How do you control BOINC on multiple computers?

[GLeeM]

Now I have to run around the house telling all my computers it's ok to accept new work.

I use "TeamViewer". It lets me look at a window of each rig on my main computer. Mouse, keyboard, copy/paste all work, even over WiFi. I'd be lost without it now. I only need Office on one of three computers now. You can also use it to look at anyone's desktop anywhere to help troubleshoot problems.

Also there are "Account Managers" you might want to check out, I never used one but I think they let you control BOINC on all computers at any/all locations. Does anyone use one? Or know if these are any good?

 

[biodoc]

I use the remote monitoring features within Boinc/boincmgr.

All my rigs are on my home network.

On the rigs I want to monitor from my main computer:

Find the file gui_rpc_auth.cfg and open the file with a text editor. Change the default, randomly generated password to something easy to remember. Save the file.

Start boinc on the "remote" computer with:

boinc --allow_remote_gui_rpc

Also note the ip address.

Repeat the process on the other rigs you would like to monitor from your main rig.

Open up boincmgr on your main rig,

Go to the advanced menu and choose "select computer"

type in the IP address and password of a remote computer and click OK and once connected, you can control all boincmgr functions for that computer.

Ideally, to avoid connection problems, use the same version of boinc on all computers.

 

[TennesseeTony]

Things you've always wanted to know bit were embarrassed to ask. Thanks Gary.

 

[Fardringle]

I use Boincstats BAM (http://boincstats.com/en/bam/) for mine. biodoc's method gives more thorough control of the client, but BAM is simpler for me since I can just click a button to attach all computers to a project or remove them from the project all at the same time.

 

[GLeeM]

Thanks biodoc and Fardringle for your info

With TeamViewer I can see each computers' BOINC Manager, RealTemp and Afterburner. RealTemp shows CPU temperature , load and speed. Afterburner shows GPU temp, core speed (if driver reset), fan speed, etc. They are arranged to see easily.

I can also copy and paste "app_config.xml" files from one computer to the other!

For the Quarterly stats, I copy text from Chrome on main rig and paste to MS Excel on other rig, delete columns, copy back to "New Thread" on main rig.

TeamViewer has it's own taskbar button for easy access. Each computer is a tab in the TeamViewer window. I have it set to run at startup and it is set to one password on my private network. I always have it open. It is free for non-commercial use.

 

[Orange Kid]

I just walk around the house and look at 'em and do whatever.

 

[biodoc]

I just walk around the house and look at 'em and do whatever.

That works and it's reliable/low overhead.

I only have 2 monitors for 4 computers so I have 2 clusters of 2 rigs and swap the video cable for maintenance.

 

[biodoc]

I guess I should set up ssh servers on my "remote" machines (all linux most of the time) so I can log in via my main rig (Terminal session) and do software updates. check temps, reboot, etc).

GLeeM, I see Teamviewer is available for linux.

How much CPU/GPU/RAM overhead does it take to run? Hate to lose too much computing power.

 

[GLeeM]

How much CPU/GPU/RAM overhead does it take to run?

After 230 hours up time, TeamViewer has 2 hours 25 minutes in Task Manager, which shows 215,312K ram used with two connected computers.

I bet if I didn't leave them connected the CPU time used would be much less. It's only two clicks to connect after the first time.