The Complete, Detailed Guide to [email protected]

12385 Views 40 Replies 20 Participants Last post by MadCatMk2, Jul 9, 2010

MadCatMk2

Discussion Starter · Mar 18, 2009

This guide is very old and most likely not of any use to most people.
Please check the latest threads and guides of the forum if you're looking to help the folding team.

The Complete, Detailed Guide to [email protected] [CDGF]
..and everything related. (Under Windows)

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▀ Purpose of this guide ▀
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Quote:

Help you figure out which [email protected] client(s) will work best for you.
Learn how to get it/them running.
Learn how to monitor it/them.
Learn where and how to read your statistics.

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▀ Contents ▀
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Quote:

The CPU Clients (Clients that fold using your processor's power)
--The multi-threaded (SMP) client. The most efficient client that runs only on multi-core systems.
--The VMware clients. Essentially an SMP client for those who want an extra speed boost.
--The simple, single core CPU clients. Low-performance clients (multiple instances of those can be ran on multi-core systems).

The GPU Clients (Clients that fold using your graphics card's power).

Client Monitoring. (Monitoring the progress and performance of your clients)

Your Folding Statistics. (Point statistics of your uploaded work units)

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▀ The CPU Clients ▀ ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Quote:

These are three (two) categories of CPU clients:

The multi-threaded (SMP) client. The most efficient client that runs only on multi-core systems.
The VMWare clients. Essentially an SMP client for those who want an extra speed boost.
The simple, single core CPU clients. Low-performance clients (multiple instances of those can be ran on multi-core systems).

Details on which client is best for your computer can be found below.

Quote:

●---SMP Client---●

Quote:

Run this client if:

Your computer is (almost) always on.
You have a solid dual/quad core processor (Some weak laptop processors / cheap dual cores fail to meet the deadlines of each work unit. You will have to follow the "Simple Client" instructions.)

How to run the SMP client:

1)Download:

You can get the client here: http://folding.stanford.edu/English/DownloadWinOther
You will have to scroll down to "Windows: V6 Beta SMP/CPU clients" and pick "Windows XP/2003/Vista/2008 SMP client console version" (MPICH).

If you have an i7 CPU, you will need two Console version clients.
Extract two of them into two different folders and repeat the following guide for both.

2) Install:

Instructions (Please do read them) : http://folding.stanford.edu/English/WinSMPGuideMPICH

Note #1: Before running install.bat, you need to have a Windows Account Password.
If you don't have one already:

Go to Start -> Run..
In the window that appears, type control userpasswords2 and press Enter to open the Windows 2000-style User Accounts application.
On the Users tab, clear the Users Must Enter A User Name And Password To Use This Computer check box and then click OK.
In the Automatically Log On dialog box that appears, type the user name and password for the account you want to be logged on each time you start your computer.
Reboot.

Note #2: When you execute install.bat, you may get a firewall popup asking to allow or block twice, once for mpiexec.exe and once for smpd.exe. You should make sure both are allowed or the program won't work. (~Thanks rla4000)

Note #3: If running Windows 7 please check this post to get SMP working.

3) Customize:

While setting up the client on its first run:

Set 37726 as your team number.
At the"Additional client parameters" prompt (Type "yes" when promoted for advanced settings), set: -verbosity 9 -smp

When you're done, create a shortcut of the client(s) in you your Windows "Startup" folder so it will automatically run when Windows start.

4) Hide:

Having the SMP window in the taskbar is quite annoying, yet easily solved. You will need this little application: http://www.teamcti.com/trayit/trayit.htm

Save it in a folder somewhere in your hard drive, somewhere you won't mind it being for ever (aka: Not your desktop).

Run it and right click the SMP client in the window that appears. Select "Place in system tray".
Is it hidden down there? Great.

Now go to Edit -> Profiles and edit the profile you just created and enable "Minimize on windows creation". Hit OK.

Close the "Profiles List" and head to Edit -> Options. Here we will have to make sure the following are enabled:

"Always start minimized"
"Load TrayIt! on startup"
"Group similar tray icons for each application" (Optional)

You can just close the TrayIt! window now and you're done.
Don't worry if it takes time for the client to show some progress.

