How to run SMP client as a Service Successfully: No Headaches, No Problem

First and foremost: this works great. If you're a vista user I can't make any guarantees though as I am running on xp.

First step, launch windows update and download/install .NET framework 2.0 if you have not done so already. NOTE: 3.0 is available and you could install that as well but for SMP it does not supersede 2.0 and you need to install 2.0 anyway.

After you've done that go to your user accounts and select "set up my account to use a .NET passport" (this step may or may not be necessary but I figure better safe than sorry.)

Now all thats done; let's go get the SMP Client. Head over to the Download Page and download SMP client 5.91. Now your should run the self extractor and unpack the files into your chosen directory.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...MPUnpacker.jpg

Go to the install directory and run the "install.bat" file. Windows fire wall or any given firewall will most likely bring up a allowance message which allows you to unblock the SMP connection. Choose Unblock.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...13/Install.jpg

When opened, you will be prompted to enter your user name and password for the account on which you're running the client(i.e. Administrator Password: default). If you've entered the information correctly you will see 2 lines for a confirmation message.

Next, we must run fah.exe in a configonly text like so:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2.../directory.jpg

Enter your user name and team number. Make sure to say yes to the service question and to accept large work units and hit enter to the their default questions. You only need to open advanced options if you wish to run at less than 100% cpu usage.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v224/mk8913/setup.jpg

Once completed open up your services control panel by running this command:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...3/services.jpg

Once opened find the Service FAH@f:+fah.exe
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...ntrolpanel.jpg

Now, double click on that service and select the Logon tab at the top of the new window. Enter in the user name and password for the account you're on after you've selected the bubble which says "this account". It should look like this (aside from the user name).
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...3/LogOnTab.jpg

And finally you can apply those settings and exit out of the Services control panel.

Now, we need to open the registry editor by doing the following.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...13/regedit.jpg

Now expand the menu to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Services\F AH@f:+fah.exe
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...ydirectory.jpg

Double click on the string that says "Image Path" and then enter in the following flags after -svcstart: -advmethods -forceasm -verbosity 9
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...dedstrings.jpg

And there you have it!!!:clap:

Now reboot the computer and happy crunching:up:

NOTE:if for any reason your computer reboots while the SMP service is running (i.e. crash, automatic restart ...) you may find it necessary to manually start the service on boot in the "services.msc" menu

NOTE: if running a dual core INTEL CPU, be sure to use the SMP Affinity changer which can be found here. Do not install for AMD as it simply slows down the production.

NOTE: on a quad: make sure to install 2 separate directories of the SMP client (download 2 separate installs) and be SURE to run the Affinity changer which is found here.


FOR VISTA DO THE FOLLOWING:Found Here

Does this actually work? I mean the SMP client uses MPI and the above only starts one thread does it not? I sure hope I'm wrong as this would be super. Who;s using this method?

I found it directly from the F@H FAQ at first and then found more users running it successfully on their forums. When I bring up task manager I am seeing both cores being utilized. Apparently the MPI issues have pretty much been worked out.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...untitled-3.jpg

very cool, I have work units going back today so will try it out after they complete, thanks for the post :up:

yea no problem. And just about 5 minutes ago I had a system crash because my voltage wasn't up enough. I rebooted, back into windows and the service started almost instantaneously and right where it left off. This is perfect in my opinion.

Oh SWEETNESS they have SMP service mode functional now! :woot:

Last time I tried to do it all it did was crap out on me and do nothing.

Excellent post Mike! This could mean a lot of borging SMP-clients suddenly coming up (not me doing that of course not) :D

Clear guide btw.

I also found this SMP Affinity Changer. Apparently, every 10 minutes this service checks to see how the SMP WU's are distributed among your cores. It loads 2 processes per core on a dual and per core on a quad. They claim a 10% increase in speed. I'll let you know if this is successful, it sounds like it may even add a bit of stability.

