Posts by skgiven

1) Message boards : News : New recommended client for Windows and Mac (Message 75323)
Posted 15 Jan 2017 by skgiven
Post:
I have recently installed 7.6.33 on a Win10 Pro machine and after running for a while get a message that my password is invalid. BOINC then shuts down the work units from the projects that I am running and deletes the data from the tasks page (doesn't delete the projects or any work done). Shutting down and restarting brings the tasks back. Have re-installed 7.6.22.
Similar problem here. Getting password is invalid pop-up error messages several times a day. BM 7.6.33x64 with V-Box. W10ProX64.
Temporary fix from Boinc Manager (advanced view), File Tab, Select Computer, & click on local host (or the name of your computer).
Noticed a couple of headless VM beta tasks (ALICE) had failed after the last blank-out. Nothing in the Windows log files.
2) Message boards : Projects : New project appeared in my boinc manager itself !!! (Message 74434)
Posted 27 Nov 2016 by skgiven
Post:
It appears that FiND staff (Dublin, Ireland) gave GridRepublic (Boston, USA) the FiND project, Boinc user accounts and all.
GridRepublic seem to be (and correct me if I'm wrong) sending Charity Engine tasks to FiND account users.
Charity Engine seems to be a trade name for the Limited (for profit) company (registered in the UK) The Worldwide Computer Company Limited whose share holders include David Anderson.
This company appears to sell our computing resources.
https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/company/06723910/filing-history

So, Dave, perhaps you would be so kind as to let us know what's going on?
3) Message boards : Questions and problems : Personally, I would like to know if you use all cpus (08) to process a single processing unit?? Thank you. (Message 51416)
Posted 21 Nov 2013 by skgiven
Post:
Most Boinc projects use 1 logical thread to process 1 WU.
When Boinc is configured to use 100% of the CPU, it would in your case process 8 different tasks, each on a different thread. You can set Boinc to use less if you wish.
The exception to this is MultiThreaded applications, which can use many threads simultaneously. Not many projects have MT apps.

GPU tasks tend to use a full GPU + part of a CPU thread (up to 100%).
4) Message boards : Questions and problems : No usable GPUs found. AMD Radeon HD5850 on Win7 x64 (Message 51298)
Posted 13 Nov 2013 by skgiven
Post:
Do you realize that if you connect to a computer using remote desktop that the GPU driver won't work? Is this what you are doing?
5) Message boards : Questions and problems : No usable GPUs found. AMD Radeon HD5850 on Win7 x64 (Message 51294)
Posted 12 Nov 2013 by skgiven
Post:
This is not a new problem, but finally I decided to report it as I couldn't find a solution. I have AMD Radeon HD5850, which I believe is supported, but my GPU is not used. The message in the log is "No usable GPUs found".

Below are a little edited messages from the log file.

25-Oct-2013 06:34:55 [---] No config file found - using defaults
25-Oct-2013 06:34:55 [---] Starting BOINC client version 7.0.64 for windows_x86_64
25-Oct-2013 06:34:55 [---] log flags: file_xfer, sched_ops, task
25-Oct-2013 06:34:55 [---] Libraries: libcurl/7.25.0 OpenSSL/1.0.1 zlib/1.2.6
25-Oct-2013 06:34:55 [---] Data directory: C:\ProgramData\BOINC
25-Oct-2013 06:34:55 [---] Running under account PCUSER
25-Oct-2013 06:34:55 [---] Processor: 4 GenuineIntel Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Quad CPU Q9650 @ 3.00GHz [Family 6 Model 23 Stepping 10]
25-Oct-2013 06:34:55 [---] Processor features: fpu vme de pse tsc msr pae mce cx8 apic sep mtrr pge mca cmov pat pse36 clflush dts acpi mmx fxsr sse sse2 ss htt tm pni ssse3 cx16 sse4_1 syscall nx lm vmx smx tm2 pbe
25-Oct-2013 06:34:55 [---] OS: Microsoft Windows 7: Ultimate x64 Edition, Service Pack 1, (06.01.7601.00)
25-Oct-2013 06:34:55 [---] Memory: 8.00 GB physical, 20.00 GB virtual
25-Oct-2013 06:34:55 [---] Disk: 650.00 GB total, 310.92 GB free
25-Oct-2013 06:34:55 [---] Local time is UTC -6 hours
25-Oct-2013 06:34:55 [---] VirtualBox version: 4.2.18
25-Oct-2013 06:34:55 [---] No usable GPUs found

I used to run the client as a service, but reinstalled to be run under regular user account a long time ago, but that did not solve the problem. It is not run in a virtual client, even though VirtualBox is installed on my machine.

