WCG-TPU Cruncher's Hardware/Tech Support Discussion Thread

[phill]

Ok, time for another silly question
I'm retiring one of my systems and will be selling it off for parts but want to retain the Operating System for future use, if I roll back the O.S. to W7 does the W10 activation remain with the BIOS on the Motherboard?

Not that I know of... Having reinstalled it on my HP laptop to an SSD it hasn't carried over the code from the HD, so I've had to re use the code...

 

[Norton]

Ok, time for another silly question
I'm retiring one of my systems and will be selling it off for parts but want to retain the Operating System for future use, if I roll back the O.S. to W7 does the W10 activation remain with the BIOS on the Motherboard?

If it's a retail license then you should be ok, an OEM license is tied to the board

 

[T-Bob]

@stinger608 Are you still in need of some ddr3 rdimms? If so, send me a pm

 

[stinger608]

@stinger608 Are you still in need of some ddr3 rdimms? If so, send me a pm

Nope, all good brother!!!!!! Thanks a ton for the offer man.

 

[xvi]

Anyone have BOINC working successfully through proxies? I'm playing with a server, but it's on a network I'd prefer to keep unexposed to the world.

CentOS 7, internal 10.x.x.x IP, symptoms are working wget and yum through proxy (can even wget wcg.org/get_project_config.php successfully), but I don't even get a blip of activity on the proxy server when working on BOINC. I have it set up so I can connect the GUI client on my desktop to it remotely, but the project lists are empty and I can't enter a project manually. I've entered the proxy settings via remote GUI and tried to confirm via command line locally on the server. Logs seem to indicate it's trying to use the proxy.

Proxy server is a MikroTik CCR1009 router. I've used the proxy server off that for a few other servers and haven't had issues.

client_state.xml

<proxy_info>
    <use_http_proxy/>
    <socks_server_name></socks_server_name>
    <socks_server_port></socks_server_port>
    <http_server_name>(my proxy IP, confirmed working)</http_server_name>
    <http_server_port>9090</http_server_port>
    <socks5_user_name></socks5_user_name>
    <socks5_user_passwd></socks5_user_passwd>
    <socks5_remote_dns>0</socks5_remote_dns>
    <http_user_name></http_user_name>
    <http_user_passwd></http_user_passwd>
    <no_proxy></no_proxy>
    <no_autodetect>0</no_autodetect>
</proxy_info>

Relevant log entries:

10/30/2018 12:48:00 AM |  | Checking active tasks
10/30/2018 12:48:00 AM |  | Setting up GUI RPC socket
10/30/2018 12:48:00 AM |  | Checking presence of 0 project files
10/30/2018 12:48:00 AM |  | Using proxy info from GUI
10/30/2018 12:48:00 AM |  | Using HTTP proxy (my proxy IP):9090
10/30/2018 12:48:00 AM |  | This computer is not attached to any projects
10/30/2018 12:48:29 AM |  | Project communication failed: attempting access to reference site
10/30/2018 12:48:30 AM |  | BOINC can't access Internet - check network connection or proxy configuration.

Googling around, I've heard of weirdness between BOINC and some proxies, but nothing more than a rumor.

Tired edit: The MikroTik supports SOCKS too, so maybe I'll give that a shot later.

Morning edit: No luck on SOCKS, although I can't seem to get it to even hit the proxy. Going to nuke and try Ubuntu Server.

 

[thebluebumblebee]

Paging @Easy Rhino ????

 

[Easy Rhino]

Morning edit: No luck on SOCKS, although I can't seem to get it to even hit the proxy. Going to nuke and try Ubuntu Server.

That is a good idea. Ubuntu tends to have more recent libraries used by those crunching projects. If that doesn't work trying firing up an app to use that proxy server to see if it can get through. Also, make sure you allow it through the firewall.

 

[xvi]

That is a good idea. Ubuntu tends to have more recent libraries used by those crunching projects. If that doesn't work trying firing up an app to use that proxy server to see if it can get through. Also, make sure you allow it through the firewall.

I did set up the firewall on the rig to allow the GUI RPC port, but didn't set up anything for outbound. I set the environment variable http_proxy and wget appeared to work through it (there's no web access on the 10.x.x.x network without it). Didn't attempt to get SOCKS going on anything except BOINC though.

Installed Ubuntu Server 18.04.1, apt-get install boinc-client, set up RPC auth, slapped in proxy settings, and it took right off no issues. No idea why CentOS wasn't happy. Never have been a fan of distros that use Yum, but I thought I'd give it another chance. Guess I'll keep sticking with Debian-based flavors. Thanks for the insights, Rhino!


