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SETI - Starting a (sorta) crack rack - Need some advice

M

Migroo

Diamond Member
Hi guys

I turn to you all again for advice! The questions I ask here are probably easily solved by a search, and I have done some basic research, but I find that there is nothing better than the opinions of people that have done this sort of thing before, so without further ado:

What I plan is not necessarily going to be a crack-rack in the normal term. I propose to setup a small herd of PCs (some with, some without cases - depending upon wether I have them or not at the moment) as I have at least 2 PCs built that I am not using at the moment, and perhaps another 2 or more in old-ish parts and it seems a waste to leave them not running. Just FYI, most of these will be used only for running SETI, none of these are going to be 'used' by a human. Anyway lets get to the nitty-gritty:

I do not have Windows licences to run these machines with - I would like to run Linux on these machines. I have almost no Linux knowledge whatsoever. The reason for going with Linux is that it is free in the sence that it doesnt cost more to add another machine - and there is a potential (the needs are fulfilled - space for the machines etc) to run quite a number of PCs.

I would like to setup one 'control' PC running a SETI Queue aswell as the SETI CLI. Is there a version of SETI Queue for Linux, or would I have to make this machine Windows (one Win machine is not a problem, as I have one spare licence at least). I have my main PC upstairs, and of course it would be possible to run a Q on that, however I cannot guarantee the uptime of that machine as I tend to take it apart rather frequently, and I also have to sleep in the same room... 😱

So I need some information along the lines of:
A general intro to Linux - this I have found
Running a DC project with Linux - What do I need? Distro, SETI program... some sort of GUI like X Windows to run the Win version of the CLI?? IS there a Linux port of the SETI CLI?
A recommended distribution - wether I buy this or download (have broadband at home) is not an issue, I am willing to spend a little on a distro (then again, if I spend ££ on a distro, there are fewer funds to buy parts with...)
Info on what spec the components such as HD and RAM need to be on each node - For the PCs that are just running SETI: Is 1 GB enough HD space for distro + program? What is the minimum HD space you can get away with? At what point does adding RAM fail to see an improvement in WU times?
What is the process for getting a node working? - Assemble PC (CPU, mobo, RAM, NIC etc), Add cards for install (Video, CD etc), Install distro/program, Run, remove excess components (Video, CD etc), Leave running - is that right?

A lot of these questions can be answered at a later date I know, I would just like to know what I am getting myself into. The reason I ask here is that I believe there to be quite a few veterans of Linux and DC in general around...

Many thanks guys, I couldnt do this without you!

Feel free to spawn opinions etc - this is going to be fun! 🙂

Oh, by the way - those of you who are part of other DC projects, have no fear. If a machine is poor at running SETI I have no qualms about running other projects instead 🙂

Migroo
 
You need licenses to install Windows on more than one machine?!?! 😉

Actually, I would be interested in your final results, I too have considered creating several Linux boxes to run Seti but haven't had the time recently to get working on this project.

If nothing else, here's a stay on the first page bump for you!

Good luck...
 
This is how I set up my linux box running seti:

I used RedHat 7.2 because it seems to support a lot of the standard hardware such as NICs, Video cards, etc. I used slackware once and it had pretty good support for the hardware too. I am sure any of the major distros have good support. But red hat is the one that seems to have the most user support on the web if you have questions.

Skip X-windows if there will be no regular human use, it will just use system resources. There is a linux CLI for seti. (choose one of the i386-pc-linux versions here.) There are tutorials showing the best ways to make seti run, I don't have a link for that right now.....

As far as the set up. If by remove video you mean remove monitor, yes. My node that runs seti is caseless with a mobo with onboard video and lan, psu, RAM, processor, hsf, and hard drive. I loaded off of a CD but have removed the drive. 1GB should be plenty of HD room. I have 128 MB of RAM in that particualr machine, but I don't know what is the point at which you no longer see an improvement by adding RAM. I have a 4 port manual KVM that I got for about 75 for the box and 4 sets of cables from newegg.com THat is another option that you might look into to help with maintenance.
 
Thanks for the replies. I'll let you know how I get on EW 🙂

Hopefully when I get home I will have 'net access, but who knows.. 🙁 Anyway I can get back to you all regarding the status of everything etc. I definately have one PC ready to start.

Regarding the KVM switch, thats a good idea really IJump. I have a spare monitor (a bit of a behemoth, its a 16" e-Machines model from 1990!! :Q) so getting it setup like that wouldnt really be a problem.

Thanks for the information. Means I can get another node running as I have a complete CPU/mobo/ram combo + 1 GB HDD available.

I need to know if there is SETI Q for Linux. I shall be setting up the first machine sometime this week. The PC is already 'made' just isnt being used, so all I have to do is load OS etc. Since it will be the first machine of the batch, it may aswell run the Q - therefore, what OS do people suggest? I have Win 98 spare, so its that or something like Red Hat.

Cheers 🙂
 
Hehe dont worry ElFenix. At the moment there is only a Celery 400 and a K6-2 350.

I just want to get the infrastructure of a physical rack and a 'control' PC with a Q, and a hub/switch there so I can add some fearsome power when the chance arises! 😀
 
Migroo,
I wouldn't even bother with a KVM switch if the boxes will not be used by humans. A minimal Linux install (there are several) and the capability to SSH to them is all you need.

ssh (Secure Telnet) would allow you to log into the rack machines from the 'controll' PC & check status, start seti etc.

AlricTheMad
 
Thanks for that, yeah its a good idea - what sort of minimal install do you recommend?

Bump for some more replies 🙂
 
I am working on something just like this. I have one warning that I never thought of. HEAT. I came home from work to find my room 120+ degrees ( with a thermometer ) It gets frigging HOT!

Remember to figure that. Now I think I am going to have to buy a $500 aux ac unit.....
 
I guess I'll finally have to get around to posting the system I now use on the Wildnet. It doesn't have an SSH server, but it backs everything up via ftp once an hour. All it requires is a power supply, cpu, mobo, 64mb ram, and a video card and floppy drive to start it up. Edit: and a NIC helps, too. 😉 KLinux occupies one floppy disk, and my stuff occupies a second (which you insert in succession.)

If you don't care about FTP (and the only reason I added it is because people are always shutting down "my" machines) just stick the appropriate S@H Linux static binary, your user_info.sah, and these batch files (my previous version) on a floppy. You'll want to change the proxy server to your SetiQ IP. After you load up KLinux, log in, swap floppies, and type:

mount /mnt/floppy
/mnt/floppy/i
/seti

and it should run. 🙂 The newer version is very similar in procedure, but I have to remove some passwords and add docs before posting it.

Realize that this is the slowest of the clients, though a HD without Wine won't get you much more speed. The fastest is the Windows CLi in Wine in X, but that doesn't fit on floppies.

Edit2: I suggest your copy of Win98 for that SetiQ. You can route high-angle-range WUs to the windows CLi, which runs them fast, and low-angle-range ones to the Linux boxen.
 
I recently set up diskless client-server crackrack under linux. If you wish I can try to help you set up your own 🙂. Less hard disks = less noise, heat and cost!
 
120 degrees!?!? that's insane.....i have a "spare" 1gig HD with a few bad sectors i was going to throw out, if you want to use that for one of your machines....good luck
 
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