ViperX883
10-13-2004, 05:07 PM
OK, welcome to the Folding@Home FAQ. Links, Programs, etc. thread. I have tried to answer as many questions as possible about Folding@Home in this FAQ. Please check here before making unnecessary posts in the Folding@Home forum section. If you don't find the answer you need here, then make a post. Most of the important links can be found at the end of the FAQ. Check there for quick reference. Have fun!!!
FAQ
What is Folding@Home?
Folding@Home is a distributed computing project run by Stanford University that is designed to study protein folding by performing simulations on average desktop machines like the one you are on now. Proper protein folding is essential to the survival of any organism, and if proteins fold improperly, results are generally not very pretty. The goal of Folding@Home studies is to hopefully find cures for diseases related to improper folding of proteins, many of which are well known such as Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, many forms of cancer, and several others (http://folding.stanford.edu/science.html#disease). All you have to do in order to contribute to this noble effort is to download one of the Folding@Home client programs (http://folding.stanford.edu/download.html) and let it run on your computer. The program will take care of everything else. If your interested in seeing what the Folding@Home research has produced so far, you can check it out by clicking here (http://folding.stanford.edu/papers.html), here (http://folding.stanford.edu/science.html), and here (http://folding.stanford.edu/results.html). Check out the flash videos here (http://www.teamshort-media.com/videos/foldflash2.html) and here (http://www.hel-razor.com/FoldingForOurFuture.html). They should help you understand what folding is about.
Where can I get more information?
You can get more information by going to the Folding@Home homepage (http://www.stanford.edu/group/pandegroup/folding/), or by checking out the official Folding@Home forums (http://forum.folding-community.org/).
Where can I get the Folding@Home client software?
You can download the Folding@Home client software form the Folding@Home download site (http://www.stanford.edu/group/pandegroup/folding/download.html).
Which client should I get (text/graphical/screensaver)?
For Linux machines, there is only a text console available. Note that before you can use this client, you must give it executable permissions. To do this, browse to the folder where the executable is located on a command line and enter "chmod +x FAH4Console-Linux.exe" After that you should be able to run the client without a problem.
A GUI plugin for the Linux console has been developed, and it can be found here (http://gkrellfah.hypercubepc.com/), along with specific instructions on how to use it. I have never used it myself, but it is supposed to be quite good. Give it a look if you're interested.
For Windows and Mac machines, it really depends on what you want to do. If you only want Folding@Home to run when your machine is idle, then you can download the screensaver client. It will only utilize your computer when the screensaver is on, and it looks pretty nifty too. However, it is significantly slower than both the text and graphical consoles.
If you plan to allow your computer to fold 24/7, then use either the text or graphical console, though I highly recommend the text console because it is somewhat faster at running simulations than the graphical client. However, the graphical client is easier to use and will automatically do much of the setup you will have to do later if using the text console (that is, if you own a Windows machine - for a Mac, you have to do the setting up manually no matter what client you use). If you plan on running two instances of Folding@Home, you MUST use the text console client version.
What team number should I use?
Our team number is 12913, the Overclocking Intelligence Agency (OCIA) Folding@Home team.
Do I need broadband to run Folding@Home?
No, you do not need broadband to run Folding@Home. However, Folding@Home will require an internet connection form time to time to transmit data to and from the Stanford websites. If you are not on broadband and do not leave your connection open all the time, then I would recommend setting the advanced options "Request timeless work units" and "Download and submit work units in batches" to yes. That way if your computer completes a work unit while you are not online, it will simply store it and begin working on the next work unit in the queue. Additionally, these work units can never expire. The next time you get online, Folding@Home will upload the work units you have completed and download new ones to replace the submitted ones.
When does Folding@Home run?
Folding@Home is completely customizable in terms of when it does and does not run. You control when it runs. If you want to turn it off, you can just close the program and open it back up when you’re ready. If you don’t want Folding@Home to start up automatically, then you can change that by deleting it from the “Startup Items” folder in the “All Programs” menu (although for most platforms/clients, you have to manually configure the program to startup at boot/logon. For those, if you don’t want F@H running, just don’t do that part of the configuration). However, AFAIK, the only way to get Folding@Home to run only when your computer is idle is to use the screensaver client version.
Does Folding@Home affect computer performance?