My video driver is 13.9 (well, not exactly the driver version, but package version) so it's quite recent.

Is this a bug in the detection process, or something wrong with my system?


While this may stem from using different user accounts and security, my guess is that your problem is related to the fact that you use to have Boinc installed as a service - which can prevent GPU's from working. I expect something of this old installation remains and was not properly replaced when you reinstalled Boinc to run as a non-service (now the default with the latest release).
I suggest totally uninstalling Boinc; delete the folders (x86 and x64), any Boinc 'user' accounts, clear any registry entries and after a reboot, reinstall Boinc (by right clicking and running as an administrator, then selecting advanced and making sure all users are selected. Probably best to close your anti-everything when installing). Would also recommend using the latest version of Boinc (7.2.28 x64).

BTW, (and unrelated to your problem) 4.2.18 is bad for some Boinc projects. 4.2.16 is the last good one.

GL
6) Message boards : GPUs : multi GPU's may cause CPU cores to not be "fully" utilized (Message 49305)
Posted 25 May 2013 by skgiven
Post:
In this situation CPU utilization depends on three things:
The amount you tell Boinc to use (99%)
On what the scheduler reads as being required for the GPU apps
On what the apps actually uses

If an app says it needs 50% of a logical CPU, then task scheduling will go by that. If it says 10% or 90% then the scheduler will start up work going by that.

However, what the app actually uses is another matter, and the estimated CPU requirement is often inaccurate.

So with 2 GPU's and a 100% CPU usage setting, you could be using just over 10 of 12 threads (app says it needs a full CPU but uses next to nothing) or trying to use closer to 14 (app says/is told it needs 0.001 CPU's but uses a full CPU thread).

The CPU resource requirement read by the scheduler is based on average CPU requirements of the app. However, for some projects, some GPU WU's use more of the CPU than others, so the specified CPU resource requirement is inaccurate.

You could use app_config.xml files to specify the amount of CPU each GPU app uses and be closer to the mark, if you keep it in line with actual observed usage, say going by Task Manager. This would make the scheduler more accurate, and resource utilization potentially better, but as soon as a different WU turned up the accuracy would fall.
7) Message boards : GPUs : Debian/Ubuntu/Mint/Derivatives - GPU recognition fixes (Message 49304)
Posted 25 May 2013 by skgiven
Post:
FIX #2: Modify the start-up sequence of the /etc/init.d/boinc-client script.
(a)I got this from gfarmerfr an ATI/Ubuntu user on the DNETC forums after telling him how I was putting the delay in. I haven't actually tried it. It worked for gfarmerfr and he knows what he's doing. I believe this was tested on v9.10. In many ways this is a better fix but I was already into the script for other reasons (adding fan speed control) so I stuck with my sleep 6 version.
(b)Execute the following two commands to move BOINC start-up to the end of start-up processing:
sudo update-rc.d -f boinc-client remove
sudo update-rc.d boinc-client defaults 99

This fix worked for me with Ubuntu 13.04, Boinc 7.0.27 (x64) - Used as root wasn't owner in fix1.

I'm also using an NVidia GTX650TiBoost with 304.88 drivers (released 3weeks before the GPU).
8) Message boards : Questions and problems : Project hogs do not seem to obey BOINC computing limits (Message 48906)
Posted 1 May 2013 by skgiven
Post:
You might want to indicate the projects you are actually running, especially any GPU projects.

