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Team Anandtech Distributed Computing, On Linux!

n0cmonkey

Elite Member
v0.1 -Let me know if there are any projects I'm missing! Offer hints, etc. This document will assume atleast a minor linux proficiency, but that can be changed if requested (in future versions- expediency is one of the reasons I'm assuming this).

md5crk and F@H are the only ones covered at the moment. When I get time 🙂confused: ) I'll update with experience. But I don't want to post anything I haven't actually done yet. This weekend (yes, my weekends are Sunday and Monday 😛) I'll try to install some of the other Linux clients in order to update this.

Over all: this is a work in progress. Please keep all contributions (comments, flames, insults, gripes, etc) constructive. I'll add information to the F@H (or more) bootable Linux disk in progress when we have something more. Our options right now aren't bad, just unfinished (atleast mine is 🙂).

Team Anandtech Distributed Computing on Linux:

There are several projects that support linux natively. All of the projects should run under WINE on Linux though, and generally perform better in such a configuration. Unfortunately WINE seems to require X and a GUI, so that may not be appropriate for everyone. WINE will not (yet) be covered in this FAQ, only the native Linux clients.

Projects that have Linux ports:
md5crk
Our goal is to demonstrate that the MD5 message digest algorithm is no longer appropriate for many cryptographic applications such as checksums and digital signatures.

Folding@Home
Our goal: to understand protein folding, protein aggregation, and related diseases

lifemapper
By using Lifemapper as your computer's screen saver, you will help discover knowledge of the life of the planet for the benefit of the Earth, its inhabitants and its environments.

d2ol
The Drug Design and Optimization Lab (D2OL)? works to discover drug candidates against Anthrax, Smallpox, Ebola and SARS and other potentially devastating infectious diseases.

seti
SETI@home is a scientific experiment that uses Internet-connected computers in the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI).

TSC
The Rothberg Institute For Childhood Diseases is a non-profit organization dedicated to finding a cure for children suffering from Tuberous Sclerosis Complex (TSC).


md5crk
If encryption is your thing, this is probably the project for you. md5 is an encryption hashing algorithm currently used for passwords and other various

authentication schemes. It has outlived its true usefulness. Better alternatives are available. Read more about this

here.

This is a very easy project to start.

  1. Download the Linux client (Linux x86, other Linux clients are available for PPC and alpha).
  1. unzip the client: unzip md5crk_1.0.?_linuxX86.zip
  1. This should create a directory called md5crk_1.0.?_linuxX86. cd into that directory: cd md5crk_1.0.?_linuxX86
  1. Run the client: ./md5crk

The client should start crunching distinguished points (DPs). Joining a team can be done once a login is created at the md5crk site. Joining a team is as simple as browsing to the Team Anandtech section of the site, and clicking on join. To add this client, either open the file md5_user_send.html in a browser, or login and upload the md5_user.xml file.

The client automatically sends DPs when it reaches 200, or they can manually be sent by running md5crk -send. If no persistent network connection is present, the client will continue crunching until it either finds a network connection or DPs are manually sent.

Will write more about the client when I can find out all of the various options.

Team Anandtech is currently in the high 20's (27 at the time of this writing), so help is appreciated!

F@H
F@H is a great project for everyone. It has the potential to help find cures for various medical issues. Their general FAQ should answer plenty of questions.

Starting the client:
  1. Download the Linux client (Linux x86, no other Linux clients available).
  1. Run the client ./FAH4Console-Linux.exe
  1. The client will ask for configuration options; including username, team # (Anandtech is team #198!)FINISH THIS PART

That is as simple as it gets.

Some options to look at when running the client (definitions taken from their user-guide):
-forceSSE: On machines with an AMD processor, Core_78 gives priority to 3DNow over SSE -- this overrides that.
-forceasm: Instruct the core to use SSE/3DNow assembly instructions if possible, even if it has previously made the determination that the machine may

not be handling this well.

-advmethods: Request to be assigned any new Cores or work units.
-send x: Send result #x back to server. Exits after trying to send unit (successfully or unsuccessfully). Use "-send all" to send all results outstanding. If unit x is not a completed work unit then the client exits without doing anything.
 
Great post but you missed FaD 🙂

There are some good installation instructions posted on it's site at: Linux Intallation

My experience has been relatively painless on SuSe 9.0 and Fedora Core 1.
 
Originally posted by: grendel8
Great post but you missed FaD 🙂

There are some good installation instructions posted on it's site at: Linux Intallation

My experience has been relatively painless on SuSe 9.0 and Fedora Core 1.