I had a slight bit of trouble getting BOINC installed on Ubuntu Server 18.04.1 out of the box and didn't see much of anything when Googling, so I'll document it quickly here in case it shows up in someone's search results.

tl;dr: BOINC is in the universe which isn't in your sources by default.

Easy Peasy boinc-client install on Ubuntu Server 18.04.1 LTS
From a fresh install, edit /etc/apt/sources.list with your favorite editor.
user@host:~$ sudo nano /etc/apt/sources.list
Add the universe repository by adding the word "universe" after "main" for each of the three entries. End result should be as follows.

deb http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu bionic main universe
deb http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu bionic-security main universe
deb http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu bionic-updates main universe

Update your package list..
user@host:~$ sudo apt-get update
..and install boinc-client.
user@host:~$ sudo apt-get install boinc-client

If you're not familiar with setting up boinc-client from the CLI, check out Nordic's "Crunching on Linux Tips, Tricks, and Useful Hints" post.

 

[Easy Rhino]

Installed Ubuntu Server 18.04.1, apt-get install boinc-client, set up RPC auth, slapped in proxy settings, and it took right off no issues. No idea why CentOS wasn't happy.

Most likely because Centos uses more mature libraries. If you look up BOINC dependencies I bet the versions do not match with what CentOS provides. Good you got it working!

 

[Dinnercore]

Hello there, I got a small issue with getting computation errors when using Linux.

As preparation for the upcoming challange I wanted an easy way to get my 1800x and TR machine on Linux without fiddling to long with new partitions and decided I´d give SLAX on a pendrive a go. Installation was simple and easy, used the latest iso, updated, got my amd packages and installed BOINC. Got it running no problem BUT the tasks return errors all the time:

To me this looks as if it did what it should do, so why the error?

This was the first example, after this all results from the machine returned computation error. I switched back to windows and it was fine again.
I did use SLAX in RAM, e.g. it copied over to the RAM since I wanted to use the stick to boot on my TR system while the other one crunches away. Does running in a ramdisk upset BOINC?

I would really like to use Linux from now on, especially the Threadripper sees huge gains in points returned comparing Windows to Linux.

 

[Nordic]

I used to run crunches with Linux on a USB. I had similar issues. It began to have computational errors, and then soon after the entire OS would be corrupt. This would happen in a few days with a cheap USB 2.0 stick. I also tried a high quality USB 3.0 stick with better success. Even with the quality USB 3.0 stick I would get computational errors and a corrupt OS in a few weeks.

bluebumblebee has also used USB sticks for far longer periods of time than I did without any errors.

 

[thebluebumblebee]

bluebumblebee has also used USB sticks for far longer periods of time than I did without any errors.

Not that I recall. IIRC, I talked a lot about figuring out how to boot from a thumb drive, but my intention was to figure out how to run it the way that @Dinnercore is trying, in a RAMdisc. I had looked at PuppyLinux because that is specifically what it does, but I never tried it. I think cheap used laptop HDD's took away my motivation.

@Dinnercore , I would suspect that the problem is with this being a TR install. Do you have a normal system to try it on? If you can get it to work there, then you can try to troubleshoot the TR install.

 

[Nordic]

To be more specific, I was running linux mint mate at that time not a ram based linux distro. I don't understand why it would corrupt the OS. The disk health was fine, but it was like errors slowly accumulated.

 

[thebluebumblebee]

@AmioriK , Go to WCG's website. Settings - Device Manager - Device Profiles. I used the work profile for my Linux systems. Get it?

 

[AmioriK]

@AmioriK , Go to WCG's website. Settings - Device Manager - Device Profiles. I used the work profile for my Linux systems. Get it?

Gonna use Windows 10 Pro, mate. Sorry. I'm just happier to use Windows.

 

[mstenholm]

Gonna use Windows 10 Pro, mate. Sorry. I'm just happier to use Windows.

@AmioriK You can do this from your Windows 10 machine. As @thebluebumblebee wrote go to the device manager. Selcte a different profile (Home for instance) for your Linux machines and customize it for let's saw Openzika and HST. Let the Window machine(s) do MCM, MIP and what else under a other customized profile (School, Default or Work). Then you will see 22k form the two 1700s, each.