If you have 4 cores and you tell Boinc to only use 75% of them, it will use 3 cores. If you say 90% or even 99% it still means use 3 cores. The GPU usage tends to be an estimate, and not always accurate. Some GPU WU's use high amounts of the CPU during some stages of the run, especially at the start, and lower amounts at other times. Overall it might be fairly low, but at some stages it will be a full core. Do you observe this behavior when a GPU task starts?
9) Message boards : Questions and problems : BOINC & SpyBot Search & Destroy Immunization (Message 48904)
Posted 1 May 2013 by skgiven
Post:
Don't use it any more either.
You might be able to exclude the Boinc folders from any scans.
10) Message boards : Questions and problems : Can not install newest BOINC (Message 48903)
Posted 1 May 2013 by skgiven
Post:
Reinstall your previous version of Boinc, then uninstall it, and then install the latest version again.
11) Message boards : Questions and problems : Multi-core Computing (Message 47358)
Posted 17 Jan 2013 by skgiven
Post:
Hi Richard,

Yes, for Sim1 the mt problem(s) existed with 7.0.28, 7.0.42 and still exist with 7.0.44

W7x64, i7-3770K (8threads), 8GB DDR3, SSD, GTX660Ti + GTX470 (and same issue on a different rig).
When CPU usage was limited to 75% (Boinc Manager) Sim1 grabbed all 6 'available' CPU threads, and thus interfered with GPU crunching:
I was running POEM on the GTX660Ti, with the GTX470 excluded as that fails - a project-specific multiple GPU issue. So app_info used to run two or more tasks at a time for POEM (1 CPU each), and cc_config preventing GPU in slot 1 (GTX470) from being used for POEM. The GTX470 was running Albert work (just one task at a time and 0.23CPUs).
When Sim1 started the GTX470 stopped running tasks (being in slot 1 and Slot 0 rightly getting preferential treatment) but the GTX660Ti only ran one task.
Before running Sim1 the CPU usage was just over 75% so Boinc was reserving cores for the GPU's according to the app_info.
When Sim1 started the CPU usage rose to 88 or 89% (so 7 CPU cores were being used)
When I reduced the number of CPUs to use (74%) Sim1 stopped, waiting for 6CPU threads to run on. If I then exited and started Boinc it still waited for 6CPU cores - so it would never finish!
When I increased the CPU back to 75% Sim1 started again. CPU usage rose to 88% and one PEOM task ran. I suspect the manager or Sim1 is not fully aware of the app_info settings.
When I increased the CPU to 99% a second POEM task started on the same GPU (as it should be). Actual CPU usage was now at 100%.
When I increased the CPU from 99% to 100% (all 8threads), device 1 started to be used (GTX470 running an Albert task).

You can't keep the CPU count at 100% or Sim1 will want to run the next task on all 8threads.

What we need is Sim1 (or any mt app) to count the number of available CPU's and subtract the number used by GPU's. I'm not sure where the mt app gets its available CPU count from, but it seems to be a different place than the non mt apps, as only 4 CPU tasks normally run on that system when I'm running two POEM tasks and have the CPU set to 75%.

If you want any further testing, let me know what flags to set, in addition to cpu_sched_debug.
12) Message boards : Questions and problems : Multi-core Computing (Message 47351)
Posted 17 Jan 2013 by skgiven
Post:
If an mt-app, such as Sim1, runs using all the CPU cores/threads, and there is a GPU in the system, no work will be done on the GPU while the mt-app is running. Hardly a desirable situation! While Virtualization can be used to better allocate CPU and GPU resources, setting up and maintaining VM's is hardly something for the average cruncher and performance tends to fall.