The Folding@Home clients are designed to run at a very low priority, and therefore they use only those resources that are not demanded by another running program. Resources being used by F@H are released immediately to any other program that has a demand for them. Because of these things, there is virtually no affect on performance at all.
As far as gaming is concerned, some people have reported performace hits when running multiple instances of F@H, so I recommend running only a single instance when gaming. However, generally when gaming, the vast majority of computer resources are utilized by the game anyway; therefore, F@H will make very little progress. For this reason, I generally shut F@H down before gaming and then restart it when I’m done.
If you want real benchmarks done comparing performace of folding vs. non-folding, you can see them by clicking here (http://techreport.com/etc/2002q4/foldingimpact/index.x?pg=1).
My work units keep restarting. What is wrong?
There can be many possible reasons for this, but usually the problem is a unstable overclock (especially at an OC’ing forum ). Folding@Home can be very taxing on a computer’s processor, so if your overclock is unstable, this will definitely let you know it (and yes, you can still be unstable even though you ran Prime95 for hours without an error). Try backing off on your OC a bit and running a few work units. If that doesn’t help, then post in the forums and we deal specifically with your situation there.
Where can I see stats?
You can check out the stats at the official Folding@Home stats page (http://vspx27.stanford.edu/cgi-bin/main.py?qtype=teampage&teamnum=12913), or the Extreme Overclocking stats page (http://folding.extremeoverclocking.com/team_summary.php?s=&t=12913). Check it out!
What CPU priority should I use to run Folding@Home?
For an everyday use computer such as a gaming computer, use idle priority (it is the Folding@Home default). Idle priority is the lowest possible priority and results in almost zero performance hits. If you decide to set up dedicated folding rigs, use low priority. It is a slightly higher priority than idle and might help to finish work units a tad faster than idle priority.
What are the flags, and which ones should I use?
Flags are special commands that can be entered on the command line, or in the target box of a shortcut, that issue special commands to the Folding@Home client. Some of them result in increased performance. You can get a complete list of flags here (http://folding.stanford.edu/console-userguide.html). The flags you should use are below:
Intel machine: –advmethods –forceasm –verbosity 9
AMD machine: -advmethods –forceSSE –verbosity 9
Mac: -advmethods -forceasm –verbosity 9
Keep in mind that if you decide to run multiple instances of F@H on the same machine, then you will need to use the –local flag on each instance.
How many instances of Folding@Home should I run on my computer?
As a general rule of thumb, you will want to run one instance of F@H for each "core" processor in your machine, either physical or logical. Running two instances on a hyperthreading processor generally results in a 40-50% boost in performance. Running two instances on a dual-core processor yields nearly a 100% increase over a single core processor alone.
Also, some people say that running multiple instances on any processor over 1.5GHz can yield a slight increase in folding output, but I have seen no empirical evidence of this and I think the increase is negligible anyway. You’re more than welcome to try if you like though!
How do I set up multiple instances of Folding@Home on one computer?
For Windows, here is exactly what I did to set up two instances on the desktop. Go to your program files directory. Create a directory called "Folding@Home". Inside of this directory, create two directories, one called "Instance 1" and one called "Instance 2". Then place the console executable inside each of these directories. Now, on your desktop, right-click and choose create shortcut. Create a shortcut to the F@H executable inside the "Instance 1" folder. Now right-click on the new shortcut and go to the 'Shortcut' tab. In the field labeled 'Target', put quotes around whatever is there. then append the following to the end of the target line OUTSIDE the quotations:
-local -advmethods -forceasm -verbosity 9
At the end, your target should look something like the following, only
pointing to a different directory:
"E:\Folding@Home\Instance 1\FAH4Console.exe" -local -advmethods -forceasm -verbosity 9
Now, double click the shortcut to the first instance of F@H. Enter your information. There will be an option to edit advanced preferences. Choose YES. Choose 'fah' for your project preference. Now, the most important part (besides entering 11314 for the team # of course) is to enter 1 at the 'Machine ID' option. Any options that I did not note here can be left at their deafault, so just press enter at the prompts for those.
If you only want to set up a single instance, then you may skip the remaining steps as they are for setting up a second instance. Otherwise, continue reading to see how to set the second instance up.
Now, create another shortcut and do exactly the same thing for the F@H executable in the "Instance 2" folder.
