Linux / Windows shared data directories?

[pcwolf]

Greetings. Search did not turn up an results, thus this post.

I run Manjaro for my desktop, and maintain a Windows 10 boot disk for when I have to use Windows tools.

On both, I run F@H in the background while I work. When I finish in Windows, I can't wait to reboot into Manjaro. Invariably, there are unfinished WUs that will be shut down with the reboot.

Is there any reason I cannot use just one data directory for all F@H WUs, to resume in whichever Folding daemon is currently in use? Since Windows cannot read EXT4 drives, can I redirect my Linux F@H to use the data directory on the Windows NTFS drive? Will all WUs restart at the last checkpoint no matter which Operating System is accessing them?

I *hate* losing credit for incomplete / late WUs.

Thank you

[HaloJones]

In principle, but I've never heard of it being done successfully.

[Joe_H]

There are multiple problems that will show up trying to do this. Each installation will have had an unique ID assigned to it when first connected to the servers. The folding core executables are also stored in another part of that data directory, so the Linux vs Windows executables would be a problem. There are more issues, including whether the calculations could be picked up by the Linux core after processing by the Windows one and vice versa.

[PantherX]

In addition to what Joe_H has stated, some Projects can be OS specific. Thus, if you get a Windows WU, it will not function as expected under Linux and vice-versa.

My suggestion is that on both OS, you add this parameter:
<pause-on-start v='true'/>

Which is done via Advanced Control (AKA FAHControl -> Configure -> Expert -> Extra client options -> Add -> Edit options is where Name is pause-on-start and Value is true -> OK -> Save

That way, if you know that the work on Windows is only 5 hours, you will not start folding thus, you can spend more time on Manjaro. If you are going to be spending a day on Windows, you can start folding and ensure that the slot is set to Finish to prevent a new WU from downloading.

[Catalina588]

Think along the lines of a common container that could run on either OS, keeping one set of executables and unique IDs. Microsoft Windows has gotten pretty friendly with Linux and Linux containers. I leave it to others for details.

[PantherX]

Building on what Catalina588 said, you can look into running containers (https://github.com/FoldingAtHome/containers) or a VM (https://flings.vmware.com/vmware-applia ... lding-home) but the performance will be impacted (positive/negative) by the overhead of the virtualization software and the guest/host OS.

[pcwolf]

Thank you for the quick and creative responses to my question with problems and possible solutions.

I believe I am going to follow PantherX' advice, and consider the length of my stay in Windows environment, and not start what I cannot complete.

First, I will enter Windows soon and issue a "Finish" command so that I do not commit to any further WUs.