The new Hexus Teams - Setting up Folding at Home

[Dreaming]

Hey guys, bit stressed but a bit of folding should cure that. Trying to set up SMP client. Got so far as running the FAH.exe, then I get this:

[19:19:32] Loaded queue successfully.
[19:19:32] 
[19:19:32] + Processing work unit
[19:19:32] Core required: FahCore_81.exe
[19:19:32] Core found.
[19:19:32] Working on Unit 08 [January 31 19:19:32]
[19:19:32] + Working ...
[19:19:32] 
[19:19:32] *------------------------------*
[19:19:32] Folding@Home Gromacs Simulated Tempering Core
[19:19:32] Version 1.10 (Oct 4, 2007)
[19:19:32] 
[19:19:32] Preparing to commence simulation
[19:19:32] - Ensuring status. Please wait.
[19:19:33] 
[19:19:33] Project: 3603 (Run 45, Clone 20, Gen 5)
[19:19:33] 
[19:19:33] Assembly optimizations on if available.
[19:19:33] Entering M.D.
[19:19:49] OK
[19:19:50] ecompressed 494.1 percent)
[19:19:50] 
[19:19:50] Project: 3603 (Run 45, Clone 20, Gen 5)
[19:19:50] 
[19:19:50] Entering M.D.
[19:19:50] lone 20, Gen 5)
[19:19:50] 
[19:19:50] Entering M.D.
[19:20:10] ein: p3603_Seq22_Amber03_Native
[19:20:10] 
[19:20:10] Writing local files
[19:20:10] 03_Native
[19:20:10] 
[19:20:10] Writing local files
[19:20:58] Size of work/wudata_08.pdo not what saved.
[19:20:58] 
[19:20:58] Folding@home Core Shutdown: FILE_IO_ERROR

Any help? I cheated and didn't entirely delete the F@H directory first, just uninstalled the standalone client and then reinstalled the SMP to the same place. Thought it would pick up the work already done, rather than wasting it.

Running on Vista 64, all relevent permissions granted ok.

[directhex]

Hey guys, bit stressed but a bit of folding should cure that. Trying to set up SMP client. Got so far as running the FAH.exe, then I get this:

[19:19:32] Loaded queue successfully.
[19:19:32] 
[19:19:32] + Processing work unit
[19:19:32] Core required: FahCore_81.exe
[19:19:32] Core found.
[19:19:32] Working on Unit 08 [January 31 19:19:32]
[19:19:32] + Working ...
[19:19:32] 
[19:19:32] *------------------------------*
[19:19:32] Folding@Home Gromacs Simulated Tempering Core
[19:19:32] Version 1.10 (Oct 4, 2007)
[19:19:32] 
[19:19:32] Preparing to commence simulation
[19:19:32] - Ensuring status. Please wait.
[19:19:33] 
[19:19:33] Project: 3603 (Run 45, Clone 20, Gen 5)
[19:19:33] 
[19:19:33] Assembly optimizations on if available.
[19:19:33] Entering M.D.
[19:19:49] OK
[19:19:50] ecompressed 494.1 percent)
[19:19:50] 
[19:19:50] Project: 3603 (Run 45, Clone 20, Gen 5)
[19:19:50] 
[19:19:50] Entering M.D.
[19:19:50] lone 20, Gen 5)
[19:19:50] 
[19:19:50] Entering M.D.
[19:20:10] ein: p3603_Seq22_Amber03_Native
[19:20:10] 
[19:20:10] Writing local files
[19:20:10] 03_Native
[19:20:10] 
[19:20:10] Writing local files
[19:20:58] Size of work/wudata_08.pdo not what saved.
[19:20:58] 
[19:20:58] Folding@home Core Shutdown: FILE_IO_ERROR

Any help? I cheated and didn't entirely delete the F@H directory first, just uninstalled the standalone client and then reinstalled the SMP to the same place. Thought it would pick up the work already done, rather than wasting it.

Running on Vista 64, all relevent permissions granted ok.

http://forums.hexus.net/distributed-...guys-cope.html

did you ensure you ran the mpi registering thing? and you definitely installed it to somewhere writeable (the default location has permissions issues)

[Dreaming]

http://forums.hexus.net/distributed-...guys-cope.html

did you ensure you ran the mpi registering thing? and you definitely installed it to somewhere writeable (the default location has permissions issues)

Yep all sorted. I think I might just uninstall and delete the whole directory and start fresh. Installed to F:/Folding so no issues there.

I might make a backup of the directory actually, probably the most sensible course of action. Will get back to you in 20 minutes

And yes, windows is a pain, see the epic fail that is windows mobile device centre here:
http://forums.hexus.net/mobile-phone...-contacts.html

Deleted all my contacts information without asking me?!

edit: looks like it may be working now. How can i be sure?I guess 100% CPU usage is a good indicator? Miss the GUI with it's predictions and all that though. Also, why is it running four FahCore_a1.exe processes on my dual core? Surely it just needs two?

edit2: atm I'm staring at (and have been for the last 15 minutes)

