 gig of memory. It is a known issue that OC-AMD has been battling with F@H over the last few months.

I hsve only 1.5 GHz of ram on this box.<BR><BR>And this box is a P4 3 GHz w/HT.

I just set up two clients on my computer here. Here's a copy of what I did:<BR><pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">
Cfah>dir
Volume in drive C is IBM120
Volume Serial Number is 3867-42B3

Directory of Cfah

08/07/2005 12:50 PM <DIR> .
08/07/2005 12:50 PM <DIR> ..
08/07/2005 12:50 PM 253,952 FAH502-Console.exe
1 File(s) 253,952 bytes
2 Dir(s) 114,392,645,632 bytes free
</pre><B><pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">Cfah>md client1

Cfah>md client2

Cfah>copy fah502-console.exe .\client1
1 file(s) copied.

Cfah>move fah502-console.exe .\client2
1 file(s) moved.

Cfah>cd client1

Cfah\client1>fah502-console -configonly</pre></B><pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">
Note: Please read the license agreement (fah502-console -license). Further
use of this software requires that you have read and accepted this agreement.

Folding@Home User Configuration

No directory settings found in registry. Using current directory...


--- Opening Log file [August 7 17:51:35]


# Windows Console Edition #####################################################
###############################################################################

Folding@Home Client Version 5.02

http://folding.stanford.edu

###############################################################################
###############################################################################

Launch directory: Cfah\client1
Executable: fah502-console
Arguments: -configonly

[17:51:35] Configuring Folding@Home...
</pre><B><pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">User name [Anonymous]? phasm42
Team Number [0]? 14
Launch automatically at machine startup, installing this as a
service (yes/no) [no]? yes</pre></B><pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">
The program will continue in non-service mode now, working in Cfah\client1.
The next time the computer is starts up, you should see work automatically
continue there. Note that when this service is running, you should not try
to manually run F@H from that directory at the same time.

Ask before fetching/sending work (no/yes) [no]?
Use Internet Explorer Settings (no/yes) [no]?
Use proxy (yes/no) [no]?
Allow receipt of work assignments and return of work results greater than
5MB in size (such work units may have large memory demands) (no/yes) [no]?
Change advanced options (yes/no) [no]?

[17:51:50] - Ask before connecting: No
[17:51:50] - User name: phasm42 (Team 14)
[17:51:50] - User ID not found locally
[17:51:50] + Requesting User ID from server
[17:51:51] - Machine I 1
[17:51:51]
[17:51:51] -configonly flag given, so exiting.
</pre><B><pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">Cfah\client1>cd ..\client2

Cfah\client2>fah502-console -configonly
</pre></B><pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">
Note: Please read the license agreement (fah502-console -license). Further
use of this software requires that you have read and accepted this agreement.

Folding@Home User Configuration

No directory settings found in registry. Using current directory...


--- Opening Log file [August 7 17:52:05]


# Windows Console Edition #####################################################
###############################################################################

Folding@Home Client Version 5.02

http://folding.stanford.edu

###############################################################################
###############################################################################

Launch directory: Cfah\client2
Executable: fah502-console
Arguments: -configonly

[17:52:05] Configuring Folding@Home...
</pre><B><pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">User name [Anonymous]? phasm42
Team Number [0]? 14
Launch automatically at machine startup, installing this as a
service (yes/no) [no]? yes</pre></B><pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">
The program will continue in non-service mode now, working in Cfah\client2.
The next time the computer is starts up, you should see work automatically
continue there. Note that when this service is running, you should not try
to manually run F@H from that directory at the same time.

Ask before fetching/sending work (no/yes) [no]?
Use Internet Explorer Settings (no/yes) [no]?
Use proxy (yes/no) [no]?
Allow receipt of work assignments and return of work results greater than
5MB in size (such work units may have large memory demands) (no/yes) [no]?</pre><B><pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">Change advanced options (yes/no) [no]? yes</pre></B><pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">Core Priority (idle/low) [idle]?
CPU usage requested (5-100) [100]?
Disable highly optimized assembly code (no/yes) [no]?
Pause if battery power is being used (useful for laptops) (no/yes) [no]?
Interval, in minutes, between checkpoints (3-30) [15]?
Request work units without deadlines (no-pref/no/yes) [no-pref]?
Ignore any deadline information (mainly useful if
system clock frequently has errors) (no/yes) [no]?</pre><B><pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">Machine ID (1-8) [1]? 2</pre></B><pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">

[17:52:28] - Ask before connecting: No
[17:52:28] - User name: phasm42 (Team 14)
[17:52:28] - User I 566F5E7372689D9F
[17:52:28] - Machine I 2
[17:52:28]
[17:52:28] -configonly flag given, so exiting.

