FAH Setups

[ferds]

hi jimwah

ok found the problem.. the network adapter should be configured to NAT since I'm directly connected to my cable modem...

I'm so happy now that i got a 1700pointers..

BTW i think u should see this thread.. it makes configuring SMP very simple..

thanks!


sorry if my english sucks. :p

[jimwah]

Good to hear ferds Thanks for the link, I've noticed a lot of other major players in FAH got right on this as soon as the SMP client hit release; I'll have a skip through the thread & add/amend any useful info I can find to our thread here

[ferds]

no problem jimwah..

i'm now working on a p2604 averaging 13mins/frame.. i already stop my other folding client.. cpu usage is about 90-93%..

[sc00p]

This is a guide to setting up VMWare server to run a 64-bit linux OS, from within Windows; allowing us folders to run the 64-bit Linux SMP (ie, multi-core/multi-CPU) client without the dangers/hassle of a full linux install or dual boot.

SMP-FAQ: "We strongly suggest people run this client on 4-core boxes".

[jimwah]

Bah! those FAQ's are out of date imo, the linux setup guide there points to a redundant location, and the take up on the SMP client would have been almost non-existant if it was limited to QX6700 or 4-Way Opty boxes only.

The turnover on the SMP units is greatly increased over the standard client & to quote the FAQ itself... "turning a year's worth of work into a few months" to exclude dual-cores when they can obviously do the work, would hurt the project. When the Windows client arrives, SMP will be the main client of choice for anyone with a non-prehistoric PC who folds 24/7

[sc00p]

Bah! those FAQ's are out of date imo, the linux setup guide there points to a redundant location, and the take up on the SMP client would have been almost non-existant if it was limited to QX6700 or 4-Way Opty boxes only.

The turnover on the SMP units is greatly increased over the standard client & to quote the FAQ itself... "turning a year's worth of work into a few months" to exclude dual-cores when they can obviously do the work, would hurt the project. When the Windows client arrives, SMP will be the main client of choice for anyone with a non-prehistoric PC who folds 24/7

And they talked about 16-cores too, can't be out of date

Oh well and o'goody goody, leaves much more wus (preferably p2126s ) for the archeological folder to do the research

[jimwah]

For every different machine I own, I'll fold with whatever client returns the most science to Stanford & the most points to XS and hope that the two factors somehow are balanced by the powers that be - since that part is not down to me.

Keep the dinosaurs folding sc00p the majority of my machines are not SMP & they will march on as long of the units they crunch are of worth to the project. Version 6 may bring some bonus' to those dinosaurs which are not yet totally extinct too.

[Sparky]

version 6? There's gonna be a version 6?

[jimwah]

No official timeframe on it - but sounds like some testing has begun http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/...d.php?t=134564

[[XC] moddolicous]

Hey, this thread is great, but does anyone want to post a how to install of the REGULAR linux client? I have ubuntu on my Athlon XP and would like to get F@H running, and was wondering if anyone could just post a how to.
Edit: I just realized that there is a sticky on how to install it under linux I think it might still be nice to get one in this thread though

[jimwah]

Good call moddolicous, I'll do it over the weekend, probably sunday, or one our folding ninja's will step in & do it even sooner The actual client is almost identical to the windows one, but there is a few extras bits to setting it up.

[[XC] moddolicous]

Good call moddolicous, I'll do it over the weekend, probably sunday, or one our folding ninja's will step in & do it even sooner The actual client is almost identical to the windows one, but there is a few extras bits to setting it up.

If possible, can someone do it before Sunday night? I have an English paper to do and can't deviate from it.

[jimwah]

It's a shame the formatting has gone in sjohnson's thread here: http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/...ad.php?t=44888 'cos that looks like a pretty comprehensive guide to setting up, and getting a service install running. Service installs are something I know very little about since I rarely run them. But a simple non-service Linux install would go something like this for me:

• I make a directory, called XSFolding & move into it.
• I download the current folding client [FAH504-Linux.exe] to XSFolding/ folder with wget and the url of the linux FAH client. This could be done with a browser.
• chmod +x FAH504-Linux.exe makes the client executable
• echo "./FAH504-Linux.exe -local -forceasm" > startfah makes a shortcut to start the client with any extra options you might want.
• chmod +x startfah makes that shortcut executable
• I then launch the client with the command ./startfah

I hope that is of some use, chip in if anyone does it different, or knows any tricks I don't

[[XC] moddolicous]

Thanks Jimwah! I'll get one up and running tonight.

[[XC] moddolicous]

Well, I got it running, but I have to leave the terminal open (doesnt bother me yet). For some reason I couldn't get a shortcut made, so I just started it, added my settings (name, team, etc) and it is running. I'm gonna do some research and figure out how to do a service install.

