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F@H SMP client questions

S

Scott66

Senior member
got a couple of questions

When I ran fah.exe it opened a command window where i did the configuration and it seems to be working fine as it got a work unit and all the boosts and optimizations seem to be working (just did its first 5000 steps). Now do I need to keep this command window open or can I exit it?

Also what is the proper way to shut down the smp if I need to reboot the computer, due to window updates, etc. without damaging the WU.

I already copied the FAHlog to my desktop so I can see the progress. I knew all this back in September when I stopped folding but it has gone clear out of my head.

Thanks in advance
Scott66
 
Scott,

The fah.exe console window must remain "open", although minimalsing it is fine. Depending on where you installed the client(s) each folder should have a MyFolding.html file in it. Bookmark that with your browser, and it's easy too see. Otherwise, download FahMon and you'll have many more viewing options handy. Having the log outside of the client(s) folder may cause a problem.

jim
 
Originally posted by: Scott66
Also what is the proper way to shut down the smp if I need to reboot the computer, due to window updates, etc. without damaging the WU.
Click to expand...

Close the command window. You'll start again at your last checkpoint. What ever you do don't end task the actual process, you'll loose the WU totally. I had a roommate that didn't want to close the window for fear of breaking something, so when he went to open a game he just ended the processes and kept trashing WUs till I found out who it was.

 
If you just shutdown windows normally, without doing anything to the f@h client, it will be OK.
(if you are running 2 instances of SMP on a Quad core WindowsXP PC, it doesn't always make it back, I don't think there is any sure way to interrupt two clients.... works OK most of the time though.)

-Sid
 
Scott66
If you don't want F@H ending up in the task bar you could use 'trayit' to stick it in the sys tray when minimised.
Btw re F@H log ,rather than copying it to the desktop just create a shortcut to it on the desktop.:thumbsup:
 
I did make shortcut to the desktop so the actual log is still in the original folder but, the work unit is stuck at 4 percent since 6:47 GMT I went to bed and just got up and it is still at the same percentage. Just noticed that I lost my 4 fah processes that were each running about 25%, they were there when I went to bed. Right now I am at CPU usage of 0%. I have mpiexec.exe and fah.exe but only one instance of smpd.exe now (could have sworn I had 2 before)

Now what should I do
 
By "Restart it" do you mean restart the computer or is there a way I can restart the folding? I did restart the computer and it seems to be working but it came up with this.

Launch directory: C:\Folding\SMP Folding
Executable: C:\Folding\SMP Folding\fah.exe


[14:30:55] - Ask before connecting: No
[14:30:55] - User name: Scott66 (Team 198)
[14:30:55] - User ID: 7136D3F12359ED0F
[14:30:55] - Machine ID: 1
[14:30:55]
[14:30:55] Loaded queue successfully.
[14:30:55]
[14:30:55] + Processing work unit
[14:30:55] Core required: FahCore_a1.exe
[14:30:55] Core found.
[14:30:55] Working on Unit 01 [January 12 14:30:55]
[14:30:55] + Working ...
[14:30:56]
[14:30:56] *------------------------------*
[14:30:56] Folding@Home Gromacs SMP Core
[14:30:56] Version 1.74 (March 10, 2007)
[14:30:56]
[14:30:56] Preparing to commence simulation
[14:30:56] - Ensuring status. Please wait.
[14:31:13] - Looking at optimizations...
[14:31:13] - Working with standard loops on this execution.
[14:31:13] - Previous termination of core was improper.
[14:31:13] - Going to use standard loops.
[14:31:13] - Files status OK
[14:31:19] - Expanded 2947089 -> 15229627 (decompressed 516.7 percent)
[14:31:20]
[14:31:20] Project: 2653 (Run 24, Clone 114, Gen 39)
[14:31:20]
[14:31:21] Entering M.D.
[14:31:27] Calling FAH init
[14:31:28] in POPC
[14:31:28] Writing local files
[14:31:28] checkpoint)
[14:31:28] Read checkpoint
[14:31:29] steps (4 percent)
[14:31:29] Extra SSE boost OK.
[14:31:29] iles
[14:31:29] Completed 20000 out of 500000 steps (4 percent)
[14:31:30] Extra SSE boost OK.


It said it is using standard loops now due to improper shut down but it then says it is using the extra SSE boost. Is this normal or should I be closing it and restarting it differently

thanks for all the advice
 
I use the -forceasm switch to make it stay out of the standard loops. Stanford says the optimized loops are hardcoded in and that standard loops indication is an error so it probably doesn't matter. I just use all the switches on every PC so I don't have to deal with which which switches for which installation.

-local -advmethods -forceasm -verbosity 9

those are the switches I always use.

edit: by 're-start' I am always meaning re-start windows, but not everyone does it that way

-Sid

(to know if you are really in slow loops you can just wait until it does a couple more steps and see how long they are taking. (the first completed step on each client start can have really weird times (fast or slow) so see how long it takes to do steps 5 and 6 (in this case).

:beer:
 
Seems to be working properly, the times are close to what they were before but I am using the machine right now and it just did its virus scan, if it makes it above ten steps I should be in the clear

thanks Sid
 
Originally posted by: Scott66
the work unit is stuck at 4 percent since 6:47 GMT I went to bed and just got up and it is still at the same percentage. Just noticed that I lost my 4 fah processes that were each running about 25%, they were there when I went to bed. Right now I am at CPU usage of 0%. I have mpiexec.exe and fah.exe but only one instance of smpd.exe now (could have sworn I had 2 before)

Now what should I do
Click to expand...

This looks like what happens when something happens to networking. Either lost connection (even if only for a split second), or IP address change by ISP, or any networking change.

Vista is supposedly better in this area than XP.

This beta client (actually I think it is the Microsoft program mpiexec.exe) is sensitive to network changes.

I either look at Task Manager to make sure it is running or check temps, several times a day.
 
I did have a couple of hours when I did not seem to be able to access any new pages or content on the internet. This likely is what stopped the folding. The second one seems to be going well
 
Originally posted by: Scott66
I did have a couple of hours when I did not seem to be able to access any new pages or content on the internet. This likely is what stopped the folding. The second one seems to be going well
Click to expand...

Yup, that is it for sure then.

Note that you can restart the client if there is no network and it will continue even if you lose network again, that is until it uses network again.
 
I can't seem to get both clients to behave. One always terminates early. I'm trying a few different configurations but geez, it shouldn't be this difficult. It's nice to have a few 12k days back to back though 🙂

3 more duals on line by the end of Jan.

Gravit
 
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