I've been doing a lot of forum rummaging today and I've come across numerous occasions where I'm seeing people with quad cores running 2 instances of SMP.....is that common? UnG; do you run 2 instances?

No, I have one running, though I've read the argument for multiples. I like scoring high but I also like making sure the results conform to the expected science at Stanford so I tend to "tow the company line". My folding takes place on an old dual socket 940 with 2 dual core CPU's with local memory access for each proc so it puts up pretty reasonable numbers (1840 ppd average when it's running). Considering the age of it, that's not bad for an old stock box.

I will have to try this later after a finished wu. Do you think it will work with an already installed client? I think I will just run the configonly flag and try to set it up.

As for running 2 smp clients, I don't understand why you would want to do that. Running one client maxes all four cores. I have been running the smp client with the quad in my sig for months. I average about 3200 a day.

8 core boxes for if you want more than one SMP client IMO ;)

Hmm I'm so tempted to try this service mode thing but then I'm afraid to mess with it since it is working so beautifully http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g2...illy_nilly.gif

Quote:

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Originally Posted by [XC] 4X4N

I will have to try this later after a finished wu. Do you think it will work with an already installed client? I think I will just run the configonly flag and try to set it up.

As for running 2 smp clients, I don't understand why you would want to do that. Running one client maxes all four cores. I have been running the smp client with the quad in my sig for months. I average about 3200 a day.

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Even though task manager says it's at 100% doesn't make it so. ;)

I ran two clients on a quad for a few weeks and the points were nice, but if one client closes the second crashes and corrupts the work unit. Since it uses a lot of memory and every bit of all 4 cores it's tough to get things done on a machine that you actually use, and especially if you want to game on it, so you have to close the clients down....there are ways around keeping the unit from corrupting but it's a hassle. If it was a dedicated folder maybe you could make the argument, but you'd be better off running a Linux installtion anyway.
It did add a nice point boost but not worth it IMO. It scores almost the same as running two Linux SMP's in VM ware.

This might be worth stickying. I've been running since 10am today and just shut down my computer because I have to go back to school tomorrow. I had no stability issues so I think this might be a viable advertisement on how folders can generate more WU's. Just a suggestion.

Yeah I have no stability issues either, I haven't had an EUE for a long time now. Just school was screwing with the internet here (renewing all our IPs every 4 hours wth!) which we know trips up the SMP client for some strange reason. Well I fixed that, I set my IP, subnet, gateway, and DNS servers all manually to what the DHCP had given me and guess what, no more IP address refreshes and no more tripped up SMP client :cool: So I suppose this might make more sense to try now.

FOR VISTA

I just tried this guide, and it didn't work for vista, due to one main problem - you need to run install.bat as an administrator. Not so fast though, right-clicking and selecting "run as administrator" doesn't work. :P

Instead of the OP's install.bat procedure, do the following.

Quote:

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Run install.bat

The install.bat file installs the SMPD service, and registers MPICH2 with your user name and password, as needed by the SMP client.

* Click the Start button. Click All Programs, then click Accessories, then right-click the Command Prompt. Select Run As Administrator.

* If asked, click Continue or Run at any additional UAC or FireWall prompts, etc.

* In the Command Prompt, type C:\Users\%username%\FAH\install.bat and press Enter (where %username% is your user folder you created earlier).

* When prompted for a user account name, do not type anything, just press Enter.

* When prompted for the password, type in the password and press Enter. Do not be concerned, no characters or asterisks are displayed as you type in the password. Type in the password again to confirm, and press Enter.

* You should see prompts like this:

C:\Windows\system32>C:\Users\%username%\FAH\instal l.bat
MPICH2 Process Manager, Argonne National Lab installed.
account (domain\user) [(yourhostname)\(yourusername)]:
password:
confirm password:
Password encrypted into the Registry.
If you see this twice, MPI is working
If you see this twice, MPI is working
Press any key to continue . . .

* Close the Command Prompt window.

