Question about project deadlines

[RMouse]

Hello,

Each folding project is described as having two deadlines. The first is the prefered deadline and the second is a final deadline. What is strange to me is that if you miss the preferred deadline, the WU is considered lost and is then re-issued with no credit given. What is the point of the second deadline if you fail to meet the preferred deadline? Seems very strange that anything would happen once the WU is re-issued.

I am working on a WU now that will take 8.5 days to complete. The preferred deadline is 8 days so should I cancel this? I am not sure if I should because it seems that the estimates are wildly inaccurate sometimes. I was watching my computer count down to the completion of a WU. I was lucky enough to be near my computer during the final minutes of a project and when it counted down to zero, it immediately went back to 1.5 days. NO WU was finished and no log entries were made. It just went right up to 1.5 days, and it eventually finished.

Not sure what is going on here. Should I cancel the 8 day project? (Project 10504). Actually, it has risen to 9 days now and I am 10% through it.

Thanks for the help.

[sortofageek]

Why do you think no credit is given if you complete after the preferred deadline? That isn't how it is supposed to work. While you may receive less credit for some WUs completed after preferred but still returned before the final deadline, you should still receive credit.

Since work units build on each other, it is important to keep them returning quickly so the next can build. That's why WUs completed quicker get more credits. Those completed between the two deadlines are still of value, however.

If you feel you didn't receive credit for a WU completed by the final deadline, please post a report in this forum. Notice the stickied topic there on troubleshooting WUs as well.

[RMouse]

Why do you think no credit is given if you complete after the preferred deadline? That isn't how it is supposed to work. While you may receive less credit for some WUs completed after preferred but still returned before the final deadline, you should still receive credit.

Since work units build on each other, it is important to keep them returning quickly so the next can build. That's why WUs completed quicker get more credits. Those completed between the two deadlines are still of value, however.

If you feel you didn't receive credit for a WU completed by the final deadline, please post a report in this forum. Notice the stickied topic there on troubleshooting WUs as well.

I am confused because I read that if you miss the preferred deadline, the work is presumed lost and then re-issued to another folder. I am not worried about credit, I just want to make sure that if I spend 8 days pounding out data, that it will be useful. 8 days is as fast as my computer can go. This is 8 days on my GPU.

I was told in an earlier thread that I could be assigned WU's that are too long for my CPU to complete so I am trying to be careful not wasting a week or more of number crunching.

[sortofageek]

I have never heard it worded quite that way, but it makes sense in a way. If the WU is "considered lost" and that triggers it to be assigned to someone else, the chances are it will get to someone who can return it faster and keep the project going. Your returned WU, if completed by the final deadline, can be used as a doublecheck on accuracy of that (or those) completed by others. Accuracy is important, too.

So, as long as you know you can get it done by the final deadline, rest assured you are helping with the work. If you see it can't possibly complete by the deadline, then it's ok to to delete it and hope the next one can get done on time.

[RMouse]

I have never heard it worded quite that way, but it makes sense in a way. If the WU is "considered lost" and that triggers it to be assigned to someone else, the chances are it will get to someone who can return it faster and keep the project going. Your returned WU, if completed by the final deadline, can be used as a doublecheck on accuracy of that (or those) completed by others. Accuracy is important, too.

So, as long as you know you can get it done by the final deadline, rest assured you are helping with the work. If you see it can't possibly complete by the deadline, then it's ok to to delete it and hope the next one can get done on time.

OK thank you, very helpful.

Is there some utility available besides the logs that can help me look at when I start WUs?

[RMouse]

I guess I should not look at the estimated time it will take to finish a WU. The WU that made me write this post, that was reported as taking 8 days, now is being listed as being done in 1.5 days. Too confusing!!

[bruce]

Is there some utility available besides the logs that can help me look at when I start WUs?

I suggest you either upgrade to the V7 client or choose one of the monitoring applications from the 3rd party forum.

The FAHControl program (the GUI portion of the V7 client) reports the Assigned time/Timeout time/Expiration time on the lower-right side of the Advanced screen. There's an enhancement request to add a specific warning: Ticket #523