[jimwah]

Yeah I tried to get a shortcut going a while back - but didn't have much luck; good luck getting the service install running & post some tips if you get it sorted

[[XC] moddolicous]

Well, I can make it run, but I can't get this service install AT ALL! I must have read it like 10 times, yet I still just can't get it to work. I'll keep plugging away though.

[jimwah]

Okay this is an almighty bump & a reminder to myself to try & keep the guides on here up to date - perhaps someone could put an SMP Windows guide & tips post on here for me? As this is not something I've really mastered, and I'd like to keep this guide relevant & useful

I will try to do a native Linux SMP Guide since I have just found a skt-939 X2 to replace my ageing Opty144 & will be running through that setup soon myself

[Sparky]

Sorry can't help you there, I only used the SMP client for a couple weeks while I RMA'd the X1900. GPU client + 1 CPU client gets better PPD on my PC than the SMP.

[sc00p]

Bumbidy bump agains for these great guides... if we see the day sticky enough this thread clued to the page one...
...I'll put linky on my sig too...

[Sparky]

been linked to in my sig for quite a while now

[jimwah]

Thanks for the bump guys

Actually I should soon check thru this & make sure it's still relevant.

[sc00p]

Thanks for the bump guys

Actually I should soon check thru this & make sure it's still relevant.

Hey take it easy, you always liked to say...
... I know being busy man too, but great to see you to do some posting too

[[XC] 2long4u]

1. Download the Windows NT/2000/XP "No nonsense" text-only console (I'm assuming you are running windows).
I only use the console version, the GUI takes extra system resources IMO.

2. Make two folders, one for each client and put one FAH504-console.exe file in each. Let's assume you have C:\FAH1 and C:\FAH2 for example for the two folders. If you have only a single core CPU, just make one folder.

3. Start menu > Run > Type in "C:\FAH1\FAH504-console.exe" -configonly
include the quotes!

Here are the settings I use:
> User name: your name
> Team number: 36362
> Launch as a service: yes
> Ask before fetching/sending work: no
> Use IE settings: no
> Use proxy: no
> Allow 5MB or larger WU's: yes
> Change advanced options: yes
> Core priority: idle
> CPU usage requested: 100 (you can set this a little lower if the system sems to slow down much, but I've never noticed a slowdown)
> Disable highly optimized code: no
> Pause if on battery power: no (I don't run it on any laptops so this doesn't matter much)
> interval between checkpoints: 5 (default is 15, use whatever you prefer)
> Memory to indicate: full amount
> request WU's without deadlines: no
> set -advmethods always: yes
> ignore deadline info: no
> Machine ID: 1

4. If you have a dual-core CPU, repeat for the second client in C:\FAH2 and use the same settings except have Machine ID set to 2.

5. After that, go to Start menu > run > regedit. Do a search for -svcstart, this will bring up the first client service command line. Edit that line, and after the -svcstart I add -local -advmethods -forceasm
the -local is very important for running multiple clients on one computer, it makes sure they don't get confused at all. the -advmethods just makes sure that it is turned on, -forceasm is good in case you have a system crash (like a power outage) it won't allow the client to disable SSE optimizations when restarting from the improper shutdown.

6. For a dual-core CPU, continue the search for the -svcstart and on the second client command line in the registry add the same stuff.

7. Exit the registry editor.

8. Reboot and you should have the client(s) running as a background service.

For monitoring the clients I use FahMon


Some extra stuff:
All my systems run WinXP, and I have remote desktop enabled so I can access them that way if I need to. Also I have shared each of the FAH folders so I can monitor them with FahMon.

On my main system I have priority set to idle as you can see above, but on my dedicated folders I've changed that to low. Also, under My computer > Properties > Advanced tab > Settings under Performance > Advanced > Processor scheduling I have it set to optimize for the best performance of background services. I'm not sure if that has done much of anything for the folders but it can't hurt. Just DO NOT set that on your main rig, it can slow stuff down bigtime!

So I will install F@H 4 times? Sorry if I'm a little confused.

[Kingcarcas]

This is how i did it mate, for you you'll make 4 directories in C:\fah1, c:\fah2 etc.
I copied the FAH504.exe into each folder, then made a shortcut for each one in its folder. I edited that shortcut under "properties", "target", and added "-configonly -advmethods -forceasm -verbosity 9 -local" so it looks
"C:\folding2\FAH504-Console.exe -configonly -advmethods -forceasm -verbosity 9 -local" without the quotes. Then i double click on the shortcut and it will ask you for your name, team number, core usage etc. Make sure to type "no" for IE settings as that screwed up my client before.