* If you do not see this line twice If you see this twice, MPI is working, do not start the client. MPI is not successfully installed, and the client will not run successfully. Please review the steps above. If all steps were followed correctly, please post on the Folding Forum for assistance.

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Quoted from http://fahwiki.net/index.php/How_do_...ndows_Vista%3F

Thanks, I added it at the end of the guide.

I did this and it worked fine with one exception...

When using regedit, the appropriate key is only under Controlset001 IF you are logged in as administrator. If You install FAH under another account, it still works fine, but the appropraite key will be under ControlSet002 or 003 etc.....

As a general point I only log into my computer with a user level privilege account unless I'm installing something like updates or whatever that requires those privileges, thus I found this little bump.

The format is great, it's just how we used to do it two years ago (see my old guide) lol..

Works Perfect
UnG

I pretty much used your old guide as a base to figure out how to do this properly. I don't think running in under a non-administrative account is a good idea anyway.

It doesn't require administrative privileges to execute, I'm using a local account with no problems. Only installing .NET framework (if needed) requires admin privileges.

Stanford has put this product together to need very little security access beyond a place to execute.

Anyhow, I know most guys log in as admin , so whatever works :up:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by [XC] 4X4N

I will have to try this later after a finished wu. Do you think it will work with an already installed client? I think I will just run the configonly flag and try to set it up.

As for running 2 smp clients, I don't understand why you would want to do that. Running one client maxes all four cores. I have been running the smp client with the quad in my sig for months. I average about 3200 a day.

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From what I've seen on my quad, running 1 SMP client its does ~9min per frame and when running 2 SMP clients it does ~12min per frame on each.:up:

Funny thing though... I had (again) once one weird install...
...anything else but logging in with the name Administrator wouldn't let me go through Install.bat :confused:
Yes, well of course after successful run could switch back to normal user account.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by twiggy

From what I've seen on my quad, running 1 SMP client its does ~9min per frame and when running 2 SMP clients it does ~12min per frame on each.:up:

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Has it been constant? And if not have you tried that neat Affinity changer? Might help on that.

I'm running at 12:47 seconds per frame on average on my dual core (with affinity changer) and you're quad does about 9minutes with one client. Does that sound accurate?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by mike8913

I'm running at 12:47 seconds per frame on average on my dual core (with affinity changer) and you're quad does about 9minutes with one client. Does that sound accurate?

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I ran 1 SMP client without the affinity changer, I didn't find it till after I installed 2 clients. Maybe I'll switch back to 1 client and use the affinity changer and see if it helps. Because if it gets it down to ~6min a frame then I'd just run 1 client.:yepp:

twiggy, I'm using the affinity changer with only one client. No difference with it or not. I would try it with 2 clients, but this is my main rig and I don't want to put that much on it. I just got a linux set-up going for folding only. I might try it with 2 clients on that.

Hmmm, I followed the install instructions, but the service will get to a "Starting" status and no further :confused:
How can I peer inside to see what it's hung up on?

Also I noted a couple of things:
1) the new beta is version 5.91beta6
2) the initial run command wouldn't allow me to use the -configonly switch - don't know why but windows would complain that it couldn't find the executable if I had the switch on there
3) the problem noted in (2) above, didn't seem to matter, because the initial run of FAH came up in config mode anyhow
4) I don't have a PW assigned to my non-admin windows user account and so it wasn't happy about letting me use that userid
5) I went ahead and installed it, providing the widows administrator user id and pw for the initial FAH config user prompt, and the services logon properties dialog

I wonder if the userid thing is my problem?

the user id may be the issue, in my experience only the Administrator account will be able to run the SMP as a service.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Daemonfly

FOR VISTA

I just tried this guide, and it didn't work for vista, due to one main problem - you need to run install.bat as an administrator. Not so fast though, right-clicking and selecting "run as administrator" doesn't work. :P

Instead of the OP's install.bat procedure, do the following.