Thanks for the heads up. I'll add it to the list soon. 🙂

I think I got a good number of them. From memory no less 😉

Just another work in progress.
 
v0.2
Over all: this is a work in progress. Please keep all contributions (comments, flames, insults, gripes, etc) constructive. I'll add information to the F@H (or more) bootable Linux disk in progress when we have something more. Our options right now aren't bad, just unfinished (atleast mine is 🙂).

Team Anandtech Distributed Computing on Linux:

There are several projects that support linux natively. All of the projects should run under WINE on Linux though, and generally perform better in such a configuration. Unfortunately WINE seems to require X and a GUI, so that may not be appropriate for everyone. WINE will not (yet) be covered in this FAQ, only the native Linux clients.

Projects that have Linux ports:
md5crk
Our goal is to demonstrate that the MD5 message digest algorithm is no longer appropriate for many cryptographic applications such as checksums and digital signatures.

Folding@Home
Our goal: to understand protein folding, protein aggregation, and related diseases

lifemapper
By using Lifemapper as your computer's screen saver, you will help discover knowledge of the life of the planet for the benefit of the Earth, its inhabitants and its environments.

d2ol
The Drug Design and Optimization Lab (D2OL)? works to discover drug candidates against Anthrax, Smallpox, Ebola and SARS and other potentially devastating infectious diseases.

seti
SETI@home is a scientific experiment that uses Internet-connected computers in the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI).

TSC
The Rothberg Institute For Childhood Diseases is a non-profit organization dedicated to finding a cure for children suffering from Tuberous Sclerosis Complex (TSC).

FaD
Searching for ... a cure for HIV a cure for Cancer a cure for SARS bioterrorism antidotes

Seventeen or Bust
SB (Seventeen or Bust) is a distributed attack on the Sierpinski problem.


md5crk
If encryption is your thing, this is probably the project for you. md5 is an encryption hashing algorithm currently used for passwords and other various

authentication schemes. It has outlived its true usefulness. Better alternatives are available. Read more about this

here.

This is a very easy project to start.

  1. Download the Linux client (Linux x86, other Linux clients are available for PPC and alpha).
  1. unzip the client: unzip md5crk_1.0.?_linuxX86.zip
  1. This should create a directory called md5crk_1.0.?_linuxX86. cd into that directory: cd md5crk_1.0.?_linuxX86
  1. Run the client: ./md5crk

The client should start crunching distinguished points (DPs). Joining a team can be done once a login is created at the md5crk site. Joining a team is as simple as browsing to the Team Anandtech section of the site, and clicking on join. To add this client, either open the file md5_user_send.html in a browser, or login and upload the md5_user.xml file.

The client automatically sends DPs when it reaches 200, or they can manually be sent by running md5crk -send. If no persistent network connection is present, the client will continue crunching until it either finds a network connection or DPs are manually sent.

Will write more about the client when I can find out all of the various options.

Team Anandtech is currently in the high 20's (27 at the time of this writing), so help is appreciated!

F@H
F@H is a great project for everyone. It has the potential to help find cures for various medical issues. Their general FAQ should answer plenty of questions.

Starting the client:
  1. Download the Linux client (Linux x86, no other Linux clients available).
  1. Run the client ./FAH4Console-Linux.exe
  1. The client will ask for configuration options; including username, team # (Anandtech is team #198!)FINISH THIS PART

That is as simple as it gets.

Some options to look at when running the client (definitions taken from their user-guide):
-forceSSE: On machines with an AMD processor, Core_78 gives priority to 3DNow over SSE -- this overrides that.
-forceasm: Instruct the core to use SSE/3DNow assembly instructions if possible, even if it has previously made the determination that the machine may

not be handling this well.

-advmethods: Request to be assigned any new Cores or work units.
-send x: Send result #x back to server. Exits after trying to send unit (successfully or unsuccessfully). Use "-send all" to send all results outstanding. If unit x is not a completed work unit then the client exits without doing anything.

SETI@Home
Did you download my FAQ on creating a tinfoil hat? Do you have pictures of Scully covering your walls? If so, this project may be for you!

You can get information on the SETI Unix client here.

  1. Download the linux client ([=Linux i686]ftp://alien.ssl.berkeley.edu/pub/setiathome-3.08.i686-pc-linux-gnu.tar[/L], others available).
  1. untar the client: tar -xvf setiathome-3.08.i686-pc-linux-gnu.tar
  1. Change into the created directory: cd setiathome-3.08.i686-pc-linux-gnu
  1. Run the client: ./setiathome -login

Either setup using an existing account or create a new account. LOOK THIS UP: Login to the SETI website to join a team.

Interesting options (taken directly from the README:
-proxy hostname😛ort
Connect to SETI@home server via specified HTTP proxy server and port.
-verbose
print a running summary of the work being done.


lifemapper
Stuff lives in places. You can like track it and stuff.

