New to the world of PC based folding.. [and relative newby]

sortofageek · Post by **sortofageek** » Wed Dec 05, 2007 2:17 am

You may want to just shut down the graphical client until we get the console client running.

Frankly, I never use the graphical client. I like no nonsense console myself.

I would blow away the GUI and install two console clients if it were me, but that would involve some editing of the registry. That's why I am not recommending this for you at this point.

uncle fuzzy · Post by **uncle fuzzy** » Wed Dec 05, 2007 2:19 am

Are you choosing YES on whatever the statement is about changing advanced settings?

name,team,connection stuff,WU size, advanced stuff (including machine ID).

anko1 · Post by **anko1** » Wed Dec 05, 2007 2:23 am

Ooops. I was choosing "no."

You guys are the best. Unfortunately, I have to go now, will reattempt tomorrow morning.

uncle fuzzy · Post by **uncle fuzzy** » Wed Dec 05, 2007 2:26 am

I won't be here in the morning, but that's afternoon for our European members. Someone will be here to help.

v00d00 · Post by **v00d00** » Wed Dec 05, 2007 5:11 am

Try this setup guide i made for a friend.

http://www.sierrabeta.co.uk/howtofold/

Ignore the regedit stuff if you arent happy doing that. Similarly set "no" on the service install if you dont require it.

On steps 7 and 8 it shows all the options when you run with the -configonly flag. Machine ID is the last option under advanced settings.

Also if you have worked out how to use services.msc you can forego the reboot.

sortofageek · Post by **sortofageek** » Wed Dec 05, 2007 8:53 am

anko1 wrote:I think we're moving along...

I tried downloading in my new folder C:\FAH2a and immediately noticed one difference when I went to the short cut to add the flags. In my first try, there were quotation marks on either side of the file name. Now there are none. And I took the advice of making one short cut config only. However, it starts off assuming I'm using machine id 1 (blows right by that part). How do I get it to let me tell it it's really id 2?

See my edits in my posts above. If you use the simple folder name and don't put it in the Program files folder, you will not need the quotes. This is the main reason I don't recommend placing your FAH folder in the Program Files folder. If you do, then you need to understand exactly why you need the quotes and where they belong. If you don't understand them, you're likely to get them placed wrong when you make changes to the switches.

You can tell the client to change the ID # in the advanced options. Config will ask you if you want to configure advanced options. Say yes. That option and a number of others are there. You may want to read the various links we have given you above before trying this again so you understand those options.

This is why your GUI client's WU keeps getting stomped on by the second client, I think. This is because you don't get the machine ID# changed to 2 before starting to crunch the second WU.

anko1 · Post by **anko1** » Wed Dec 05, 2007 8:53 am

Try this setup guide i made for a friend.

Thanks, that's very cool with the pictures. It was helpful with the options to select.

I frankly have no idea what the regedit stuff is, so I'm not happy doing that.

and I don't understand the service install, so I don't know if I require that [remember, I said very simple

]. [edit - is this for the auto start up, and am I sorry I said no the first time through?]

I got as far as getting the console (for Windows XP) into my new folder (C:\FAH2a). Then I created a short cut to config only, adding the -configonly flag. I double clicked on that. After I finished answering the items, it closed down, which I guess is the same as your example, except I didn't see it say it was shutting down.

Then I double clicked on the config only short cut and it took me through the config stuff again [I double clicked b/c that was the instruction in an earlier message, but it just occurred to me that that was a different short cut, not the config only.]. So I right clicked on the console file again to create a "Run only" short cut, with the -local and -verbosity 9 flags. Then when I double clicked on the run only short cut, it took me through the whole config stuff again, though at least this time I knew enough to say yes to the advanced options and name it machine 2. Anyway, I think it's running now. I'll add my log at the end. However, I think I want to change the option to automatically start up when the computer does [figured that out after looking at your example, which came after this experiment], so how can I do that now that it's running?

I have a sneaky suspicion that I missed a step or two after creating the config only short cut.

Also, what's the proper way to shut down this client before shutting down the computer [at this point, I'm just letting this sucker run tonight.]? Seems as if I close the shortcut it creates an error message and I loose everything [this is what I recall from prior experiments, but now all trashed, so my memory may be faulty]. I need to get it off the task bar so my husband or kids don't accidentally close it.

Thanks again a million times to everyone who's been so helpful to such a newbie.

anko1

PS - I can't figure out how to copy the short cut log to show you the options I chose.