Cfah\client2></pre><BR>After this, I went to Administrative Tools:Services, and started both instances of FAH ("FAH@C:+fah+client1+fah502-console" and "FAH@C:+fah+client2+fah502-console"). They're set to "Automatic", so they will start automatically after a reboot.<BR><BR>EDIT: Note, this is a clean install. If you already have one service running, you should just create a second one with a different machine id. Preferrably, I think both instances of FAH should be running as services.

I did just that, installed the second FAH as a service and it never started even though I started it in Services.<BR><BR>Until the folks at FAH give a simple way of making use of both processors I will not run FAH any more since 50% of my processing power goes unused.

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by 7im:<BR>The default F@H service installer is very basic. For more bells and options, check out PK's service installer. <BR>http://devel.bluetentacle.co.uk/dc/fahservice/index.htm </div></BLOCKQUOTE><BR><BR>Will PK's installer set up two clients?

Yes, it has a switch option "-cpu=x" where you can specify the installer to create as many F@H installations as you want. I have used it to install 4 clients at once on a dual xeon with HyperThreading.<BR><BR>PK's page has good instructions, and examples, check it out for yourself. You will see mention of the -cpu switch, as well as many other options.

Thanks 7im, but you must remember that I am really dumb! If directions are not written in plain English I do not understand them.

I have a feeling that your problems are stemming from a service install that went wrong (transitioning from one GUI client to two service clients). I think they plan on adding SMP support, but as of now it's a matter of getting two separate instances to run. If you have the patience, we can try and help you diagnose the problem.<br><br>1. Are you trying to run both instances as services (this is preferred), or only one as a service, and the other as a GUI?<br>2. What are the names of the service(s) listed in "Administrative Tools:Services"?<br>3. Does it complain when you try to start the service, or does it say it started but not do anything?<br>4. Could you post your client.cfg files and a page from the end of FAH's logs (FAHlog.txt)?<br><br>I'm sorry this is causing you trouble, but everyone here will be happy to help, if you can bear with us. -- View image here: http://episteme.arstechnica.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_smile.gif --

It's official. TER is now in 7th place. http://vspx27.stanford.edu/cgi-bin/main.py?qtype=teamstats

Jamilla, <BR><BR> Another way to make them both run, without having to run as a service is to add the -local to each start up shortcut. This way the work is done within each instances directory they are installed in.

Paul Miner and sURFNmADNESS:<BR><BR>Thanks . . .I will try both of your suggestions but today is one of my days for running Seti Classic so I will try in the morning (after 10 am PDST).

Down to 7th, but still crunching. Production seems to have recovered up to about mid-140's again, and holding steady.<BR><BR>Still proud of Ars for keeping a team in the top 10 on F@H when we run so many other DC projects.

BOOYaaa!

-- View image here: http://episteme.arstechnica.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_mad.gif --

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Paul Miner and sURFNmADNESS: </div></BLOCKQUOTE><BR>View image: http://www.snapzzz.com/EMIII_8-9-05.gif <BR><BR>I got both instances of FAH to run, one as a service the other as a GUI.<BR><BR>I have one question:<BR><BR>Is a Tinker larger than a Gromacs? It has been so long since I have ran FAH.<BR><BR>Thanks,<BR><BR>Jammy

Tinker work units come in all sizes, as do Gromacs. There is no direct comparison. Check out the Project Summary page for more info about each WU type. http://vspx27.stanford.edu/psummary.html<BR><BR>Note, that page is off line at the moment. You can try again latter.<BR><BR>Other work unit types include QMDs and PMDs and Double Gromacs, also Timeless Tinkers and Timeless Gromacs.<BR><BR>EDIT: Okay, the summary page is working again.