An account should be setup on the lifemapper site. Team Anandtech should be selected in the group under the profile.

  1. Download the Linux client (here.)
  1. untar the client: tar -zxvf lifemapper-i386-linux-1.0.01.tar.gz
  1. Run the client: ./lifemapper

Interesting options (taken from readme.txt):
-f:
off-line mode: client will consume all work units before connecting to server
-e <email>:
log in to server using <email>
-c <jobs>:
always try to keep <jobs> cached locally
-x <proxy>:
use specified proxy server
proxy format: http://[user[<img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-tongue.gif" border="0">assword]@]http_proxy_address[😛ort]/
 
I'll add instructions for SoB soon. Added it to the general list. Thanks for the heads up.

Also, if anyone has suggestions for specifics I should cover, just shoot me a PM or post here. I'm not "into" most of these projects, so I can't spend a lot of time playing with each one. This is a team effort 😉
 
v0.3 -Let me know if there are any projects I'm missing! Offer hints, etc. This document will assume atleast a minor linux proficiency, but that can be changed if requested (in future versions- expediency is one of the reasons I'm assuming this).

md5crk and F@H are the only ones covered at the moment. When I get time 🙂confused: ) I'll update with experience. But I don't want to post anything I haven't actually done yet. This weekend (yes, my weekends are Sunday and Monday 😛) I'll try to install some of the other Linux clients in order to update this.

Over all: this is a work in progress. Please keep all contributions (comments, flames, insults, gripes, etc) constructive. I'll add information to the F@H (or more) bootable Linux disk in progress when we have something more. Our options right now aren't bad, just unfinished (atleast mine is 🙂).

Team Anandtech Distributed Computing on Linux:

There are several projects that support linux natively. All of the projects should run under WINE on Linux though, and generally perform better in such a configuration. Unfortunately WINE seems to require X and a GUI, so that may not be appropriate for everyone. WINE will not (yet) be covered in this FAQ, only the native Linux clients.

Projects that have Linux ports:
md5crk
Our goal is to demonstrate that the MD5 message digest algorithm is no longer appropriate for many cryptographic applications such as checksums and digital signatures.

Folding@Home
Our goal: to understand protein folding, protein aggregation, and related diseases

lifemapper
By using Lifemapper as your computer's screen saver, you will help discover knowledge of the life of the planet for the benefit of the Earth, its inhabitants and its environments.

d2ol
The Drug Design and Optimization Lab (D2OL)? works to discover drug candidates against Anthrax, Smallpox, Ebola and SARS and other potentially devastating infectious diseases.

seti
SETI@home is a scientific experiment that uses Internet-connected computers in the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI).

TSC
The Rothberg Institute For Childhood Diseases is a non-profit organization dedicated to finding a cure for children suffering from Tuberous Sclerosis Complex (TSC).

FaD
Searching for ... a cure for HIV a cure for Cancer a cure for SARS bioterrorism antidotes

SoB
SB (Seventeen or Bust) is a distributed attack on the Sierpinski problem.


md5crk
If encryption is your thing, this is probably the project for you. md5 is an encryption hashing algorithm currently used for passwords and other various

authentication schemes. It has outlived its true usefulness. Better alternatives are available. Read more about this

here.

This is a very easy project to start.

  1. Download the Linux client (Linux x86, other Linux clients are available for PPC and alpha).
  1. unzip the client: unzip md5crk_1.0.?_linuxX86.zip
  1. This should create a directory called md5crk_1.0.?_linuxX86. cd into that directory: cd md5crk_1.0.?_linuxX86
  1. Run the client: ./md5crk

The client should start crunching distinguished points (DPs). Joining a team can be done once a login is created at the md5crk site. Joining a team is as simple as browsing to the Team Anandtech section of the site, and clicking on join. To add this client, either open the file md5_user_send.html in a browser, or login and upload the md5_user.xml file.

The client automatically sends DPs when it reaches 200, or they can manually be sent by running md5crk -send. If no persistent network connection is present, the client will continue crunching until it either finds a network connection or DPs are manually sent.

Will write more about the client when I can find out all of the various options.

Team Anandtech is currently in the high 20's (27 at the time of this writing), so help is appreciated!

F@H
F@H is a great project for everyone. It has the potential to help find cures for various medical issues. Their general FAQ should answer plenty of questions.

Starting the client:
  1. Download the Linux client (Linux x86, no other Linux clients available).
  1. Run the client ./FAH4Console-Linux.exe
  1. The client will ask for configuration options; including username, team # (Anandtech is team #198!)FINISH THIS PART

That is as simple as it gets.