Normally it's more productive to run 'single-threaded' tasks, and the best way for task sizes to be controlled is at the project level. Climateprediction have already created smaller models to accommodate lesser systems and infrequent users.
Years ago I was told that it wasn't possible to run one climate model on multiple processor cores. I expect that hasn't changed.
13) Message boards : Questions and problems : Bug in newer server code for computer preferences ????? (Message 47350)
Posted 17 Jan 2013 by skgiven
Post:
I think there are some differences between server versions, and IIRC some projects allow you to set one of the non-default/primary Preferences as the Default Preferences. So, for example on one project Work could be the Default project.
14) Message boards : Questions and problems : Project status = Suspended - Computer is not in use (Message 45013)
Posted 21 Jul 2012 by skgiven
Post:
Most projects allow you to configure this online, in Computing Preferences:

Suspend work if no mouse/keyboard activity in last
(Needed to enter low-power mode on some computers)
Enforced by version 5.10.14+ 0.0 minutes

If it's set to "0.0" or "---" minutes it should prevent this.

If you chose Run Always from Boinc Manager this should also force the system to always run.

The message in Boinc Manager's even log is "Suspending computation - no recent user activity", however it's easier to see by looking at the Tasks; these will show "Boinc suspended computer not in use".

15) Message boards : Questions and problems : Boinc no longer connects in protected (service) mode (Message 40354)
Posted 24 Sep 2011 by skgiven
Post:
While there is a W8 Pro version, by 'Pro' I just meant a professional version, as opposed to a home edition version that can't be added to a domain, and is likely to be missing things.
The actual name is 'Windows developer preview' (WindowsDeveloperPreview-64bit-English.iso), apparently not on your list either.

Anyway, with installer problems and 6.12.38 disabling the GPU/preventing recognition, I am a long way from being able to test any GPU project.

Some CPU projects might still be interested in testing W8. So far as I can see, it works reasonably well; for a pre-beta using a Boinc-beta. Did notice a few tasks fail after forcing a reboot once, they did not recover from their last checkpoint, but that's about it so far. Lots of other programs don't work too well (including CPUZ) but Boinc is surprisingly stable.
16) Message boards : Questions and problems : Boinc no longer connects in protected (service) mode (Message 40348)
Posted 24 Sep 2011 by skgiven
Post:
Tried that from the command prompt, but it said I already was a member of the boinc_admins group. Also, added my account to the boinc_users group, but made no difference:

Logged on as an administrator, ran the Boinc Install as an administrator, but got the same message,
    Failed to add user to the 'boinc_admins' group (BOINC Master).

Not really sure any of that was applicable; I expect W8 Preview is a Pro version.
So could this just be an issue with the Boinc installation software?
Perhaps not getting a recognized response from the system when attempting to add to the boinc_admins group? I mean it's not written for W8 and the wizard reports that it was interrupted following the above error message.

PS. An alternative to trying this from the command prompt for W8, would be:
Start+R, MMC, add local users and groups snapin, save to desktop, close, right click and run as administrator, change user memberships.

17) Message boards : Questions and problems : Boinc no longer connects in protected (service) mode (Message 40344)
Posted 24 Sep 2011 by skgiven
Post:
Tried 6.12.38 x64 on Win8 x64.
Would not install normally (default settings):

Failed to add user to the 'boinc_admins' group (BOINC Master).

Tried installing in Protected Application mode.

Worked as a daemon, but my purpose was to test GPU projects, and running as a daemon excludes these project!