Repeat this procedure for the shortcut to "Instance 2", except this time enter "2" at the 'Machine ID' prompt. Now you have two instances of F@H running on your HT processor. If you want both instances of F@H to startup automatically at boot, all you have to do is drag these two shortcuts to the 'Startup' folder on the 'All Programs' menu.
For Mac and Linux users, the analogous steps will produce two instances on your computers. The most important thing is to remember to use a different machine ID for each instance you run on a single machine. If ou have any other questions, please post in the forum.
Can I throttle down the percentage of the CPU used by Folding@Home?
Yes, you can. If you are uncomfortable with running your computer at 100% CPU usage, you can limit the F@H client to use only the percentage of your CPU that you would prefer. When performing the initial configuration of the program, simply go into the advanced options and key in the desired CPU usage when prompted to do so.
What are the minimum requirements for running Folding@Home?
There are no minimum requirements to run the client. Generally speaking, however, anything slower than 500MHz isn’t really worth folding on. However, if you do decide to fold on something slower than 500MHz, I recommend setting your project preference to “gah” so you can get timeless work units.
What are the different work unit types, and how are they scored?
There are three different types of work units: tinkers, gromacs, and double gromacs. Both gromacs and double gromacs are 100 frames (with varying numbers of steps per frame), while tinkers can be from 20 to 400 frames. Generally, Mac and AMD processors do well with all three, while Intel P4 processors are especially good at double gromacs because of the SSE2 optimizations in the F@H client software. Normal gromacs tend to yield the fewest number of points per hour, while tinkers and double gromacs yield a bit more.
The value of each work unit is determined by a benchmark that Stanford runs on a 2.8GHz hyperthreading Intel CPU.
For a complete list of current work units/projects, check here (http://vspx27.stanford.edu/psummary.html).
Can the console be run in the background?
The console can be run in the background if you choose to install it as a system service. During the configuration the console client will ask you if you wish to install it as a service. Be warned, however, that if F@H is installed as a system service then it will run in the background for ALL users (even though they will never know) instead of only when you are logged in. The service can be stopped/started, set to manual start or disabled altogether from the list of Services under Administrative Tools in Windows 2000, XP or 2003.
Why can’t I see my name/work units on the stats pages?
It sometimes takes a while for work units to show up on the stats pages. The F@H stats page is updated something like every half an hour, while the Extreme Overclocking stats page is updated every three hours. Wait a little while before worrying that you didn’t receive credit for a work unit you turned in.
In order to see your name on the stats pages, you must have turned in at least one work unit and it must have been included in the most recent stats update.
What operating system is the best for Folding@Home?
It is generally believed that Windows is faster than Linux is faster than Mac. The newer Linux kernels tend to be a tiny bit faster than the older ones, as do the newer Mac OS’s. For Windows, it really doesn’t matter beyond Windows 98, (except for Me, which was a pile of crap; don’t use it), but some people say that Windows 98 SE is the fastest folder. I have yet to see any real evidence of this.
Can I fold on a diskless machine?
Yes, it can be done, though it is a bit difficult and only really for the technically savvy kind. I have never tried it myself, so I am unsure of the specifics, but there is a great guide here (http://www.extremeoverclocking.com/articles/howto/FAH_Diskless_Farm_1.html). Good luck, and if you figure it out, please teach me how to do it ;)
(This courtesy of P4OCER) You can also use a live Linux distro to fold. You just boot up off the live CD and then download the F@H client, chmod it, and run it like you would any other client. The only problem is that you will lose your current work unit if te computer is shut off before it completes. This can be solved by using a USB keychain. Just move all the folding stuff to the keychain and use it as a "Foldind hard disk".
Is it okay to borge computers for folding?
Yes, this is OK, as long as you have permission of the owner of the computer. If you do not, then installing F@H is illegal and you can be prosecuted. Cheaters have been caught in the past and have been severely punished. It will look bad for you and for the team, so do not borge without proper permission.
Also, if you are able to borge a large number of CPU’s from a university or from work, then you must let Vijay Pande, the leader of the Stanford F@H project, know that you have the proper permissions at pande@stanford.edu. Ever since the cheaters were caught, they have been very suspicious about people getting large farms overnight.
I can’t turn in my work units. What is wrong?
It is possible that the Stanford server may be down. Be patient; they will get it back up. You can check on the status of the servers here (http://vspx27.stanford.edu/serverstat.html).
Can I manage multiple rigs over a network?