The FAH2a log:

--- Opening Log file [December 5 07:26:29]

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

Folding@Home Client Version 5.04beta

http://folding.stanford.edu

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

Launch directory: C:\FAH2a
Executable: C:\FAH2a\FAH504-Console.exe
Arguments: -local -verbosity 9

[07:26:29] Configuring Folding@Home...

[07:27:55] - Ask before connecting: No
[07:27:55] - User name: anko1 (Team 47815)
[07:27:55] - User ID: 14991F842ED3B1A8
[07:27:55] - Machine ID: 2
[07:27:55]
[07:27:55] Work directory not found. Creating...
[07:27:55] Could not open work queue, generating new queue...
[07:27:55] + Benchmarking ...
[07:27:58] The benchmark result is 6988
[07:27:58] - Autosending finished units...
[07:27:58] - Preparing to get new work unit...
[07:27:58] Trying to send all finished work units
[07:27:58] + Attempting to get work packet
[07:27:58] + No unsent completed units remaining.
[07:27:58] - Autosend completed
[07:27:58] - Will indicate memory of 2046 MB
[07:27:58] - Connecting to assignment server
[07:27:58] Connecting to http://assign.stanford.edu:8080/
[07:27:58] Posted data.
[07:27:58] Initial: 3B80; - Successful: assigned to (128.59.74.4).
[07:27:58] + News From Folding@Home: Welcome to Folding@Home
[07:27:58] Loaded queue successfully.
[07:27:58] Connecting to http://128.59.74.4:8080/
[07:27:59] Posted data.
[07:28:00] Initial: 0000; - Receiving payload (expected size: 846359)
[08:19:52] - Downloaded at ~0 kB/s
[08:19:52] - Averaged speed for that direction ~0 kB/s
[08:19:52] + Received work.
[08:19:52] + Closed connections
[08:19:52]
[08:19:52] + Processing work unit
[08:19:52] Core required: FahCore_7b.exe
[08:19:52] Core not found.
[08:19:52] - Core is not present or corrupted.
[08:19:52] - Attempting to download new core...
[08:19:52] + Downloading new core: FahCore_7b.exe
[08:19:52] Downloading core (/~pande/Win32/x86//Core_7b.fah from http://www.stanford.edu)
[08:19:52] Initial: AFDE; + 10240 bytes downloaded
[08:19:52] Initial: AA0B; + 20480 bytes downloaded
[08:19:53] Initial: F5D6; + 30720 bytes downloaded
[08:19:53] Initial: C9CE; + 40960 bytes downloaded
[08:19:53] Initial: 74C2; + 51200 bytes downloaded
[08:19:54] Initial: 5F01; + 61440 bytes downloaded
[08:19:54] Initial: 5E0D; + 71680 bytes downloaded
[08:19:54] Initial: 10E7; + 81920 bytes downloaded
[08:19:54] Initial: 54AE; + 92160 bytes downloaded
[08:19:55] Initial: D802; + 102400 bytes downloaded
[08:19:55] Initial: 29DD; + 112640 bytes downloaded
[08:19:55] Initial: AF62; + 122880 bytes downloaded
[08:19:55] Initial: A011; + 133120 bytes downloaded
[08:19:56] Initial: 7C88; + 143360 bytes downloaded
[08:19:56] Initial: C1B1; + 153600 bytes downloaded
[08:19:56] Initial: D246; + 163840 bytes downloaded
[08:19:56] Initial: 9758; + 174080 bytes downloaded
[08:19:57] Initial: 7A64; + 184320 bytes downloaded
[08:19:57] Initial: DC6A; + 194560 bytes downloaded
[08:19:57] Initial: 0140; + 204800 bytes downloaded
[08:19:57] Initial: E228; + 215040 bytes downloaded
[08:19:58] Initial: 37BF; + 225280 bytes downloaded
[08:19:58] Initial: 6C9C; + 235520 bytes downloaded
[08:19:58] Initial: 0F43; + 245760 bytes downloaded
[08:19:58] Initial: 5DF7; + 256000 bytes downloaded
[08:19:59] Initial: 37D0; + 266240 bytes downloaded
[08:19:59] Initial: 141A; + 276480 bytes downloaded
[08:19:59] Initial: 800B; + 286720 bytes downloaded
[08:19:59] Initial: FC10; + 296960 bytes downloaded
[08:20:00] Initial: 79DF; + 307200 bytes downloaded
[08:20:00] Initial: 18D3; + 317440 bytes downloaded
[08:20:00] Initial: D189; + 327680 bytes downloaded
[08:20:07] Initial: ED61; + 337920 bytes downloaded
[08:20:07] Initial: D1DA; + 348160 bytes downloaded
[08:20:07] Initial: 380E; + 358400 bytes downloaded
[08:20:07] Initial: BAFD; + 368640 bytes downloaded
[08:20:07] Initial: 11C1; + 378880 bytes downloaded
[08:20:07] Initial: EEDD; + 389120 bytes downloaded
[08:20:07] Initial: BE2F; + 399360 bytes downloaded
[08:20:07] Initial: 6E5B; + 409600 bytes downloaded
[08:20:08] Initial: 3741; + 419840 bytes downloaded
[08:20:08] Initial: 73E6; + 430080 bytes downloaded
[08:20:08] Initial: 9002; + 440320 bytes downloaded
[08:20:08] Initial: 80C1; + 450560 bytes downloaded
[08:20:09] Initial: 82D7; + 460800 bytes downloaded
[08:20:09] Initial: C26D; + 471040 bytes downloaded
[08:20:09] Initial: E839; + 481280 bytes downloaded
[08:20:09] Initial: 9D8F; + 491520 bytes downloaded
[08:20:10] Initial: 2F8C; + 501760 bytes downloaded
[08:20:10] Initial: D95A; + 512000 bytes downloaded
[08:20:10] Initial: 2807; + 522240 bytes downloaded
[08:20:10] Initial: D6E6; + 532480 bytes downloaded
[08:20:11] Initial: 9C0A; + 542720 bytes downloaded
[08:20:11] Initial: F9DA; + 552960 bytes downloaded
[08:20:11] Initial: EE69; + 563200 bytes downloaded
[08:20:11] Initial: 28CC; + 573440 bytes downloaded
[08:20:12] Initial: 27AF; + 583680 bytes downloaded
[08:20:12] Initial: 075D; + 593920 bytes downloaded
[08:20:12] Initial: 868C; + 604160 bytes downloaded
[08:20:12] Initial: 0BE3; + 614400 bytes downloaded
[08:20:13] Initial: BB73; + 624640 bytes downloaded
[08:20:13] Initial: C2EF; + 634880 bytes downloaded
[08:20:13] Initial: 4C43; + 645120 bytes downloaded
[08:20:13] Initial: D2BE; + 655360 bytes downloaded
[08:20:14] Initial: 2D33; + 665600 bytes downloaded
[08:20:14] Initial: 0200; + 675840 bytes downloaded
[08:20:14] Initial: 1B88; + 686080 bytes downloaded
[08:20:15] Initial: 0420; + 696320 bytes downloaded
[08:20:15] Initial: CE71; + 706560 bytes downloaded
[08:20:15] Initial: CD7B; + 716800 bytes downloaded
[08:20:15] Initial: 5369; + 724218 bytes downloaded
[08:20:15] Verifying core Core_7b.fah...
[08:20:15] Signature is VALID
[08:20:15]
[08:20:15] Trying to unzip core FahCore_7b.exe
[08:20:16] Decompressed FahCore_7b.exe (2101248 bytes) successfully
[08:20:16] + Core successfully engaged
[08:20:21]
[08:20:21] + Processing work unit
[08:20:21] Core required: FahCore_7b.exe
[08:20:21] Core found.
[08:20:21] Working on Unit 01 [December 5 08:20:21]
[08:20:21] + Working ...
[08:20:21] - Calling 'FahCore_7b.exe -dir work/ -suffix 01 -checkpoint 15 -verbose -lifeline 5644 -version 504'