●---VMWare client---●

Quote:

Run this client if:

You already meet the SMP requirements.
Chuck Norris got nothing on you.

How to run the VMWare client:

You have a couple of options here:

notfred's client:

I personally consider this the most practical and stable client.

Download/Instructions: http://www.ocforums.com/showthread.php?t=599272 (By PeddlerOfFlesh)

This client does not show progress withing the vmware window.
You can monitor it either via its IP address or using FahMon as described later in this guide.

Hide the window:

Having the VMWare window in the taskbar is quite annoying, yet easily solved. You will need this little application: http://www.teamcti.com/trayit/trayit.htm

Save it in a folder somewhere in your hard drive, somewhere you won't mind it being for ever (aka: Not your desktop).

Run it and right click the SMP client in the window that appears. Select "Place in system tray".
Is it hidden down there? Great.

Now go to Edit -> Profiles and edit the profile you just created and enable "Minimize on windows creation". Hit OK.

Close the "Profiles List" and head to Edit -> Options. Here we will have to make sure the following are enabled:

"Always start minimized"
"Load TrayIt! on startup"
"Group similar tray icons for each application" (Optional)

You can just close the TrayIt! window now and you're done.

error10's client:

Several people have had problems with the way this client handles the work units. It is uncertain what causes these problems and we do not know how, when and if they will be fixed in a new version.
This client is however slightly faster than notfred's.

Download/Instructions: http://www.overclock.net/overclock-n...made-easy.html

Hide the window:

Having the VMWare window in the taskbar is quite annoying, yet easily solved. You will need this little application: http://www.teamcti.com/trayit/trayit.htm

Save it in a folder somewhere in your hard drive, somewhere you won't mind it being for ever (aka: Not your desktop).

Run it and right click the SMP client in the window that appears. Select "Place in system tray".
Is it hidden down there? Great.

Now go to Edit -> Profiles and edit the profile you just created and enable "Minimize on windows creation". Hit OK.

Close the "Profiles List" and head to Edit -> Options. Here we will have to make sure the following are enabled:

"Always start minimized"
"Load TrayIt! on startup"
"Group similar tray icons for each application" (Optional)

You can just close the TrayIt! window now and you're done.

Don't worry if it takes time for the client to show some progress.

Notes for both clients:

If you're going to be running a GPU client at the same time (Especially if you have an ATi card), you might want to check this post to balance the CPU usage: http://www.overclock.net/5691927-post809.html

Make sure to create a shortcut of the client in your "Startup" folder for the client to run at system startup.

●---Simple CPU client---●
Quote:

Run this client if:

Your computer runs a few hours every day.
You have a low performance processor.

How to run this client:

First, we'll check how many threads your CPU can handle (this has nothing to do with cores) :
Hit Ctrl+Alt+Del to open the Task Manager.
Go to the "Performance" tab.
Go to View -> CPU History -> One graph per CPU

Now check how many graphs are within the "CPU Usage history" area (Not the "Physical memory usage history" one).

If there's a single graph (CPU with 1 thread):

1) Download: You can get this client here: http://folding.stanford.edu/English/Download
Most people use "Windows XP/2003/Vista System tray client installer with viewer" , which is the most straightforward/fast to set-up client.
Some others prefer "Windows XP/2003/Vista Console client only zip file" as it is slightly faster, but a bit more of a hassle.

2) Install/Configure: You will find all the information you will need here: http://folding.stanford.edu/English/WinUNIGuide

Set 37726 as your team number.

Note: Do not forget to create a shortcut of it in your computer's "Startup" folder.

3) Hide (Only for console client) : You will need this little application: http://www.teamcti.com/trayit/trayit.htm
Save it in a folder somewhere in your hard drive, somewhere you won't mind it being for ever (aka: Not your desktop).

Run it and right click the SMP client in the window that appears. Select "Place in system tray".
Is it hidden down there? Great.

