[SOLVED] SMP worked once - How do config & restart?

**DonaldG** · 01-05-2008, 01:25 PM

Thanks to Mattlock - I managed to sort out the 'password' problem & I successfully installed the SMP client V1.01.

In the DOS box I answered the questions etc.. I entered my name and team number OK and answered yes to the question of 'Run at startup' etc...I noted that it would need a reboot for the auto start to kick in.

The DOS box filled with what I guess it was supposed to display and very soon it fetched a work unit and started work.

It immediately grabbed all four cores and the processor was working at 100%

I couldnt immediately find how I could re-configure it to run at say 50% until I checked out core temperatures etc...

I closed the dos box via the 'x'. Immediately the folding ceased

I rebooted but it doesn't seem to be folding but fah.exe @ 0% & mpiexec.exe @ 10% are in Task Manager Process.

Question:
1) How do I correctly start folding
2) do I have to suffer the dos box being open
3) How do I config the usage percentage

**koala** · 01-05-2008, 09:55 PM

1) Same way as with the other clients, just click the icon.

2) With it being a DOS window, you can't send it to the system tray like you can with the GUI clients. You can minimize it, but it will still appear in the Windows taskbar. Or you could run it as a service.

3) Close down the client and then go to the F@H SMP folder in Windows Explorer and open client.cfg in Notepad.

This is mine:

Code:

[settings]
username=TSF_koala
team=85015
asknet=no
bigpackets=yes
machineid=4
local=8

[http]
active=no
host=localhost
port=8080
usereg=no

[core]
cpuusage=95
checkpoint=5

Change cpuusage=xx to the required number, then File > Save (not Save As.... this will change the extension from cfg to txt).

Restart the SMP client and check in Task Manager to see the CPU level.

**DonaldG** · 01-06-2008, 06:34 AM

Still some problems in setting cpuusage...

Experimenting...

Will post results soon

(Note: it seems that setting 25 on a quad core = 4x25% = 100%) doing some tweeking...
Also the
[core]
cpuusage=n
checkpoint=n
was not in my config file...

I added:
[core]
cpuusage=n
but not the checkpoint bit coz I didn't know what setting....

At moment everything works either flat out at 100% total cpu usage or alternatively, at circa 5% per core...

With a QX6800 costing in excess of £600 a go, I dont want to fry it.

I have so far experimented with config such as
[core1]
[core2]
etc... seems to have some effect but not consistant...

Will revert soon

**Glaswegian** · 01-06-2008, 06:42 AM

Thanks koala - that helped me as well. Task Manager is now showing cpu usage at 20%, although I set usage at 60% in the config file. PC Wizard shows Core 1 activity at 80% and Core 2 around 60%.

Have I missed something here?

**koala** · 01-06-2008, 06:59 AM

I'm not sure what's going on. My CPU usage for F@H fluctuates slightly, depending on what other programs are running at the same time, but stays roughly constant at 90-95%, spread equally over the 2 cores. AMD Athlon 64 X2 4200+ with 2gb RAM.

Task Manager:

**DonaldG** · 01-06-2008, 07:42 AM

Sorted! I hope!!!

Thanks Koala - you have another success for the list!

My Config File:

Quote:

[settings]
username=Donald_Gray
team=85015
asknet=no
bigpackets=no
machineid=1

[http]
active=no
host=localhost
port=8080
usereg=yes

[core]
cpuusage=40

I have not put a checkpoint = n as at the moment I don't know the usage or setting... Any ideas?

One thing I have noted with a 4 core processor and the usage meters (Third party or MS) is that a single core is flat out if indicated at 25% ... IE 4 cores at 25% each = overall processor = 100%

For the benefit of other multi-core users, I have noticed that when the client is first started, after a few seconds the cores hit maximum for about 5 seconds & then back off to the settings in the config file.

The image below shows the results I have got at the moment. I shall leave it at 40% for a while before incrimenting it....

Many thanks for your help...

**koala** · 01-06-2008, 07:49 AM

The checkpoint value is measured in minutes, so when you shut down the program in the middle of processing a WU, if the value is 5 then you only lose the last 5 minutes worth of folding instead of the default (30 minutes, I think).

**DonaldG** · 01-06-2008, 07:53 AM

Roger that!

I will set a Checkpoint...

Thanks again for your help.

**mattlock** · 01-06-2008, 07:55 AM

One other thing I noticed Donald is you have bigpackets set to no. For the SMP client you should be accepting bigpackets, so that should read bigpackets=yes.

**Glaswegian** · 01-06-2008, 08:03 AM

I set my memory to 1024 (half of my available) - is that what it should be?

I also set the cpu to 60%, although based on Donald's comments, I'm now wondering if it should be 50%...

I've completed 3% since starting about 90 minutes ago (15000 of 500000)

**koala** · 01-06-2008, 08:08 AM

30 minutes per 1% sounds about right. Where did you set the memory to half? I can't see any option for that.

