I've got several (read: a dozen or so) computers that I have the ability to get BOINCing. The boxes are running Windows 98 SE, but I'm open to changing the OS. (I have to have a GUI-based browser, however, to get the computers on the network I'm working with. Sorry, command-line linux junkies.)

Currently, my technique is to install antivirus protection (required by the network, and makes good sense to me), BOINC, and VNC to control them. Then I move on to the next box. Is there a better way to do this?

Thanks!

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Not that I know of...

To control all the boxes once you have things installed and running is to run BOINC View. The only time I have to VNC to my remote boxes is when I want to work on the disk drives or to install new version, etc.

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Good to know--I'll get on setting up one of the boxes for BOINCView once I can get back to them. (Building closed for the holidays.)

Is there any performance benefit to just disabling VNC on the grunt nodes (for lack of a better phrase for them) and just restart them when they appear stuck?

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Well, I only VNC in when I need to. So, I don't know ... I doubt that the difference is going to be so great you are going to notice it ...

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While Win98 will work, there are a couple of things you should be aware of. It's not supported on all projects, so check the requirements before attaching (it _might_ work anyway, but if it's not on the list, there may be problems). And every once in a while, it will probably lose track of CPU time and claim 0 credits.

Unless these are unusually fast PCs (typically not the case for Win98 boxes) you should probably limit the number of projects attached to each, and I wouldn't try to run anything "large" like Climateprediction. Check memory requirements for the projects you're interested in too; many Win98 PCs are likely to be on the low side on RAM.

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