OC Crunch Monster *UPDATED*

[TC]

Well, in case no one guessed the main reason I built up my diskless cluster is so that we can have our own version of the Stomp Monster :D It is now complete with (at least until I have more than an 8 port switch ;) ) 7 nodes and a server for a total of 8 clients crunching. It appears to be settling into an average of 45-50 work units per day. The idea behind this is to allow members to beef up their numbers, or challenge other members by buying crunching time on the cluster. The proceeds will be used for the next raffle and/or banner advertising. I haven't decided what to offer in the way of pricing, so suggestions are welcome.

http://www.ocsetiteam.com/stuff/cluster.jpg

Specs:

Top shelf left to right:
Epox 8K7A 1.2tbird@1.3
ECS K7S5A Xp1600@1575GHz
(case facing broadside not part of cluster)
Abit TH7II 1.6A@2.4GHz
Epox 8KHA+ Duron 1.2@1.33 (server)

Middle shelf:
Abit ST6 1.1P3@1463GHz

Bottom Shelf LR:
Abit KR7133 Xp1600@1785GHz
Epox 8K7A Duron 1.2@1530GHz

Floor :D
ECS K7S5A Xp1600@1575GHz

Total Power = 12.961GHz

[Yodums]

/me bangs table! We want pictures! :D Is it like a stack or what? :)

[Cy]

Yes, we must have pics of this wonderful new toy! :)

Cy

[TC]

I'll get some pics, but it's not pretty!

[papounet]

Buying crushing time ???

What a strange idea ! I almost find it distateful.
Because it would sound like subverting seti@home for a competition between ego boostered by money.

Who you participate in a sports competition (let's say running 100m dash) if you knew your opponent could get Carl Lewis to run for him/her.

It is probably a terminology question, because I won't object at all to a reworded concept perhaps something along the lines of

"If you believe in seti@home, but can't afford to build machines dedicated to it, why not SPONSOR the team's cruncher machine (all sponsored WU would go to a "virtual" member of the team) ?"

Do not take me wrong, TC,
the machine you built is great, (I hope, like Yodums, to hear more about it),
the idea of using it to get donations is quite good too,
it is just the idea that the WU would get credited to the donor that is not "feeling right"

my 2 cents

papounet
papounet

[TC]

I can see where you are coming from, but I seriously doubt anyone will pay to run the cluster for an imaginary team member - it wouldn't be much different from me running it under my own name to contribute to the team total as it is now. It's a way for members who want to add some numbers, but can't assemble such a unit to do so with ease - all the while contributing to the team. Of course if no one wants to use it I will be more than happy to keep my current production.

[JigPu]

I understand your point, and to some extent believe it. I for example, couldn't spare any money to have the monster crunch for me. However, I couldn't even sponsor that same machine because of the same lack of money. While competition within the team is good, and may be somewhat stifled by this, I believe in it's better good for the team.

You could of course, as you said, get this done the same way as having it as a virtual member, but a virtual member cannot help bring in finincial help for the team except through sponsorship. And people I believe will be less apt to sponsor, as they get nothing out of it (the team sure does though!), whereas if it crunched for you, people willing to pay would get a reward for helping the team.

My $0.02
JigPu

[DeltaSierra]

I don't have a problem with sponsoring the Stomp Monster and getting credited with a few extra WUs. It's really not that much different than enlisting machines that belong to a business or university and claiming the WUs for yourself. Someone had to pay for those machines, the electricity, etc. etc. TC, what kind of rates are you thinking about? I'm just making up something here, so don't be offended, but maybe $.01 per WU? Just a thought.

[TC]

I was thinking something along the lines of a week (7 days) for $10. That would produce about 320 units for an account. I'm waiting until my account is firmly planted in the top 1000, then I can afford to alternate a week off week on. Anyway at this point it's just an idea. The equipment is in place and running and I can wait and see what the team wants.

[DeltaSierra]

Put me at the top of the waiting list! Send me a PM with your address where I can send the money and let me know when it's my turn!! LOL Thanks!

[TC]

I'll put you at the top of the list, but lets wait and see what other people think about it first. I want everybody to be happy with the idea.