Now go to Edit -> Profiles and edit the profile you just created and enable "Minimize on windows creation". Hit OK.

Close the "Profiles List" and head to Edit -> Options. Here we will have to make sure the following are enabled:

"Always start minimized"
"Load TrayIt! on startup"
"Group similar tray icons for each application" (Optional)

You can just close the TrayIt! window now and you're done.

Don't worry if it takes time for the client to show some progress.

If there are two graphs (CPU with two threads):

1) Download: You can get this client here: http://folding.stanford.edu/English/Download
Specifically, get this one: "Windows XP/2003/Vista Console client only zip file".

2) Install/Configure: Extract the client twice, in two separate folders (Desktop is not your best option).

---Run the first client you extracted following this tutorial: http://folding.stanford.edu/English/WinUNIGuide#ntoc2

Enter "Yes" when prompted about "Advanced Options".
Do not install as a service.
When asked about "Additional client parameters write -verbosity 9 -local

Close the client.

---Run the second client you extracted; follow the same instructions as above, but set its "Machine ID" to 2 when prompted.

Do not forget to create shortcuts of both clients in your computer's "Startup" folder.

4) Hide : Having the clients windows in the taskbar is quite annoying, yet easily solved:

Make sure one of the two clients is running (Things could get buggy if both are running).

Download this little application: http://www.teamcti.com/trayit/trayit.htm

Extract it in a folder somewhere in your hard drive, somewhere you won't mind it being for ever (aka: Not your desktop).

Run it and right click the client in the window that appears. Select "Place in system tray".
Is it hidden down there? Great.

Now go to Edit -> Profiles and edit the profile you just created and enable "Minimize on windows creation". Hit OK.

Close the "Profiles List" and head to Edit -> Options. Here we will have to make sure the following are enabled:

"Always start minimized"
"Load TrayIt! on startup"
"Group similar tray icons for each application" (Optional)

You can just close the TrayIt! window now and run the second client; minimizing it should hide it (if not, click the tray icon).

If there are more than two graphs (CPU with more than two threads):

If you are here, you have either a Tri- or Quad-core CPU that runs for less than 4-5 hours a day or is too weak to meet the SMP's Work Units' deadlines.

Please follow the "Two Graphs" guide above, but extract as many clients as needed, and keep increasing the "Machine ID" numbers according to the total number of clients desired.

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▀ The GPU clients ▀----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Quote:

Run these clients if:

You have at least one:

ATI 2xxx, 3xxx, 4xxx, 5xxx series graphics card or an
nVidia GeForce 8xxx, 9xxx, 2xx, or any other nVidia card that supports CUDA.
Of course, any cards newer than these will work.

How to run the GPU client:

1)Download:

Download and install the latest drivers for your graphics card.

You can get the client here: http://folding.stanford.edu/English/DownloadWinOther
I recommend the "Windows XP/2003 GPU Console client." as it performs the best, but if you want a simpler, faster installation, grab the "Windows XP/2003/Vista GPU System tray client (installer msi)" file.

2) Install:

Systray client instructions : http://folding.stanford.edu/English/WinGPUGuide#ntoc2

Console client instructions: http://folding.stanford.edu/English/WinGPUGuide#ntoc3

Multi-GPU instructions: http://folding.stanford.edu/English/WinGPUGuide#ntoc4
Do not skip the Customize step that follows.

OR

Check out {core2duo}werd's guide / nafljhy's guide

3) Customize:

Systray client: Type -verbosity 9 -local in the "Additional Client parameters" area.

Console client: Type -verbosity 9 -local when asked for "Additional Client parameters" under "Advanced Options".
Make sure you create a shortcut of the client in Windows "Startup" folder so it will run every time your computer starts.

Multi-GPU: Under windows Vista/Windows 7 things can get tricky:
You will have to make Dummy Plugs and extend your monitor

Set 37726 as your team number.

Notes:
Important Note #1.1:
Do not forget to change the Machine ID for these clients, depending on how many CPU clients you already have running.