Yes, there is a program called Electron Microscope III (EMIII) (http://www.em-dc.com/) that can manage multiple folding rigs across a network. I have never had any real reason to use it, but it is supposed to be quite good. Check it out if you’re interested. Then you can teach me about how it works ;)
Does Folding@Home have any spyware/adware?
No, F@H is spyware and adware free.
What is important for good folding performance?
RAW GIGAHERTZ!!! Other attributes, such as front side bus or ram speed, if they contribute at all, will be negligible in the performance of F@H. And no, your 6800 GT video card will not help you either ;)
Links and Programs
Basics
Standford Folding@Home Homepage (http://www.stanford.edu/group/pandegroup/folding/): The base of operations for Folding@Home
Official Stanford Folding@Home Forums (http://forum.folding-community.org/): You can bet that if no one here can help you, then someone there can.
Folding@Home Videos 1 (http://www.teamshort-media.com/videos/foldflash2.html) and 2 (http://www.hel-razor.com/FoldingForOurFuture.html): Don't get what folding is? Check these out.
Stats and Project Information
Official Stanford Stats Pages (http://www.stanford.edu/group/pandegroup/folding/stats.html): These are Stanford's stat pages. Updates often, but otherwise very weak.
Extreme Overclocking Stats Pages (http://folding.extremeoverclocking.com/): The best Folding@Home stats pages on the web PERIOD.
Folding@Home Benchmarking ORB (http://orb.teamfm.net/stats/orb/): Wanna see how fast you can fold and compare your rig to other folders' rigs? Do it here.
Folding Projects (http://vspx27.stanford.edu/psummary.html): A list of all the current folding projects under way, along with their point values and other information.
Diskless Folding
Overclockix (http://overclockix.octeams.com/): A vey good Linux distribution tailored specifically for diskless folding, courtesy of Arkaine23.
Overclockix Forums (http://overclockix-forum.theaog.com/): If you need help with Overclockix, this is the place to get it.
Build It Diskless (http://www.extremeoverclocking.com/articles/howto/FAH_Diskless_Farm_1.html): A good article on how to set up a diskless Folding@Home farm, courtesy of Jason over at EOC.
Powering Two Motherboards with One Power Supply (http://forums.extremeoverclocking.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=33884): Find out how to do it here, also courtesy of Jason over at EOC.
Folding Farm Mania (http://ws9.jobnegotiator.com/html/flinks.html): Can't figure out your friend gets 5,000 ponits per day? Maybe he has one of these.
Folding@Home Monitoring Utilities
FAH Stats (http://fahstats.sourceforge.net/mt/): Good program for monitoring individual folding rigs.
Electron Microscope III (EMIII) (http://www.em-dc.com/): Very good program for monitoring all of your folding rigs across a network. Find more info here (http://forums.extremeoverclocking.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=28203).
Useful Programs
Fire Daemon (http://www.firedaemon.com/): Can run almost all programs as system services. More complicated than the service installer GUI.
Tray-It (http://www.teamcti.com/TrayIt/) and Hide-It (http://www.geocities.com/SiliconValley/Sector/2035/hideit.html): Two programs that allow you to autostart the FAH text console and minimize it to the system tray. (Can minimize other programs too.)
StressCPU (http://home.comcast.net/~wxdude1/emsite/download/stresscpu.zip): Program designed to stress test SSE capabilities on AMD processors.
CPU Burn (http://users.ev1.net/~redelm/) and Prime95 (http://www.mersenne.org/freesoft.htm): General purpose stress testers. Make sure that OC is stable!
GKrellFAH (http://gkrellfah.hypercubepc.com/): A graphical frontend for the Linux F@H console client.
Additional Information/User Contributed Information
Ok, I'm not sure if anyone else here is doing any folding on linux boxes but I have a couple helpful tips.
You'll need to save the FAH to a directory (I use FAH), having said that I guess it can be left in the root but it makes everything messy.
to do a normal run you'd type ./FAH500-Linux.exe (add flags here)
Now, if you don't like looking at the terminal running the whole time or are afraid someone will close it accidentally(mainly you) follow these steps:
1.switch to the FAH directory
2 Type screen -S fah ./FAH500-Linux.exe(add flags here)
anything you want the screen to be known as (make it short)
Now FAH will be running and you'll be looking at it in a terminal.
IMPORTANT! before you close this terminal or switch away from folding type control a control d to disconnect from the screen then you may exit or move to another application.