Some options to look at when running the client (definitions taken from their user-guide):
-forceSSE: On machines with an AMD processor, Core_78 gives priority to 3DNow over SSE -- this overrides that.
-forceasm: Instruct the core to use SSE/3DNow assembly instructions if possible, even if it has previously made the determination that the machine may

not be handling this well.

-advmethods: Request to be assigned any new Cores or work units.
-send x: Send result #x back to server. Exits after trying to send unit (successfully or unsuccessfully). Use "-send all" to send all results outstanding. If unit x is not a completed work unit then the client exits without doing anything.

SETI@Home
Did you download my FAQ on creating a tinfoil hat? Do you have pictures of Scully covering your walls? If so, this project may be for you!

You can get information on the SETI Unix client here.

  1. Download the linux client ([=Linux i686]ftp://alien.ssl.berkeley.edu/pub/setiathome-3.08.i686-pc-linux-gnu.tar[/L], others available).
  1. untar the client: tar -xvf setiathome-3.08.i686-pc-linux-gnu.tar
  1. Change into the created directory: cd setiathome-3.08.i686-pc-linux-gnu
  1. Run the client: ./setiathome -login

Either setup using an existing account or create a new account. LOOK THIS UP: Login to the SETI website to join a team.

Interesting options (taken directly from the README:
-proxy hostname😛ort
Connect to SETI@home server via specified HTTP proxy server and port.
-verbose
print a running summary of the work being done.


lifemapper
Stuff lives in places. You can like track it and stuff.

An account should be setup on the lifemapper site. Team Anandtech should be selected in the group under the profile.

  1. Download the Linux client (here.)
  1. untar the client: tar -zxvf lifemapper-i386-linux-1.0.01.tar.gz
  1. Run the client: ./lifemapper

Interesting options (taken from readme.txt):
-f:
off-line mode: client will consume all work units before connecting to server
-e <email>:
log in to server using <email>
-c <jobs>:
always try to keep <jobs> cached locally
-x <proxy>:
use specified proxy server
proxy format: http://[user[:Password]@]http_proxy_address[:Port]/[/i] src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-tongue.gif" border="0">assword]http://@]http_proxy_address[😛ort]/</">http://[user[<img</a>


SoB
Another math project.

  1. Download the Linux client (Linux NY, Linux MI, Linux CA, FreeBSD and BeOS clients also available).
  1. untar the client: tar -zvxf sb125-Linux.tar.gz
  1. Create an account at [l+seventeenorbust.com]http://www.seventeenorbust.com/signup/[/L]
  1. Login to seventeenorbust.com to join Team Anandtech.
  1. Edit the username in the sclient.conf
  1. Run the client: ./sb

There does not appear to be many configuration options for the SoB client.


FaD
Help people with cycles.

  1. Download the Linux client (Linux US).
  1. untar the client: tar -zvxf fadv123c.tgz
  1. Setup the client: ./fadsetup -cpu <mhz> -email <email> -nickname <nickname> -team 2039
  1. Start the Job Queue Server: ./server -auto&amp;
  1. Start the THINK computational application: ./think&amp;

The client will be configured to crunch of Team Anandtech.

-projects <string>
To enable/disable projects using string of keywords prefixed by + for enable
or add a project and - to disable or remove a project eg -projects +Cancer-Beta
The leading + (but not -) may be omitted.


d2ol


  1. Download the non-gui Linux client with JVM (Linux client/with JVM/non-gui, GUI options available, as well as clients without JVM).
  1. untar the client: tar -zvxf guilessInstallDDOL.tar.gz
  1. Change directory into the SengentD2OL directory: cd SengentD2OL
LOOKS COMPLICATED, CAN WAIT 😀


TSC


  1. Download the non-gui Linux client with JVM (Linux client, other clients available).
  1. untar the client: tar -zvxf guilessInstallCommunityTSC.tar.gz
  1. Change directory into the created directory: cd CommunityTSC[/NUM

    IS THIS THE SAME THING AS d2ol? SAME AS ABOVE!
 
SB service installer? I'll look for it tonight, but it sounds awfully Windowsish. 😛

I'll definitely add the link to the SBQueue. I'm still trying to figure out how in depth I want to go with the various FAQs, because what I have so far blows. But I'm sure as soon as I have the SETI section to my liking, the project will end. 😛
 
Also warn about the Lifemapper 1.0.02 BETA. I have been running that concurrently with the stable 1.0.01 version, and It keeps giving me segmentation faults or stalling when tryng to save a new result.
And to top it off, at the moments I cant get it do deliver my results 🙁(But that counts for both versions)
 
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