Important note #1.2:
If you are folding on multiple nvidia cards you will have to disable SLI in the nVidia control panel.
If folding on multiple ATi cards you can leave CrossFire enabled, under the condition you have the latest graphics drivers.

Important note #1.3:
Folding on both your CPU and GPU might cause your GPU to run slowly, set the GPU cores' priority using this tool: http://www.overclock.net/overclock-n...tpriority.html

4) Hide:

Systray client: The client runs in the tray on it's own. Read no further.

Console client / Multi-GPU:

Having the clients windows in the taskbar is quite annoying, yet easily solved:

Make sure one of all the clients is running (If you have multiple GPU clients).

Download this little application: http://www.teamcti.com/trayit/trayit.htm

Extract it in a folder somewhere in your hard drive, somewhere you won't mind it being for ever (aka: Not your desktop).

Run it and right click the client in the window that appears. Select "Place in system tray".
Is it hidden down there? Great.

Now go to Edit -> Profiles and edit the profile you just created and enable "Minimize on windows creation". Hit OK.

Close the "Profiles List" and head to Edit -> Options. Here we will have to make sure the following are enabled:

"Always start minimized"
"Load TrayIt! on startup"
"Group similar tray icons for each application" (Optional)

You can just close the TrayIt! window now and run the rest of the clients; minimizing them should hide them (if not, click the tray icon).
Notes 2:
Important Note #2.1: When gaming while folding on your GPU, your [email protected] GPU client can get unstable.

It is recommended that:

If you have the GPU SysTray client, right click its icon and pause it. Don't forget to resume it when you close your game!
If you have the GPU Console Client(s), close it before gaming and remember to re-start it when you're done!

Important note #2.2:
Keep in mind that when folding with an ATi card, it using quite a lot of CPU power is normal.
Please check this post out.

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▀ Client Monitoring ▀ ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Quote:

You've got your client(s) up and running, but how fast are you?

For this purpose, most people use a free, small application called FahMon.

Download:

Get FahMon here: http://www.fahmon.net/download.html
As you can see, there's a Windows Installer and a Windows Zip version available. Both function exactly the same. If you don't know which to choose, get the Windows Installer.

Configuration:
After installation/extraction, run the program.
Go to FahMon -> Preferences -> General tab: Typically, you select everything here.

In the next tab, called Monitoring, I suggest the following settings:

Auto Reload Client [x]
Reload Interval [5]
Reload Clients in Series [x]
Use Experimental Reload System [ ]
Calculate PPD based on [All Frames]
Ignore Asynchronous Clocks [x] (Especially useful with the VMWare client)

Now we will tell FahMon the clients are located:
Go to Clients->Add a new client. Enter a name for you client and type its location as described:

ALL extracted/zipped clients are located wherever you extracted them.
Systray GPU client file locations are noted here: http://folding.stanford.edu/English/FAQ-NVIDIA#ntoc26
CPU/SMP Clients are either in "Program Files" or C:\\Documents and Settings\\<Your Windows UserName>\\Application Data\\[email protected]
The location of the error10's VMWare client and setting it up in FahMon is described by error10 in his thread. However, I suggest taking a look at this post(Essential if your VMWare client only works in "Bridged" network modein Vista/Windows 7; Restart the client for the new network mode to work)
The location of the notfred's VMWare client has the following format: \\\\$Machine\\C\\etc\\folding\\$Instance. In my case this was \\\\Fold-aa95\\C\\etc\\folding\\1\\.

For VMWare Clients it is recommended to tick the "Client is on a Virtual Machine" checkbox.

Want to know what everything you see in FahMon means? Read here: http://trac.fahmon.net/
Its "Table of Contents" contains pretty much everything you will ever need to know.

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▀ Your folding statistics ▀
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Quote:

If you want to find out more about your point statistics and ranking simply search your folding name here: http://folding.extremeoverclocking.com/

[To be completed]

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Happy folding!
If you really are having trouble setting up [email protected], or don't have the time to set up many clients on several computers, post in this thread (so more people can read it) and I might be able to help you configure them; or even set-up whole systems via the internet.

v.6.1 - Waiting for your comments

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