 

[phill]

@mstenholm - I'll try here I'll put up some pics and stats in the How efficient is your cruncher when I get the rigs up and running. I'll do it for all my crunchers if I can for everyone to see

I was also toying with the idea of showing the differences between the work units, so I will setup some profiles and get them running on the rigs to see and show the differences I tend to just run one work unit across all of my crunchers but they are all Intel based at the moment..

And whilst I think of it, what do the guys with Ryzens use as their Linux OS? Mint still or another variant?

 

[mstenholm]

So a profile for four different PCs, each with only one kind of job. Sure. You know that Linux/AMD/MIP is the worst and that everything else than Openzika and AMD is not efficient, but since you are all Intel you can't test that anyway.
Mint for some, Ubuntu for some (me). I doubt there are big differences.

 

[AmioriK]

I'm just going to set all the rigs with local settings to maximise performance for each rig, then call it a day with regards to fiddling I think, at least for now. I'll re-assess my Farm's performance in a couple of months when the PPD has leveled out.

Just curious: How do i remove hosts from boincstats if I (stupidly) formatted the drive and installed a new OS on top of it without stopping those tasks? (Also, is that bad? I just realised it might have been dumb, should have let them finish first. :/ Lesson learned). I'm happy with all rigs now so I won't need to change them again...

 

[phill]

So a profile for four different PCs, each with only one kind of job. Sure. You know that Linux/AMD/MIP is the worst and that everything else than Openzika and AMD is not efficient, but since you are all Intel you can't test that anyway.
Mint for some, Ubuntu for some (me). I doubt there are big differences.

I'll throw on Mint and see how I get on. I had some issues with Mint and my 6700k as with more than two windows open, the mouse never worked.. Was a weird issue... I'll report back
I suppose I could run each test on AMD and just get a number by the end of it and see what the daily results are like... Can report back for everyone to see then if needs be I think we might need some more competition in the top 10/20 anyways

I'm just going to set all the rigs with local settings to maximise performance for each rig, then call it a day with regards to fiddling I think, at least for now. I'll re-assess my Farm's performance in a couple of months when the PPD has leveled out.

Just curious: How do i remove hosts from boincstats if I (stupidly) formatted the drive and installed a new OS on top of it without stopping those tasks? (Also, is that bad? I just realised it might have been dumb, should have let them finish first. :/ Lesson learned). I'm happy with all rigs now so I won't need to change them again...

As far as I'm aware @AmioriK, those hosts will stay there forever.. I don't think there's a way to uninstall/delete them?

 

[AmioriK]

I've set my two Ubuntu 1700 rigs to use the "home profile" which is set up to use customised profile excluding MIP (as it runs bad?). And 100% CPU time maximum output, but whenver i select "Use web based prefs" it goes back to use at most 60% CPU Time, suspend when CPU in use over 50% ,etc. and the client has already stacked up a ton (like 75%) of MIP tasks...

Edit: Only one of the rigs is refusing to see the correct web prefs. I guess I just have to wait a while for it to update.

 

[phill]

Check the device settings mate, click on my Projects, then there's a Device Manager link in the third line of text, click on that and it'll take you to a page with your crunchers showing the profiles...

First bit..

Then the second bit...

Then click on your Device name and select the profile you would like for that device

 

[mstenholm]

I've set my two Ubuntu 1700 rigs to use the "home profile" which is set up to use customised profile excluding MIP (as it runs bad?). And 100% CPU time maximum output, but whenver i select "Use web based prefs" it goes back to use at most 60% CPU Time, suspend when CPU in use over 50% ,etc. and the client has already stacked up a ton (like 75%) of MIP tasks...

Edit: Only one of the rigs is refusing to see the correct web prefs. I guess I just have to wait a while for it to update.

You can delete the MIPs.

I'll throw on Mint and see how I get on. I had some issues with Mint and my 6700k as with more than two windows open, the mouse never worked.. Was a weird issue... I'll report back
I suppose I could run each test on AMD and just get a number by the end of it and see what the daily results are like... Can report back for everyone to see then if needs be I think we might need some more competition in the top 10/20 anyways



As far as I'm aware @AmioriK, those hosts will stay there forever.. I don't think there's a way to uninstall/delete them?

After a while the unused hosts will no longer show in BOINCStats.

 

[VulkanBros]

I am about to re-install one of my WCG machines and stumbled over this: BoincOS

Anyone tried that - and if yes, is it good?

EDIT: I have downloaded the 2 PC vesions and will give them a try tonight - I´ll post back with some info.

 

[Deleted member 178884]

I am about to re-install one of my WCG machines and stumbled over this: BoincOS

Looks really interesting, never heard of it myself.