**Glaswegian** · 01-06-2008, 08:25 AM

It's in the config file, near the end.

**DonaldG** · 01-06-2008, 08:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mattlock

One other thing I noticed Donald is you have bigpackets set to no. For the SMP client you should be accepting bigpackets, so that should read bigpackets=yes.

The way I have been feeling over the last 36 hours, all I wanted was little things.

I had a Meniers Attack & that laid me out flat (literally) for several hours & plays havock with the memory ...When the Folding Client asked if I wanted a 'big one' I had to say no

I should like to change it to Bigpackets=maybe?

but will: Bigpackets=yes

Thanks for the help everyone...

**Glaswegian** · 01-06-2008, 08:28 AM

[settings]
username=Glaswegian
team=85015
asknet=no
bigpackets=yes
machineid=1[http]
active=no
host=localhost
port=8080
usereg=no[core]
priority=96
cpuusage=60
disableassembly=yes
checkpoint=15
ignoredeadlines=no
[power]battery=no
[clienttype]
memory=1024
type=2
nonet=yes

That's my current config file. Just edit and save as koala outlined earlier Donald.

01-05-2008, 01:25 PM	#1 (permalink)
DonaldG Mentor Articles Team Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Somerset, UK Posts: 6,807 OS: XPsp2 Laptop & Vista Ultimate Desktop My System Blog Entries: 1	[SOLVED] SMP worked once - How do config & restart? Thanks to Mattlock - I managed to sort out the 'password' problem & I successfully installed the SMP client V1.01. In the DOS box I answered the questions etc.. I entered my name and team number OK and answered yes to the question of 'Run at startup' etc...I noted that it would need a reboot for the auto start to kick in. The DOS box filled with what I guess it was supposed to display and very soon it fetched a work unit and started work. It immediately grabbed all four cores and the processor was working at 100% I couldnt immediately find how I could re-configure it to run at say 50% until I checked out core temperatures etc... I closed the dos box via the 'x'. Immediately the folding ceased I rebooted but it doesn't seem to be folding but fah.exe @ 0% & mpiexec.exe @ 10% are in Task Manager Process. Question: 1) How do I correctly start folding 2) do I have to suffer the dos box being open 3) How do I config the usage percentage __________________ Submit New Articles Join the TSF Team for the Folding@Home Project. I did! Enter TSF Team number 85015 Last edited by DonaldG : 01-05-2008 at 01:26 PM.

01-05-2008, 09:55 PM	#2 (permalink)
koala Moderator Hardware Team Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: UK Posts: 8,477 OS: XP/UBUNTU My System	Re: SMP worked once - How do config & restart? 1) Same way as with the other clients, just click the icon. 2) With it being a DOS window, you can't send it to the system tray like you can with the GUI clients. You can minimize it, but it will still appear in the Windows taskbar. Or you could run it as a service. 3) Close down the client and then go to the F@H SMP folder in Windows Explorer and open client.cfg in Notepad. This is mine: Code: [settings] username=TSF_koala team=85015 asknet=no bigpackets=yes machineid=4 local=8 [http] active=no host=localhost port=8080 usereg=no [core] cpuusage=95 checkpoint=5 Change cpuusage=xx to the required number, then File > Save (not Save As.... this will change the extension from cfg to txt). Restart the SMP client and check in Task Manager to see the CPU level. __________________ New members: Subscribe to your thread (Thread Tools) to receive an instant email notification when you get a reply. TSF Folding@Home Team 85015 - details here

01-06-2008, 06:34 AM	#3 (permalink)
DonaldG Mentor Articles Team Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Somerset, UK Posts: 6,807 OS: XPsp2 Laptop & Vista Ultimate Desktop My System Blog Entries: 1	Re: SMP worked once - How do config & restart? Still some problems in setting cpuusage... Experimenting... Will post results soon (Note: it seems that setting 25 on a quad core = 4x25% = 100%) doing some tweeking... Also the [core] cpuusage=n checkpoint=n was not in my config file... I added: [core] cpuusage=n but not the checkpoint bit coz I didn't know what setting.... At moment everything works either flat out at 100% total cpu usage or alternatively, at circa 5% per core... With a QX6800 costing in excess of £600 a go, I dont want to fry it. I have so far experimented with config such as [core1] [core2] etc... seems to have some effect but not consistant... Will revert soon __________________ Submit New Articles Join the TSF Team for the Folding@Home Project. I did! Enter TSF Team number 85015 Last edited by DonaldG : 01-06-2008 at 06:36 AM.