[23:29:22] *------------------------------*
[23:29:22] Folding@Home Gromacs SMP Core
[23:29:22] Version 1.74 (March 10, 2007)
[23:29:22] 
[23:29:22] Preparing to commence simulation
[23:29:22] - Ensuring status. Please wait.
[23:29:24] - Starting from initial work packet
[23:29:24] 
[23:29:24] Project: 2653 (Run 7, Clone 84, Gen 50)
[23:29:24] 
[23:29:24] Assembly optimizations on if available.
[23:29:24] Entering M.D.
[23:29:42] 3 percent)
[23:29:42] - Starting from initial work packet
[23:29:42] 
[23:29:42] Project: 2653 (Run 7, Clone 84, Gen 50)
[23:29:42] 
[23:29:43] Entering M.D.
[23:29:50] Rejecting checkpoint
[23:29:52] Protein: Protein in POPC
[23:29:52] Writing local files
[23:29:53] Extra SSE boost OK.
[23:29:53] Writing local files
[23:29:53] Completed 0 out of 500000 steps  (0 percent)

Will it automatically update to 'Completed 1 out of 500000 steps'? The visual GUI one gives you a visual indication it's doing something. ATM this isn't really showing me anything lol.

I might be cheeky and leave my PC on while I go home for the weekend (away from the Uni). Probably still waiting at the same point

edit 3: all is working well, been playing C&C3 and it's up to 3%

[Webby]

As I guess you will have worked out now it works in percentages not actual steps

And it runs 4 instances of the programme as it is hard coded to run as a quad threaded application so you get 2 per core and it wastes some time bouncing them around but there you go! If it bothers you then get a quad core

[Sirrush]

Can I actually change teams when I already have it installed or would I need to reinstall F@H?

Sorry if this has already been asked and answered, didn't feel like going through the pages. (Yes I'm that lazy)

[Webby]

Yes you can you need to run the config switch.

So add -config to the end of the command line giving you "fah.exe -config" and then you can change name, team, etc.

Hope this helps.

Edit: An alternative method would be to edit the config file in notepad and change the team number there, I would go with the other method though unless you can not for some reason get that to work.

[Sirrush]

Awesome Webby, thanks

[MSIC]

Hey, been following the folding charts-thing with interest, used to do SETI@home a few years ago but nothing since, so might well sign up. I think i have a fairly stable computer (but this will show me)
I was quite interested in this though:

Anyway, my CPU is maxed out by this thing, is that supposed to happen? I was under the impression that it used idle CPU cycles and would be unnoticeable. Instead I've got 65 degrees on my CPU and fans on full which is a bit annoying.

I can clearly see what has happened here, and don't believe his point has been sufficiently answered IMHO.
We need to clarify one important point: to use idle cycles.
I think that LazyGit is under the impression that the CPU cycles are used 100% full for heavy work, and idles at near-nothing under light work or when doing very little (this is true). I think perhaps he thinks that Folding stuff asks it to do very light, almost 'background' type work, that doesn't task the processor (this is false).
Giving the CPU a computation to do though is work. If you ask it to do 1 + 1 and that's it, it'll happen so quickly as to not be noticable. If you ask it to Fold proteins, that is super-hyper-mega maths and it'll strain it to the maximum.
So by using idle CPU cycles, you are taking the spare time that would otherwise be sitting doing nothing, and asking it to work 100% flat-out instead. This of course uses power, creates heat, and requires fans to cool, as any 100% workload would do.

This is the only problem i have with the folding stuff - I want my CPU to sit doing nothing/little from time to time to help keep it cool, but this task would stress it and increase my electricity bills (a bit).

[Webby]

You can set in the initial config how much CPU utilisation F@H can use so if you only want it to use 80% to keep temperatures a bit more managable this is possible, obviously this will increase the time it takes to complete a work unit.

I haven't seen a scheduler which would allow you to set it on 30 mins off 5 mins (for example) but wouldn't be surprised to find one out there somewhere. But I would think setting CPU utilisation to ~85% would probably have a more positive impact on temperaures than a on off cycle.

[kasavien]

Hi all i've just installed the smp client and i think it's all running ok, appart from it's trying to run 4 instances of FahCore_a1.exe which doesn't seem right when i only have two cores available, is there a setting that i have missed somewhere and if there is how do i change it.

Thanks

Andy

[Zak33]

dunno chap./..does seem weird

[TheAnimus]

Hi all i've just installed the smp client and i think it's all running ok, appart from it's trying to run 4 instances of FahCore_a1.exe which doesn't seem right when i only have two cores available, is there a setting that i have missed somewhere and if there is how do i change it.

Thanks

Andy

The SMP client really does seam like a low grade work in progress. Its fast, sure, but spending a little time on the install process would probably get you an extra 80% of people using it.

Spent about 15 min on lunch setting up two instances on a box thats barely doing work 23 hours of the day. Gave up as teh second instance just refused to work. Damn thing.

[Webby]

The SMP client is quad threaded as standard so it runs 4 instances of the core as it expects you to have 4 cores, you don't but it doesn't matter you lose a few cycles to it changing which instance is running but nothing you are going to notice.

[kasavien]

Thanks, i just need to find out how to lower the cpu time now. I think it's a setting in the config file but i need to consult with google first

[Webby]

If you want it to run at less than 100% CPU load (is that what your after?) then run fah.exe with the -config switch and one of the options will be to set CPU load standard is 100% set it to whatever you like obviously the lower you go the slower the work unit will complete.

[Lee H]

Got the new SMP client and it's flying now

1% every 30-35 mins or so and my first for a while has been added today.

looks like the new BETA is staying on my PC 24/7 now