[08:20:21]
[08:20:21] *------------------------------*
[08:20:21] Folding@Home Double Gromacs Core B
[08:20:21] Version 1.04 (Fri Aug 10 16:46:39 PDT 2007)
[08:20:21]
[08:20:21] Preparing to commence simulation
[08:20:21] - Files status OK
[08:20:22] - Expanded 845847 -> 2961521 (decompressed 350.1 percent)
[08:20:22]
[08:20:22] Project: 3853 (Run 2210, Clone 0, Gen 18)
[08:20:22]
[08:20:22] Assembly optimizations on if available.
[08:20:22] Entering M.D.
[08:20:29] Working on p3851_fkbprelative_complex
[08:20:29] Completed 0 out of 250000 steps (0)
[08:20:29] Extra SSE2 boost OK
[08:35:30] Timer requesting checkpoint
[08:37:27] Completed 2500 out of 250000 steps (1)

sortofageek · Post by **sortofageek** » Wed Dec 05, 2007 9:05 am

That looks great! You have both switches, your name, your team # and machine ID #2. Good job!

Now, the GUI should also work ok, just as you had it before installing the second client.

v00d00 · Post by **v00d00** » Wed Dec 05, 2007 10:36 am

You basically dont need to do the Regedit stuff unless you are running it as a service.

