The wonder that is DPAD

[amdxborg]

The wonder that is DPAD
Join one and all!

A little info..
DPAD is short for Distributed Particle Accelerator Design.
TeAm AnandTech climbed to the number 1 spot in DPAD after a awesome TeAm effort some time ago, but as some members moved on to other projects, the DPC sneeked up on us and took #1. Currently z is our top producer and also number 1 in the world. Stats for the project can be found here: http://stats.free-dc.org/new/projpage.php?proj=dpad and I will again start posting daily DPAD stats on the forums like back in the good old days!

Here's a few facts about DPAD everyone might not have known...

1. DPAD has a no-nonsense command line client for very easy use.
The client runs smooth and has no effect on pc performance.

2. No wu are downloaded.
Results are calculated by the client and upload. This means that a permanent inet connection is not required for the muon client.

3. Bandwidth use is minimal.
Results are stored in a results.txt file and gets uploaded when the file reaches 100kb. On a fast pc, this will be once sometimes twice a day. The client can also be configured not to automatically send the results. In this case manualsend.bat can be used to upload the results whenevar you feel like it.

4. Setup is a breeze.
To configure the settings, just edit the config.txt file. The settings are by default right to just start and go, but auto-send, priority, etc can be configured here if needed. To join TA, edit the user.txt file and just add [TA] followed by a username, like so: [TA]username

5. Auto detects number of CPUs.
By default the config is set to auto detect the number of cpus and run the client accordingly. So no creating two or four extra folders. If only a certain number of cpus should be used, simply edit the config.txt file and change auto to the number of cpus you want to use: Threads (number or 'auto'): auto This means that DPAD can be configured to run with another project with no problem.

6. Download the client.. Version 4.42c
The client can be downloaded from the Muon website here: http://stephenbrooks.org/muon1/
Or a service installer can be download from http://www.teamanandtech.net/downloads/
For the service installer, just edit the config.txt and user.txt files and run install.bat


More info about the project can be found in this guide by Overkiller: http://dpad.wolfsraider.com/dpad.html

 

[BlackMountainCow]

Yes, yes, good ol' Steven Brooks is still around. Honestly, I never realized that DPC passed us. But it's good to see that Z is still leading the world ranks.

 

[Orange Kid]

The NEW (what was old is new again) Seti Classic

 

[Assimilator1]

heheh

I'm finally coming back to DPAD
I'll be starting intially on both my own rigs ,but will be shutting down the 2nd one as its shouldn't be on 24/7 really

Main - XPM 2500(Barton) @2.51 GHz ,179 MHz FSB DDR.
2nd - XP 2400 @2.1 GHz ,183 MHz FSB DDR (won't run on 200FSB )

What sort of output could I expect from them?

.......man,....I've forgotten how to run it! ,is it by default on auto transmit?

 

[amdxborg]

Great news Assim1!! Welcome back!

Yeah auto transmit is on by default. About the output, I'm really not sure. I've only got Intel machines on the it right now, but you should get one and maybe two 100kb result files a day from each..

 

[compudog]

Let's push on DPAD! We are in second place (behind DPC) but have almost 1/3 the membership (27 for AT - 77 for DPC.) This is something we can do. Let's drive for #1!!

 

[Assimilator1]

Odd, I can't minimise muon1.exe & muon1_background shows no icon
Anyway around this?

I see I need the commandline version ,where do I get it? [edit]nm I see its the bat file.
Btw my PC seems to be lagging slightly,is that normal?

 

[amdxborg]

To run the command line (with an open dos window), it will be muon1_cmdline.bat.

muon1_background Is like a background process with no icons o open windows.
muon1.exe Is the GUI so it might not be as fast as the CLI.

Make sure that in the config.txt priority is set to background: Priority for background running ([N]ormal, [L]ow, [ B]ackground): B

 

[vaughan]

#1 is wrong. DPAD runs at Normal priority in Windows and even if you re-set it to Idel after 4 minuts it re-sets itself to Normal again. This significantly impacts on PC performance. What is required is an application like D2OL daddy that forces DPAD to run at Idle.