[TC]

Better go get a pic before lunch gets here :)

[Mictlan]

As Tim says, this idea of the lent stomp moster sure will be a good way to foster the site, the raffles and the banner campaigns, even the team races. When you do a donation and you recieve a free price, surely you are encouraged to do it again.

I was thinking that for example you can say, that every donation above $10 will give you a week worth of time of the stomp monster crunching for you. That way you get something (a little bit esoteric for a non-SETI addict) for your money. We can make a moto like "The OCSETI Borg Cluster wants you. Give a small donation to the Collective and you'll get assimilated. You'll receive your standard asortment of products including 320 WU in your account. Join the Collective"

[bbdd]

fwiw, i think the notion of selling processing time is fine.

some people could say that i have an unfair advantage because i enlist some computers at the office to help bump up my numbers.

some people could say that two or three people who join up and process under a single user name (like the horsemen and norsemen) are unfairly skewing the numbers since it represents the work of more than 1 individual.

i disagree with these ideas.

as long as you are not generating your numbers by cheating, who cares how you do it? want to enlist work or school computers? fine. want to buddy up with others? fine. want to buy time on a cluster? fine.

i see nothing different from buying a new machine for yourself, its just that you only "own" this machine temporarily.

if tc can make this work, great, and thank goodness for capitialism. :-) (for the humor impaired: no, i don't think tc's in it for the money.)

[DeltaSierra]

Originally posted by TC
I'll get some pics, but it's not pretty!

Looks pretty awesome to me!!

[racecar12]

Great minds seem to think alike:D One of the reasons for upgrading with a 16 port switch. I still have my 8 port switch but may need it in the futre for more additions. But you are more than welcome to borrow it to daisy chain another 6 nodes:cool:

You deserve this one:beer:

[Yodums]

Wow that's crazy TC. Your P4 is a diskless cruncher?! What ya smoking! :D

[Cuper]

hmmm, I would be in for a week or two!!! :D Put me on the list!! :)

[lonewolf1983]

great idea, and one of the best ways to garner money for the raffles etc (could even consider time on the crunch monster as a raffle prize)

sweet! :burn:

[LandShark]

believe it or not, i think i'll NEED borrow some of your power to finally pass Hallen!! :D

after he passed me the first time, long time ago, there at least 3 times (that i remember) that i'm catching up to him, like this time, down from a bit over 1000WU to 'bout 230WUs, getting closer and closer, then Harvey up his power again to keep me at the bay..... :p

it's soooooo close, yet soooooooo far away......:p

j/k

but honestly, i think it's a pretty good idea, and at the end, it helps the team! may be just need a bit of "refinement" of the rule/sales when it comes.

but guys, that doesn't buy you a lot for long term tho!! the best way still and will be expanding your plant/garden/farm!!

crunch on!!

[TC]

Crunching on the Monster might be a bit like a trip to Vegas - makes you want to lay down more bucks :)

[kaillum]

i think its a great idea... :)

and think that i'll be in for some of the 'borrowing' as well.. :) might need it to help me to the 2500 sir tiffy cat :)

bravo TC... thats a mighty fine lookin peice of engineering
an you deserve a few of these :beer: :beer: :beer:

[TC]

Originally posted by kaillum
thats a mighty fine lookin peice of engineering
an you deserve a few of these :beer: :beer: :beer: I'm not sure about the the nice looking part, but it works well :D

[jazztrumpet216]

Man, I may need to enlist the stomp monster's help to stave off katelin... but by the time I step in line she'll be long by me....

[Mictlan]

Tim, you should buy a Spiderman toy or poster and hang it somewhere in those tangles of cable running all over the place :D. I really hope that the place where you put all those machine is nowhere near where your girl happens to pass by as she will have a fit seeing all that mess :D

Have some :beer: to take you to greater moments of gardening pleasure.

[KenCo]

Been a while since I posted. But, I think it's a great idea TC. $10.00 is very fair, perhaps even a bit low. An alternate idea might be $2.00 for a single day of crunching. It's still fair and it gives more people the opportunity to enhance their numbers.

Great idea! ;)