Having Trouble With My Windows F@H Farm

[CyberStorm1]

I read about F@H yesterday, for the first time.

I was interested, because I have 3 computers:
A self-built gaming rig (CS-1)
A laptop (CS-2)
And a small media server (used to be one anyways). (CS-3)

So...I setup each one with the F@H software, and they work individually, but I would like to manage them all with my gaming computer.

*UPDATE*
-Fixed the problem where CS-2 would not update.
-Unfortunately, CS-3 is still stuck at "Connecting"

CyberStorm Main http://imageupper.com/i/?S0200010010023 ... 0470529911

System Info
CS-1 http://imageupper.com/i/?S0200010010033 ... 0470529911
CS-2 http://imageupper.com/i/?S0200010010013 ... 0470529911
CS-3 http://imageupper.com/i/?S0200010010043 ... 0470529911]

If you need more system hardware/software info, just ask and I will post what I can to help.

[Jesse_V]

Have you changed the settings in the remote machines to allow remote access? Usually one has to specify a password and allow the incoming IP address, and then restart F@h.

[CyberStorm1]

I didn't have requirements to connect, because only computers in the LAN will be allowed to access the compters, but I will try allowing CS-1's IP to access the other two, along with a password.

[CyberStorm1]

Ok, thats a start. I checked to confirm the passwords were correct. CS-2 works now, but CS-3 is still stuck at "CONNECTING".

[Jesse_V]

Did you restart FAHClient on the remote machines? You can click Quit in the F@h icon in the system tray and then click "Folding@home" on the desktop, or you could just restart the whole computer. Either way.

[CyberStorm1]

Yes, I restarted F@H on all 3 systems.

[bruce]

When you can't connect between FAH on computer A and on computer B, you can sometimes get better error descriptions from telnet. From Computer A, try telnetting to "computer B" (either with the IP address or with it's host name - both should work) connecting to port 36330. (If it asks you for a password, enter it.) Check "taskman" or "top" to be sure FAHClient is running on computer B.

If it still doesn't work, disable any security settings on Computer B. [If you're really concerned, disconnect the internet but not the LAN -- but a brief test probably won't allow any rogue connections.]

[CyberStorm1]

What do you mean by telnetting? That should be disabled by default in Windows.

[bruce]

Windows does not download their telnet client but you can enable it or you can download a 3rd party client. FAHControl and WEBControl communicate with FAHClient using the telnet protocol. Your firewall or router may also block connections from/to the internet or within your LAN but FAH uses them if and only if the messages are successfully passed between FAH's components.

By default, FAHClient erects it's own security for those connections as long as you don't want to use Remote Access. See the settings for Remote Access and for Connection.
<!-- Remote Command Server
-->
<command-allow.... v="...." />
<command-deny.... v="...." />
<command-port v="....." />
<password v="....." />

If your firewall blocks those connections, too, FAH won't be able to connect. It's generally safe to allow connections WITHIN your LAN and let the Router block connections with the internet.

[PantherX]

When FAHControl is stuck in "Connecting" even though the remote FAHClient is operational, how long did you wait? I have seen few occurrences where it can take several minutes for the remote FAHClient to connect to my local FAHControl. Since it is a rare random event, I haven't really been able to recreate it on demand or further investigate it.

P.S. -> Welcome to the F@H Forum CyberStorm1.

[CyberStorm1]

@PantherX, thanks for welcoming me to the forums. I left all 3 computers on all night, and plan to keep doing so. During that time, it was still not connected. Another problem may be my firewall...
CS-3 can control CS-2 but not CS-1.
CS-2 can't control CS-1 or CS-3.
CS-1 can control CS-2 but not CS-3.

Note: All 3 computers are setup EXACTLY the same, just with different hardware/drivers.
All 3 have Windows 7 Ultimate (64-Bit), BitLocker drive encryption, Comodo Internet Security, and run only F@H when unattended.

Also, if I manage to get enough money, I plan on getting a server rack and building 6 folding computers.

[bruce]

They may appear to be exactly the same, but obviously they're not. It sounds like an exception has been entered in the firewall for CS-2 but not for CS-1 or CS-3. Which firewall are you running?