01-06-2008, 06:42 AM	#4 (permalink)
Glaswegian Moderator/ Rangemaster TSF Academy; Analyst, Security Team; Oor Wullie; TSF Surgeon and Resident Comic Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Glasgow Posts: 207,104 OS: Win XP Pro SP3 My System Blog Entries: 9	Re: SMP worked once - How do config & restart? Thanks koala - that helped me as well. Task Manager is now showing cpu usage at 20%, although I set usage at 60% in the config file. PC Wizard shows Core 1 activity at 80% and Core 2 around 60%. Have I missed something here? __________________ Iain - Defender of the Haggis and all things Scottish. I don't help by PM - post in the Forums. Ad-Aware::SpywareBlaster::SpyBot::SpywareGuard::SnoopFree::AVG Free::HOSTS File::HijackThis::Donate::5 Steps For Infected PCs

01-06-2008, 06:59 AM	#5 (permalink)
koala Moderator Hardware Team Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: UK Posts: 8,477 OS: XP/UBUNTU My System	Re: SMP worked once - How do config & restart? I'm not sure what's going on. My CPU usage for F@H fluctuates slightly, depending on what other programs are running at the same time, but stays roughly constant at 90-95%, spread equally over the 2 cores. AMD Athlon 64 X2 4200+ with 2gb RAM. Task Manager: __________________ New members: Subscribe to your thread (Thread Tools) to receive an instant email notification when you get a reply. TSF Folding@Home Team 85015 - details here

01-06-2008, 07:49 AM	#7 (permalink)
koala Moderator Hardware Team Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: UK Posts: 8,477 OS: XP/UBUNTU My System	Re: SMP worked once - How do config & restart? The checkpoint value is measured in minutes, so when you shut down the program in the middle of processing a WU, if the value is 5 then you only lose the last 5 minutes worth of folding instead of the default (30 minutes, I think). __________________ New members: Subscribe to your thread (Thread Tools) to receive an instant email notification when you get a reply. TSF Folding@Home Team 85015 - details here

01-06-2008, 07:53 AM	#8 (permalink)
DonaldG Mentor Articles Team Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Somerset, UK Posts: 6,807 OS: XPsp2 Laptop & Vista Ultimate Desktop My System Blog Entries: 1	Re: SMP worked once - How do config & restart? Roger that! I will set a Checkpoint... Thanks again for your help. __________________ Submit New Articles Join the TSF Team for the Folding@Home Project. I did! Enter TSF Team number 85015

01-06-2008, 07:55 AM	#9 (permalink)
mattlock moderator hardware team Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Ohio Posts: 3,755 OS: XP SP2, Ubuntu Gutsy Gibbon My System	Re: [SOLVED] SMP worked once - How do config & restart? One other thing I noticed Donald is you have bigpackets set to no. For the SMP client you should be accepting bigpackets, so that should read bigpackets=yes. __________________ Matt Everest-Thermal Paste Instruction-Power Supply Info-Sensorview PSU Calculator-Speedfan-Bench Test Help TSF Fight Disease. It's Free!

01-06-2008, 08:03 AM	#10 (permalink)
Glaswegian Moderator/ Rangemaster TSF Academy; Analyst, Security Team; Oor Wullie; TSF Surgeon and Resident Comic Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Glasgow Posts: 207,104 OS: Win XP Pro SP3 My System Blog Entries: 9	Re: [SOLVED] SMP worked once - How do config & restart? I set my memory to 1024 (half of my available) - is that what it should be? I also set the cpu to 60%, although based on Donald's comments, I'm now wondering if it should be 50%... I've completed 3% since starting about 90 minutes ago (15000 of 500000) __________________ Iain - Defender of the Haggis and all things Scottish. I don't help by PM - post in the Forums. Ad-Aware::SpywareBlaster::SpyBot::SpywareGuard::SnoopFree::AVG Free::HOSTS File::HijackThis::Donate::5 Steps For Infected PCs

01-06-2008, 08:08 AM	#11 (permalink)
koala Moderator Hardware Team Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: UK Posts: 8,477 OS: XP/UBUNTU My System	Re: [SOLVED] SMP worked once - How do config & restart? 30 minutes per 1% sounds about right. Where did you set the memory to half? I can't see any option for that. __________________ New members: Subscribe to your thread (Thread Tools) to receive an instant email notification when you get a reply. TSF Folding@Home Team 85015 - details here

01-06-2008, 08:25 AM	#12 (permalink)
Glaswegian Moderator/ Rangemaster TSF Academy; Analyst, Security Team; Oor Wullie; TSF Surgeon and Resident Comic Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Glasgow Posts: 207,104 OS: Win XP Pro SP3 My System Blog Entries: 9	Re: [SOLVED] SMP worked once - How do config & restart? It's in the config file, near the end. __________________ Iain - Defender of the Haggis and all things Scottish. I don't help by PM - post in the Forums. Ad-Aware::SpywareBlaster::SpyBot::SpywareGuard::SnoopFree::AVG Free::HOSTS File::HijackThis::Donate::5 Steps For Infected PCs