24/09/2011 12:26:44 | | Starting BOINC client version 6.12.38 for windows_x86_64
24/09/2011 12:26:44 | | Config: report completed tasks immediately
24/09/2011 12:26:44 | | Config: use all coprocessors
24/09/2011 12:26:44 | | Config: zero long-term debts on startup
24/09/2011 12:26:44 | | log flags: file_xfer, sched_ops, task
24/09/2011 12:26:44 | | Libraries: libcurl/7.21.6 OpenSSL/1.0.0d zlib/1.2.5
24/09/2011 12:26:44 | | Running as a daemon
24/09/2011 12:26:44 | | Data directory: C:\ProgramData\BOINC
24/09/2011 12:26:44 | | Running under account boinc_master
24/09/2011 12:26:44 | | Processor: 8 GenuineIntel Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-2600K CPU @ 3.40GHz [Family 6 Model 42 Stepping 7]
24/09/2011 12:26:44 | | Processor: 256.00 KB cache
24/09/2011 12:26:44 | | Processor features: fpu vme de pse tsc msr pae mce cx8 apic sep mtrr pge mca cmov pat pse36 clflush dts acpi mmx fxsr sse sse2 ss htt tm pni ssse3 cx16 sse4_1 sse4_2 syscall nx lm vmx tm2 popcnt aes pbe
24/09/2011 12:26:44 | | OS: Microsoft Windows 8: Developer Preview x64 Edition, (06.02.8102.00)
24/09/2011 12:26:44 | | Memory: 3.98 GB physical, 7.47 GB virtual
24/09/2011 12:26:44 | | Disk: 931.00 GB total, 913.54 GB free
24/09/2011 12:26:44 | | Local time is UTC +1 hours
24/09/2011 12:26:44 | Poem@Home | URL http://boinc.fzk.de/poem/; Computer ID 100147; resource share 10
24/09/2011 12:26:44 | Docking | URL http://docking.cis.udel.edu/; Computer ID 100132; resource share 10
24/09/2011 12:26:44 | Einstein@Home | URL http://einstein.phys.uwm.edu/; Computer ID 4228718; resource share 1
24/09/2011 12:26:44 | GPUGRID | URL http://www.gpugrid.net/; Computer ID 108009; resource share 1000
24/09/2011 12:26:44 | malariacontrol.net | URL http://www.malariacontrol.net/; Computer ID 208953; resource share 10
24/09/2011 12:26:44 | World Community Grid | URL http://www.worldcommunitygrid.org/; Computer ID 1728246; resource share 100
24/09/2011 12:26:44 | World Community Grid | General prefs: from World Community Grid (last modified 16-Sep-2011 23:56:48)
24/09/2011 12:26:44 | World Community Grid | Computer location: bert
24/09/2011 12:26:44 | | General prefs: using separate prefs for bert
24/09/2011 12:26:44 | | Reading preferences override file
24/09/2011 12:26:44 | | Preferences:
24/09/2011 12:26:44 | | max memory usage when active: 3258.08MB
24/09/2011 12:26:44 | | max memory usage when idle: 3258.08MB
24/09/2011 12:26:44 | | max disk usage: 90.00GB
24/09/2011 12:26:44 | | don't use GPU while active
24/09/2011 12:26:44 | | (to change preferences, visit the web site of an attached project, or select Preferences in the Manager)
24/09/2011 12:26:44 | | Not using a proxy
24/09/2011 12:28:09 | malariacontrol.net | task wu_1200_526_34293_0_1316181738_3 resumed by user
24/09/2011 12:28:09 | malariacontrol.net | task wu_1200_524_39185_0_1316815990_0 resumed by user
24/09/2011 12:28:09 | malariacontrol.net | task wu_1200_521_39184_0_1316815871_0 resumed by user
24/09/2011 12:28:09 | malariacontrol.net | task wu_1200_517_39185_0_1316815990_0 resumed by user
24/09/2011 12:28:09 | malariacontrol.net | task wu_1200_516_39185_0_1316815990_0 resumed by user
24/09/2011 12:28:09 | malariacontrol.net | task wu_1200_515_39185_0_1316815990_0 resumed by user
24/09/2011 12:28:09 | malariacontrol.net | task wu_1200_512_39185_0_1316815990_0 resumed by user
24/09/2011 12:28:09 | malariacontrol.net | task wu_1200_510_39185_0_1316815989_0 resumed by user
24/09/2011 12:28:09 | malariacontrol.net | task wu_1200_504_39185_0_1316815989_0 resumed by user
24/09/2011 12:28:09 | malariacontrol.net | task wu_1200_503_39185_0_1316815989_0 resumed by user
24/09/2011 12:28:09 | malariacontrol.net | task wu_1200_303_39185_0_1316815987_0 resumed by user
24/09/2011 12:28:09 | malariacontrol.net | task wu_1200_24_39185_0_1316815986_0 resumed by user
24/09/2011 12:28:09 | malariacontrol.net | task wu_1190_526_39181_0_1316815755_0 resumed by user
24/09/2011 12:28:09 | malariacontrol.net | task wu_1161_510_39183_0_1316815776_0 resumed by user
24/09/2011 12:28:09 | malariacontrol.net | task wu_1161_508_39183_0_1316815775_0 resumed by user
24/09/2011 12:28:09 | malariacontrol.net | task wu_1155_411_39182_0_1316815763_0 resumed by user
24/09/2011 12:28:09 | Docking | task 1g2k1m0b_mod0014crossdockinghiv1_22371_114857_0 resumed by user
24/09/2011 12:28:10 | malariacontrol.net | Starting task wu_1200_524_39185_0_1316815990_0 using openMalariaB version 657
24/09/2011 12:28:10 | malariacontrol.net | Starting task wu_1200_521_39184_0_1316815871_0 using openMalariaB version 657
24/09/2011 12:28:10 | malariacontrol.net | Starting task wu_1200_510_39185_0_1316815989_0 using openMalariaB version 657
24/09/2011 12:28:10 | malariacontrol.net | Starting task wu_1200_24_39185_0_1316815986_0 using openMalariaB version 657
24/09/2011 12:28:10 | malariacontrol.net | Starting task wu_1190_526_39181_0_1316815755_0 using openMalariaB version 657
24/09/2011 12:28:10 | malariacontrol.net | Starting task wu_1161_508_39183_0_1316815775_0 using openMalariaB version 657
24/09/2011 12:28:10 | malariacontrol.net | Starting task wu_1200_526_34293_0_1316181738_3 using openMalariaB version 657
24/09/2011 12:28:10 | malariacontrol.net | Starting task wu_1200_516_39185_0_1316815990_0 using openMalariaB version 657
24/09/2011 12:33:41 | Einstein@Home | work fetch resumed by user
24/09/2011 12:33:42 | Einstein@Home | update requested by user
24/09/2011 12:33:45 | Einstein@Home | Sending scheduler request: Requested by user.
24/09/2011 12:33:45 | Einstein@Home | Not reporting or requesting tasks
24/09/2011 12:33:47 | Einstein@Home | Scheduler request completed
18) Message boards : Questions and problems : Running BOINC on GC (PDC) (Message 40335)
Posted 24 Sep 2011 by skgiven
Post:
Thanks Richard, Jord.
I will try 6.12.38 tomorrow.
19) Message boards : Questions and problems : Running BOINC on GC (PDC) (Message 40330)
Posted 23 Sep 2011 by skgiven
Post:
Does 5.10.45 recognise GPU's?