If you do run as a service, the client will startup automatically in the background when you startup windows, and never bother you with any screens. It is the way to make it as transparent as possible. But its another days project.

For now you should be good to go.

TheKellieGang · Post by **TheKellieGang** » Wed Dec 05, 2007 11:17 am

v00d00 wrote:You basically dont need to do the Regedit stuff unless you are running it as a service.

If you do run as a service, the client will startup automatically in the background when you startup windows, and never bother you with any screens. It is the way to make it as transparent as possible. But its another days project.

For now you should be good to go.

You poor poor fools.. dont you know the moment you help one person you have to help the world? ;P

You've got your work cut out for you with me... I'm the sort of person who doesn't stop to ask for directions because I think I know where I'm going until I end up 3 miles from gundagai...

Anyhoo... If you guys don't mind [and please, take your time]... I'd like to give you the specs of my 3 machines and what I use them for.. then have you guide me through the best way of getting the most out of them for folding AND the normal usage...

Firstly.. the specs... are listed in one of my earlier posts but to recap...
2 pc's with dual core cpus... both 1g ram...
1 Laptop with dual core cpu & 1g ram... however.. I read about the ATI Radeon graphics cards being able to do some of the processing [and I'm having troubles getting the laptop to KEEP folding.. it keeps blue screening and the file corrupts when it does so] so perhaps... running the folding with the ATI RADEON X1700 would be better if it is capable?

Secondly... the use of the computers... 2-3 hours per day of World of Warcraft... doing very little other than checking my mails and doing a few quests [not very intensive on the CPU/memory]... 4-6 hours of hardcore instance running [very intensive with spells/graphical displays and information about all the other players running around with me].
The rest of the time the computers sit idle... [hopefully folding].

A side issue... The children...
We've got 2 boys that use the computers regularly and sporadically who like to turn things off and do whatever they feel like doing on the computers...
[Background system service style folding might be the best for this reason.. but is it going to cause issues with world of warcraft play when i want to do intense stuff?]

Basically.. I want to get as much as possible out of our 3 computers when it comes to folding@home using 100% of both cpu's resources when I'm not using the computer for WoW and possibly the ATI card for the laptop [again when it's not being used for WoW].

I need to be sure though that it's not going to interfere when we DO want to play world of warcraft as my wife will strangle me if it kills her in a dungeon

. Can something be done to the WoW shortcut that will stop the 2 folding consoles until world of warcraft is turned off [if that is necessary at all].
Keep in mind also that I'm trying very hard to spread the word about folding@home through WOW to the 10 million potential folders... most of which think operating their computers under windows means that if they look up they can see what kind of day it is outside... If you guys can come up with a comprehensive guide that is specific to getting the most out of a world of warcraft player's downtime and make it easy to follow then I think we could really make something of it

v00d00 · Post by **v00d00** » Wed Dec 05, 2007 12:23 pm

I run one copy of the single processor client @ 80% usage on my one machine that has a copy of windows on it.

That copy of Windows is primarily used for gaming and has the specs to match. I play Stalker, C&C3, Counterstrike: Source, and ETQW on it, with FAH running in the background. Running FAH has a negligible amount of impact on performance.

WoW requires substantially less resources than ETQW, which is at present the only game that can tax my SLI'd 8800's (when i run with AA set on 8x or above). My brother plays WoW on his machine, which is the same spec as mine but with only an 8600GT, and folds @ 80% also, with little to no impact.

Just try it out, and play with the cpu usage value. Anything between 60-100% is usable on a modern day system.

Just try running one single cpu client for now. That leaves you an entire core for the game (and 20% or so cpu time on the other core to handle background windows junk processes).

TheKellieGang · Post by **TheKellieGang** » Wed Dec 05, 2007 12:41 pm

I've been running F@H [the GUI unfortunately] on the computer i mainly play wow on at 100% ... but it's only at 4200/5000 after 3 days now.... I think it gets very confused as to when I actually am using the resources... [My wife's computer completed her first unit yesterday]

Post by **toTOW** » Wed Dec 05, 2007 12:55 pm

Games slow folding

TheKellieGang · Post by **TheKellieGang** » Wed Dec 05, 2007 1:12 pm

Indeed... an unfortunate fact.. but i've been gaming only 10% of the time that the computers have been running... but the difference between the two is bigger than that

v00d00 · Post by **v00d00** » Wed Dec 05, 2007 1:16 pm

Either that or you are running P1487 aka Behemoth (or the work unit that will not die). Expect it to take weeks to complete.