Quoted from http://fahwiki.net/index.php/How_do_...s_Vista%3F

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i have never had to run the install bat as a admin, nor the fah app. come to think of it, i never installed it in my user directory either... i did that once and it gave me headaches. could the admin deal be for people who run UAC?

honestly, i can't speak to vista. some one else will have to take that cue.

Hi Guys,

Another noob question about this...

When running the windows SMP client as as a service, does it run automatically as long as the PC is on? Or does it require somebody to login before the service starts?

I've set 2 smp clients up to test in work and just wanted to double check as the PC's are rarely used (There for training staff ;) ). The service is running fine as soon as I login it's 100% cpu utilization. I'm just concerned that if I roll this out across a few PC's I'll have to login to them every morning to get the service running- rather than just powering up the PC's in case they've been turned off?

Thanks

No, services run from bootup so no need to login :)

Those machines will give a nice ppd depending if their on long enough? They will probably loose wu's over the weekend if their off then.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Marvin_The_Martian

No, services run from bootup so no need to login :)

Those machines will give a nice ppd depending if their on long enough? They will probably loose wu's over the weekend if their off then.

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Cheers, Thanks for that. They should hopefully be running 24/7 incl weekends with the odd interuption every now and then. The room there in is rarely, if ever used. There's a glut of training/meeting rooms in the building I work in that are barely ever used- hopefully I can change that ;)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Lurker246

Cheers, Thanks for that. They should hopefully be running 24/7 incl weekends with the odd interuption every now and then. The room there in is rarely, if ever used. There's a glut of training/meeting rooms in the building I work in that are barely ever used- hopefully I can change that ;)

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Sounds sweet :up:

i'm having a problem with this.

after I run the install.bat and I have to use the run prompt it fails that step. I can run it with out doing the -configonly. it starts right up. but if I add that line in, that it says it cant find the program.

what am I doin wrong, its probably really simple.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by TopherTony

i'm having a problem with this.

after I run the install.bat and I have to use the run prompt it fails that step. I can run it with out doing the -configonly. it starts right up. but if I add that line in, that it says it cant find the program.

what am I doin wrong, its probably really simple.

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It is, you have to put the exe between quote with the whole path and then add the flags.

Code:

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"C:\FAH\FAH.EXE" -configonly

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Btw, the first time you run it, it won't find any information in the registry nor config file so it will prompt you automaticly for it.

I can't get it to run:(

Quote:

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Originally Posted by [XC] 2long4u

I can't get it to run:(

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Hey sorry for the late...
...umm, anyways: what is the problem exactly/at which stage you're stucked ?

2long4u, I can't figure out whats going on with your install. It seems like you're doing everything right, but try this. boot into safe mode with networking. try to do it from there. Also, preceding all that I would recommend starting every process over all the way down to downloading the installer. Also double check to make sure .NET is installed properly and functioning.

It may be because it is the work computer with a bunch of security crap installed on it. I followed everything step by step. It gets hung up when it tries to start.

Corestatus 63 ???

Mpiexec does not have network acces, configure your firewall to allow it access and you should be set.

i was just gunna say, put exceptions for the mpiexec and fah.exe in your security.

When you open services and open the f@h client, and open the log on tab should it have my user name and password? My password changes every 30 days or so. Would that matter?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by [XC] 2long4u

When you open services and open the f@h client, and open the log on tab should it have my user name and password? My password changes every 30 days or so. Would that matter?

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yes and yes. I would imagine that both criteria are important and it is how I have set it. Is there no way to have a static password for you?

where did the smp client for windows go, can't find it on the download page?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by mike8913

where did the smp client for windows go, can't find it on the download page?

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http://folding.stanford.edu/English/DownloadWinOther

That has all the beta stuff on it. I guess they cleaned up the page.

Get your stats looking better again man! ;)

thanks, im workin on it.

Hey guys ... I just got FAH installed with SMP and as a service under Vista. (It's my wife's computer)

Open the command prompt as Administrator

Install as instructed.

Run fah with -configonly (while still admin)

Answer the question to use as a service

Go to Start and type services.msc and ensure it has started.

:D