Now to monitor or change the fah, type the following
screen -r fah
and wamo, it's back up.
I'll add more later.
THE END!!! Wasn't that fun??? Happy folding!!!
FAQ
What is Folding@Home?
Folding@Home is a distributed computing project run by Stanford University that is designed to study protein folding by performing simulations on average desktop machines like the one you are on now. Proper protein folding is essential to the survival of any organism, and if proteins fold improperly, results are generally not very pretty. The goal of Folding@Home studies is to hopefully find cures for diseases related to improper folding of proteins, many of which are well known such as Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, many forms of cancer, and several others (http://folding.stanford.edu/science.html#disease). All you have to do in order to contribute to this noble effort is to download one of the Folding@Home client programs (http://folding.stanford.edu/download.html) and let it run on your computer. The program will take care of everything else. If your interested in seeing what the Folding@Home research has produced so far, you can check it out by clicking here (http://folding.stanford.edu/papers.html), here (http://folding.stanford.edu/science.html), and here (http://folding.stanford.edu/results.html). Check out the flash videos here (http://www.teamshort-media.com/videos/foldflash2.html) and here (http://www.hel-razor.com/FoldingForOurFuture.html). They should help you understand what folding is about.
Where can I get more information?
You can get more information by going to the Folding@Home homepage (http://www.stanford.edu/group/pandegroup/folding/), or by checking out the official Folding@Home forums (http://forum.folding-community.org/).
Where can I get the Folding@Home client software?
You can download the Folding@Home client software form the Folding@Home download site (http://www.stanford.edu/group/pandegroup/folding/download.html).
Which client should I get (text/graphical/screensaver)?
For Linux machines, there is only a text console available. Note that before you can use this client, you must give it executable permissions. To do this, browse to the folder where the executable is located on a command line and enter "chmod +x FAH4Console-Linux.exe" After that you should be able to run the client without a problem.
A GUI plugin for the Linux console has been developed, and it can be found here (http://gkrellfah.hypercubepc.com/), along with specific instructions on how to use it. I have never used it myself, but it is supposed to be quite good. Give it a look if you're interested.
For Windows and Mac machines, it really depends on what you want to do. If you only want Folding@Home to run when your machine is idle, then you can download the screensaver client. It will only utilize your computer when the screensaver is on, and it looks pretty nifty too. However, it is significantly slower than both the text and graphical consoles.
If you plan to allow your computer to fold 24/7, then use either the text or graphical console, though I highly recommend the text console because it is somewhat faster at running simulations than the graphical client. However, the graphical client is easier to use and will automatically do much of the setup you will have to do later if using the text console (that is, if you own a Windows machine - for a Mac, you have to do the setting up manually no matter what client you use). If you plan on running two instances of Folding@Home, you MUST use the text console client version.
What team number should I use?
Our team number is 12913, the Overclocking Intelligence Agency (OCIA) Folding@Home team.
Do I need broadband to run Folding@Home?
No, you do not need broadband to run Folding@Home. However, Folding@Home will require an internet connection form time to time to transmit data to and from the Stanford websites. If you are not on broadband and do not leave your connection open all the time, then I would recommend setting the advanced options "Request timeless work units" and "Download and submit work units in batches" to yes. That way if your computer completes a work unit while you are not online, it will simply store it and begin working on the next work unit in the queue. Additionally, these work units can never expire. The next time you get online, Folding@Home will upload the work units you have completed and download new ones to replace the submitted ones.
When does Folding@Home run?
Folding@Home is completely customizable in terms of when it does and does not run. You control when it runs. If you want to turn it off, you can just close the program and open it back up when you’re ready. If you don’t want Folding@Home to start up automatically, then you can change that by deleting it from the “Startup Items” folder in the “All Programs” menu (although for most platforms/clients, you have to manually configure the program to startup at boot/logon. For those, if you don’t want F@H running, just don’t do that part of the configuration). However, AFAIK, the only way to get Folding@Home to run only when your computer is idle is to use the screensaver client version.
Does Folding@Home affect computer performance?
The Folding@Home clients are designed to run at a very low priority, and therefore they use only those resources that are not demanded by another running program. Resources being used by F@H are released immediately to any other program that has a demand for them. Because of these things, there is virtually no affect on performance at all.