Installed W8x64 and Boinc 6.10.45 (as no other Boinc version would install) - so trying to test the only version of Boinc that works on Win8 (and DC's) :(

280.26 NVidia driver installed without a hitch, no probs during install and looks good in Device Manager, but not getting tasks from Einstein, which says I don't have an NVidia GPU (obviously restarted a couple of times).

"23/09/2011 22:49:32|Einstein@Home|Message from server: Your computer has no NVIDIA GPU"


Thanks,
20) Message boards : GPUs : GPU Advice (Message 39739)
Posted 20 Aug 2011 by skgiven
Post:
1 x Nvidia Tesla C2070 (cost roughly $4000)
No, No, No


4 x Nvidia GTX 580 Liquid Cooled (cost roughly $700/ea)

yes... or 3 x Nvidia GTX 590...

Liquid Cooled - Not needed; get good cards and use MSI Afterburner to control fan speed and thus temps.

ONE GTX580 would do more work than a C2070!

Three GTX590's should do slightly more than 4 GTX 580's.

You would need a very good PSU.
Better with 2 i7-2600 based systems, each with 2 GTX580's or GTX590's, than one system.

Credit depends on what project you want to crunch for.

GPUGrid does HIV, Cancer and Amyloid Docking work amongst other Bio-Scientific research. A Worth While project IMO, whatever the credits.

There you could get over 500,000 credits per day with 4 GTX580's, but exactly what would depend on configurations, apps, operating system and task type.

Ask there for advice if you are interested.


Next 20

Copyright © 2024 University of California.
Permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify this document under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1.2 or any later version published by the Free Software Foundation.