 

[amdxborg]

Uhh wth? Well all 15 crunchers I've got on DPAD atm runs with priority set to [ B] in the config.txt file and they've been running on idle priority for the last 2 weeks.. I suggest correct your settings.

 

[compudog]

I run DPAD (muon1_background) with {B} parameter set in config.txt and burn DVDs, rip MP3s and so forth with no performance issues. When I am away from my PC, it (DPAD) ramps back up to 99-100% CPU. Works fine. I have it set this way on all machines.

 

[vaughan]

Where is this setting?

My config.txt file looks like this:

Resolution (XxY or 'auto'): auto
Priority for background running ([N]ormal, [L]ow, [ B]ackground): L
Threads (number or 'auto'): auto
Auto-send results ([Y]es, [N]o): Y
Auto-save interval (seconds; 0 for no save): 240
Rechecks for best-so-far results (min. 5): 5
Use passive (PASV) mode for FTP transfers: N
Download sample results file after a number of days (0=don't): 3
Sample file URL: http://stephenbrooks.org/muon1/samplefiles/{lattice}_100.txt
FTP command call: ftp -s:script.ftp
Update lattice files from web every N hours (0=don't): 12
Use old FTP calling method (as pre-v4.34; can hang, but more compatible with ZoneAlarm): N
TrialType ratios: Mutate=3;Crossover=3;Interpolate=3;Extrapolate=3;MuSpherical=3;MuOne=3;Extreme=1;LocalGrad=3;TopoSmooth=2;
Particles per extra thread (limits threading overhead): 100


Oh, I see. I'll try it with B instead of L and see how it runs.
Thx.

 

[amdxborg]

Pleasure my friend! The [L] is misleading for low priority, it's actually normal priority under task manager while [ B] is idle priority.

Let know if you've still got a problem, there's always a fix out there!

 

[JonB]

btw, you can put [TA]JonB in your user.txt file and it will work better. I'm #7 overall but have delusions of grandeur!!!

If you don't, I'll drink a :beer: or :beer: :beer: until you do. Do you want that on your conscience over the Christmas holidays? I don't think so.

ps, if this seems like a lame power grab, then I'm "just kidding"
otherwise, I'm serious.

 

[Zbox]

woot, johan

TA is about to return to its DPAD glory days

 

[Zbox]

Originally posted by: vaughan

Oh, I see. I'll try it with B instead of L and see how it runs.
Thx.

You should be good to go with that - I run background priority exclusively and I never notice any slow down from muon1. I haven't seen a better implementation of priority handling in a DC project ever. Stephen did a great job

 

[Assimilator1]

Yep I've just changed it to a B too & so far it seems a lot better

Really though they should set it to B in the 1st place

Thanks AMD borgie
Btw ,you've only got Intel rigs & you've got AMD in your name??lol

 

[amdxborg]

lol Glad it helped!

Oh and the Intels are at work.. AMD at home!!!

 

[Assimilator1]

Ah ,what have you got at home?

 

[BofRA]

K I will add one from home and then try it out on my work fleet of 10 P4's

 

[Zbox]

Originally posted by: BofRA
K I will add one from home and then try it out on my work fleet of 10 P4's

woo

 

[Assimilator1]

Awesome!

 

[amdxborg]

mm Assim1, here's my fleet, at the bottom under TAS is what I've got at home.

Awesome news Bryan!!! Glad you could join us! :beer:

 

[Assimilator1]

Cool

 

[Viztech]

Originally posted by: Assimilator1
Yep I've just changed it to a B too & so far it seems a lot better

Really though they should set it to B in the 1st place

Thanks AMD borgie
Btw ,you've only got Intel rigs & you've got AMD in your name??lol

I agree A1. The priority seems to affect some PCs more than others, but Background priority always works well for me.

Good to see more crackers working on the project! Catch the 'Cows!

viz

My DPAD rigs;
XP-M 2600
XP 2200
XP 1700
XP 1600 x2
Duron 1300
PII 400

More AMDs than XBorg has!