As far as gaming is concerned, some people have reported performace hits when running multiple instances of F@H, so I recommend running only a single instance when gaming. However, generally when gaming, the vast majority of computer resources are utilized by the game anyway; therefore, F@H will make very little progress. For this reason, I generally shut F@H down before gaming and then restart it when I’m done.
If you want real benchmarks done comparing performace of folding vs. non-folding, you can see them by clicking here (http://techreport.com/etc/2002q4/foldingimpact/index.x?pg=1).
My work units keep restarting. What is wrong?
There can be many possible reasons for this, but usually the problem is a unstable overclock (especially at an OC’ing forum ). Folding@Home can be very taxing on a computer’s processor, so if your overclock is unstable, this will definitely let you know it (and yes, you can still be unstable even though you ran Prime95 for hours without an error). Try backing off on your OC a bit and running a few work units. If that doesn’t help, then post in the forums and we deal specifically with your situation there.
Where can I see stats?
You can check out the stats at the official Folding@Home stats page (http://vspx27.stanford.edu/cgi-bin/main.py?qtype=teampage&teamnum=12913), or the Extreme Overclocking stats page (http://folding.extremeoverclocking.com/team_summary.php?s=&t=12913). Check it out!
What CPU priority should I use to run Folding@Home?
For an everyday use computer such as a gaming computer, use idle priority (it is the Folding@Home default). Idle priority is the lowest possible priority and results in almost zero performance hits. If you decide to set up dedicated folding rigs, use low priority. It is a slightly higher priority than idle and might help to finish work units a tad faster than idle priority.
What are the flags, and which ones should I use?
Flags are special commands that can be entered on the command line, or in the target box of a shortcut, that issue special commands to the Folding@Home client. Some of them result in increased performance. You can get a complete list of flags here (http://folding.stanford.edu/console-userguide.html). The flags you should use are below:
Intel machine: –advmethods –forceasm –verbosity 9
AMD machine: -advmethods –forceSSE –verbosity 9
Mac: -advmethods -forceasm –verbosity 9
Keep in mind that if you decide to run multiple instances of F@H on the same machine, then you will need to use the –local flag on each instance.
How many instances of Folding@Home should I run on my computer?
As a general rule of thumb, you will want to run one instance of F@H for each "core" processor in your machine, either physical or logical. Running two instances on a hyperthreading processor generally results in a 40-50% boost in performance. Running two instances on a dual-core processor yields nearly a 100% increase over a single core processor alone.
Also, some people say that running multiple instances on any processor over 1.5GHz can yield a slight increase in folding output, but I have seen no empirical evidence of this and I think the increase is negligible anyway. You’re more than welcome to try if you like though!
How do I set up multiple instances of Folding@Home on one computer?
For Windows, here is exactly what I did to set up two instances on the desktop. Go to your program files directory. Create a directory called "Folding@Home". Inside of this directory, create two directories, one called "Instance 1" and one called "Instance 2". Then place the console executable inside each of these directories. Now, on your desktop, right-click and choose create shortcut. Create a shortcut to the F@H executable inside the "Instance 1" folder. Now right-click on the new shortcut and go to the 'Shortcut' tab. In the field labeled 'Target', put quotes around whatever is there. then append the following to the end of the target line OUTSIDE the quotations:
-local -advmethods -forceasm -verbosity 9
At the end, your target should look something like the following, only
pointing to a different directory:
"E:\Folding@Home\Instance 1\FAH4Console.exe" -local -advmethods -forceasm -verbosity 9
Now, double click the shortcut to the first instance of F@H. Enter your information. There will be an option to edit advanced preferences. Choose YES. Choose 'fah' for your project preference. Now, the most important part (besides entering 11314 for the team # of course) is to enter 1 at the 'Machine ID' option. Any options that I did not note here can be left at their deafault, so just press enter at the prompts for those.
If you only want to set up a single instance, then you may skip the remaining steps as they are for setting up a second instance. Otherwise, continue reading to see how to set the second instance up.
Now, create another shortcut and do exactly the same thing for the F@H executable in the "Instance 2" folder.
Repeat this procedure for the shortcut to "Instance 2", except this time enter "2" at the 'Machine ID' prompt. Now you have two instances of F@H running on your HT processor. If you want both instances of F@H to startup automatically at boot, all you have to do is drag these two shortcuts to the 'Startup' folder on the 'All Programs' menu.
