Local preferences 7.4

From BOINC

In this section we'll explain all of the local preferences in detail, not only those for simple view, but those for advanced view as well.

Note:

  • Changes will take effect immediately upon clicking OK in the dialog.
  • Changes will affect ONLY the local computer.
  • Settings override the same preferences set on the project's web page preferences.


Simple view


  • BOINC 6: Use the Preferences button in the Simple View.
  • BOINC 7: Use the Tools->Computing preferences menu item in Simple View.


  • Dialog
    Simple View local preferences.
    • Do work only between X and Y: Allows you to set times between which hours BOINC can be active. If set to Anytime, BOINC will run always.
    • Connect to internet only between X and Y: Allows you to set times between which hours BOINC is allowed to contact projects to upload, report and download. If set to Anytime, internet connection is not restricted.
    • Use no more than X GB of disk space: Use this value to set the maximum amount of disk space that BOINC is allowed to use, for storing science applications and work.
    • Use no more than X % of the processor: Use this value to throttle the processor. Throttling the processor will stop making the processor too hot. Especially useful for laptops, where the CPU will run hot.
    • Do work on battery?: A setting for laptops and notebooks, allows BOINC to continue running when the laptop is not connected to the wall-outlet but running off battery power instead. This will decrease the power use of your laptop quite drastically.
    • Do work after idle for X minutes: BOINC will only start doing work after the computer has been idle for this many minutes.
  • Buttons
    • OK: When you press the OK button, any preferences set in the local preferences will be saved to disk and will be used immediately, overriding any of the same web-preferences.
    • Clear: Allows you to clear the local simple preferences. Only the local preferences set in Simple View will be deleted. Where appropriate, local preferences set in Advanced View will be kept and have to be cleared separately.
    • Cancel: Allows you to leave the preferences window after looking at it, without saving any information about the preferences to disk.




Advanced view


  • BOINC 6: Use Advanced->Preferences menu item in the Advanced View.
  • BOINC 7: Use Tools->Computing preferences menu item in the Advanced View.


Processor usage

  • Computing allowed
    Advanced View local preferences, processor usage tab.
    • While computer is on batteries: When checked, this allows BOINC to do work when the computer is not connected to net-power. Used for laptops, notebooks and phones.
    • While computer is in use: When checked, this allows BOINC to do work while you are using the computer (i.e. moving mouse, typing on keyboard).
    • Use GPU while computer is in use: When checked, this allows BOINC to do calculations on the graphics processing unit. See this FAQ for more information on that.
    • Only after computer has been idle for X minutes: Affects the above use options, which will only take effect after the amount of minutes have passed.
    • While processor usage is less than X percent: When other non-BOINC processes use this many CPU cycles, BOINC will suspend doing work. 0 and 100 mean there is no restriction.
    • Every day between the hours of X and Y: Allows you to set times between which hours BOINC can be active. When the times are equal, there is no restriction.
    • Day-of-week override: Allows you to override the previous preference for specific days of the week, and specific hours of that day.
  • Other options
    • Switch between applications every X minutes: Sets when BOINC will switch between applications of different projects.
    • On multiprocessor systems, use at most X % of the processors: Sets the maximum amount of processors or cores you want BOINC to use. The minimum amount of processors BOINC can use is still set by the web-preference of On multiprocessors, use at most X processors.
    • Use at most X % CPU time: Use this value to throttle the processor. Throttling the processor will stop making the processor too hot. Especially useful for laptops, where the CPU will run hot.


Network usage

  • General options
    Advanced View local preferences, network usage tab.
    • Maximum download rate: Allows you to set a maximum rate at which BOINC is allowed to download science programs and work from projects.
    • maximum upload rate: Allows you to set a maximum rate at which BOINC is allowed to upload results to projects.
    • Transfer at most X Mbytes every Y days: Allows you to set a maximum amount of data per X days. When BOINC reaches this amount, it will suspend the network activity and stop downloading work and uploading results. Useful for when your ISP has you on a rate cap.
    • Minimum work buffer: This sets the minimum amount of work your BOINC is going to request.. It's the low water mark for BOINC, before it starts asking for work.
    • Max additional work buffer: This sets the additional days worth of work you want to have.
    • Skip image file verification: Check this ONLY if your Internet provider modifies image files (UMTS does this, for example). Skipping verification reduces the security of BOINC.
  • Connect options
    • Confirm before connecting to internet: Matters only if you have a modem, ISDN or VPN connection. When check, this will display a pop-up box asking you to confirm before making contact with the internet, else BOINC will automatically connect to the internet.
    • Disconnect when done: Matters only if you have a modem, ISDN or VPN connection. Will disconnect the connection after all downloads/uploads/reports are done.
  • Network usage allowed
    • Every day between hours of X and Y: Allows you to set times between which hours BOINC can connect to the internet. When the times are equal, there is no restriction.
    • Day-of-week override: Allows you to override the previous preference for specific days of the week, and specific hours of that day.


Disk and memory usage

  • Disk usage
    Advanced View local preferences, Disk and memory usage tab.
    • Use at most X Gigabytes disk space: Sets the maximum disk space BOINC is allowed to use.
    • Leave at least X Gigabytes disk space free: Minimum space BOINC should leave free on the disk or partition.
    • Use at most X % of total disk space: Sets the maximum amount of total space that BOINC is allowed to use.
    • Tasks checkpoint to disk at most every X seconds: A suggested interval between disk accesses. Useful on laptops where the disk may be spun down for long periods. Default is 60 seconds, maximum 999 seconds. The project application does not have to follow this suggestion!
    • Use at most X % of page file (swap space): Maximum percentage of your virtual memory page file (also called 'swap space') used by BOINC. Default value is 75%.
  • Memory usage
    Advanced View local preferences, Exclude application tab.
    • Use at most X % when computer is in use: Limits the amount of RAM used by BOINC applications when your computer is in use (i.e. when there has been recent mouse or keyboard activity). Setting this to a low value lets you run BOINC all the time without impacting your computer's performance. Default value is 50%.
    • Use at most X % when computer is idle: Limits the amount of RAM used by BOINC applications when your computer is not in use. The Default is 90%.
    • Leave applications in memory while suspended: When checked, applications will be stored in virtual memory, rather than quitting the task. This uses more virtual memory, but uses CPU time more efficiently. When BOINC is exited, the values will still be lost.


Exclusive applications

  • Suspend processor and network usage when these applications are running: When programs in this list are detected in memory, BOINC will stop working on them. A separate option to stop working on the GPU only, but allow work on the CPU to continue, will come in a future version. Until that time you will have to hand edit the cc_config.xml file and use the <exclusive_gpu_app/> flag for that.

Note: Using this option will add all configuration flags in the cc_config.xml file, all at their default setting of disabled. For advanced options, refer to Client configuration.

  • Buttons
    • OK: When you press the OK button, any preferences set in the local preferences will be saved to disk and will be used immediately, overriding any of the same web-preferences.
    • Clear: Allows you to clear the local advanced preferences. Only the local preferences set in Advanced View will be deleted. Where appropriate, local preferences set in Simple View will be kept and have to be cleared separately.
    • Cancel: Allows you to leave the preferences window after looking at it, without saving any information about the preferences to disk.
    • Help: Goes to the preferences help page, in this Wiki.
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