For Mac and Linux users, the analogous steps will produce two instances on your computers. The most important thing is to remember to use a different machine ID for each instance you run on a single machine. If ou have any other questions, please post in the forum.
Can I throttle down the percentage of the CPU used by Folding@Home?
Yes, you can. If you are uncomfortable with running your computer at 100% CPU usage, you can limit the F@H client to use only the percentage of your CPU that you would prefer. When performing the initial configuration of the program, simply go into the advanced options and key in the desired CPU usage when prompted to do so.
What are the minimum requirements for running Folding@Home?
There are no minimum requirements to run the client. Generally speaking, however, anything slower than 500MHz isn’t really worth folding on. However, if you do decide to fold on something slower than 500MHz, I recommend setting your project preference to “gah” so you can get timeless work units.
What are the different work unit types, and how are they scored?
There are three different types of work units: tinkers, gromacs, and double gromacs. Both gromacs and double gromacs are 100 frames (with varying numbers of steps per frame), while tinkers can be from 20 to 400 frames. Generally, Mac and AMD processors do well with all three, while Intel P4 processors are especially good at double gromacs because of the SSE2 optimizations in the F@H client software. Normal gromacs tend to yield the fewest number of points per hour, while tinkers and double gromacs yield a bit more.
The value of each work unit is determined by a benchmark that Stanford runs on a 2.8GHz hyperthreading Intel CPU.
For a complete list of current work units/projects, check here (http://vspx27.stanford.edu/psummary.html).
Can the console be run in the background?
The console can be run in the background if you choose to install it as a system service. During the configuration the console client will ask you if you wish to install it as a service. Be warned, however, that if F@H is installed as a system service then it will run in the background for ALL users (even though they will never know) instead of only when you are logged in. The service can be stopped/started, set to manual start or disabled altogether from the list of Services under Administrative Tools in Windows 2000, XP or 2003.
Why can’t I see my name/work units on the stats pages?
It sometimes takes a while for work units to show up on the stats pages. The F@H stats page is updated something like every half an hour, while the Extreme Overclocking stats page is updated every three hours. Wait a little while before worrying that you didn’t receive credit for a work unit you turned in.
In order to see your name on the stats pages, you must have turned in at least one work unit and it must have been included in the most recent stats update.
What operating system is the best for Folding@Home?
It is generally believed that Windows is faster than Linux is faster than Mac. The newer Linux kernels tend to be a tiny bit faster than the older ones, as do the newer Mac OS’s. For Windows, it really doesn’t matter beyond Windows 98, (except for Me, which was a pile of crap; don’t use it), but some people say that Windows 98 SE is the fastest folder. I have yet to see any real evidence of this.
Can I fold on a diskless machine?
Yes, it can be done, though it is a bit difficult and only really for the technically savvy kind. I have never tried it myself, so I am unsure of the specifics, but there is a great guide here (http://www.extremeoverclocking.com/articles/howto/FAH_Diskless_Farm_1.html). Good luck, and if you figure it out, please teach me how to do it ;)
(This courtesy of P4OCER) You can also use a live Linux distro to fold. You just boot up off the live CD and then download the F@H client, chmod it, and run it like you would any other client. The only problem is that you will lose your current work unit if te computer is shut off before it completes. This can be solved by using a USB keychain. Just move all the folding stuff to the keychain and use it as a "Foldind hard disk".
Is it okay to borge computers for folding?
Yes, this is OK, as long as you have permission of the owner of the computer. If you do not, then installing F@H is illegal and you can be prosecuted. Cheaters have been caught in the past and have been severely punished. It will look bad for you and for the team, so do not borge without proper permission.
Also, if you are able to borge a large number of CPU’s from a university or from work, then you must let Vijay Pande, the leader of the Stanford F@H project, know that you have the proper permissions at pande@stanford.edu. Ever since the cheaters were caught, they have been very suspicious about people getting large farms overnight.
I can’t turn in my work units. What is wrong?
It is possible that the Stanford server may be down. Be patient; they will get it back up. You can check on the status of the servers here (http://vspx27.stanford.edu/serverstat.html).
Can I manage multiple rigs over a network?
Yes, there is a program called Electron Microscope III (EMIII) (http://www.em-dc.com/) that can manage multiple folding rigs across a network. I have never had any real reason to use it, but it is supposed to be quite good. Check it out if you’re interested. Then you can teach me about how it works ;)
Does Folding@Home have any spyware/adware?
No, F@H is spyware and adware free.
What is important for good folding performance?
RAW GIGAHERTZ!!! Other attributes, such as front side bus or ram speed, if they contribute at all, will be negligible in the performance of F@H. And no, your 6800 GT video card will not help you either ;)
Links and Programs
Basics
Standford Folding@Home Homepage (http://www.stanford.edu/group/pandegroup/folding/): The base of operations for Folding@Home
Official Stanford Folding@Home Forums (http://forum.folding-community.org/): You can bet that if no one here can help you, then someone there can.
Folding@Home Videos 1 (http://www.teamshort-media.com/videos/foldflash2.html) and 2 (http://www.hel-razor.com/FoldingForOurFuture.html): Don't get what folding is? Check these out.
Stats and Project Information
Official Stanford Stats Pages (http://www.stanford.edu/group/pandegroup/folding/stats.html): These are Stanford's stat pages. Updates often, but otherwise very weak.
Extreme Overclocking Stats Pages (http://folding.extremeoverclocking.com/): The best Folding@Home stats pages on the web PERIOD.
Folding@Home Benchmarking ORB (http://orb.teamfm.net/stats/orb/): Wanna see how fast you can fold and compare your rig to other folders' rigs? Do it here.
Folding Projects (http://vspx27.stanford.edu/psummary.html): A list of all the current folding projects under way, along with their point values and other information.
Diskless Folding
Overclockix (http://overclockix.octeams.com/): A vey good Linux distribution tailored specifically for diskless folding, courtesy of Arkaine23.
Overclockix Forums (http://overclockix-forum.theaog.com/): If you need help with Overclockix, this is the place to get it.
Build It Diskless (http://www.extremeoverclocking.com/articles/howto/FAH_Diskless_Farm_1.html): A good article on how to set up a diskless Folding@Home farm, courtesy of Jason over at EOC.
Powering Two Motherboards with One Power Supply (http://forums.extremeoverclocking.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=33884): Find out how to do it here, also courtesy of Jason over at EOC.
Folding Farm Mania (http://ws9.jobnegotiator.com/html/flinks.html): Can't figure out your friend gets 5,000 ponits per day? Maybe he has one of these.
Folding@Home Monitoring Utilities
FAH Stats (http://fahstats.sourceforge.net/mt/): Good program for monitoring individual folding rigs.
Electron Microscope III (EMIII) (http://www.em-dc.com/): Very good program for monitoring all of your folding rigs across a network. Find more info here (http://forums.extremeoverclocking.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=28203).
Useful Programs
Fire Daemon (http://www.firedaemon.com/): Can run almost all programs as system services. More complicated than the service installer GUI.
Tray-It (http://www.teamcti.com/TrayIt/) and Hide-It (http://www.geocities.com/SiliconValley/Sector/2035/hideit.html): Two programs that allow you to autostart the FAH text console and minimize it to the system tray. (Can minimize other programs too.)
StressCPU (http://home.comcast.net/~wxdude1/emsite/download/stresscpu.zip): Program designed to stress test SSE capabilities on AMD processors.
CPU Burn (http://users.ev1.net/~redelm/) and Prime95 (http://www.mersenne.org/freesoft.htm): General purpose stress testers. Make sure that OC is stable!
GKrellFAH (http://gkrellfah.hypercubepc.com/): A graphical frontend for the Linux F@H console client.
Additional Information/User Contributed Information
Ok, I'm not sure if anyone else here is doing any folding on linux boxes but I have a couple helpful tips.
You'll need to save the FAH to a directory (I use FAH), having said that I guess it can be left in the root but it makes everything messy.
to do a normal run you'd type ./FAH500-Linux.exe (add flags here)
Now, if you don't like looking at the terminal running the whole time or are afraid someone will close it accidentally(mainly you) follow these steps:
1.switch to the FAH directory
2 Type screen -S fah ./FAH500-Linux.exe(add flags here)
anything you want the screen to be known as (make it short)
Now FAH will be running and you'll be looking at it in a terminal.
IMPORTANT! before you close this terminal or switch away from folding type control a control d to disconnect from the screen then you may exit or move to another application.
Now to monitor or change the fah, type the following
screen -r fah
and wamo, it's back up.
I'll add more later.
THE END!!! Wasn't that fun??? Happy folding!!!