Windows Diskless Folding!!!

[ghettocomp]

Finally!! I have it figured out, Folding from windows and running each client headless, diskless, and...ta! Da! No video card required after setup!. Once the windows based controller has the client loaded, all you have to do is sit back and collect the points. With no video card and nothing else attached to the motherboard there is absolutely no loss of CPU cycles for the core.

I'll get pics (not many) later, because I have to clean up the mess I made setting this up, first. Then I need to get some prints of the logs, mostly for myself, because this setup is just chewing up the Gromacs faster than anything I have seen before!

Just had to post this little bit of excitement. It is controlled, loaded and backed up through Windows. Now to get something else to load and work with it. I could be really really happy clustering windows machines like this.

[ghettocomp]

First a small piece of the log:
[22:38:05]
[22:38:05] Assembly optimizations on if available.
[22:38:05] Entering M.D.
[22:38:11] Protein: p1707_TZ2_unf_g3405
[22:38:11]
[22:38:11] Writing local files
[22:39:49] Extra SSE boost OK.
[22:39:49] Writing local files
[22:39:49] Completed 0 out of 500000 steps (0)
[22:47:49] Writing local files
[22:47:49] Completed 5000 out of 500000 steps (1)
[22:55:50] Writing local files
[22:55:50] Completed 10000 out of 500000 steps (2)
[23:03:49] Writing local files
[23:03:49] Completed 15000 out of 500000 steps (3)
[23:11:49] Writing local files
[23:11:49] Completed 20000 out of 500000 steps (4)
[23:19:50] Writing local files
[23:19:50] Completed 25000 out of 500000 steps (5)
[23:27:52] Writing local files
[23:27:52] Completed 30000 out of 500000 steps (6)
and another one from second board I just fired up
this one runs slower, but is still faster than I have
seen before:

[23:12:58]
[23:12:58] Assembly optimizations on if available.
[23:12:58] Entering M.D.
[23:13:04] Protein: p2079_Ab Initio Protein Random Structure
[23:13:04]
[23:13:04] Writing local files
[23:13:04] GB activated
[23:13:04] Extra SSE boost OK.
[23:13:04] Writing local files
[23:13:04] Completed 0 out of 20000000 steps (0)
[23:41:19] Writing local files
[23:41:19] Completed 200000 out of 20000000 steps (1)
I don't know how fast this particular protein is supposed to run,
but for Gromacs, this is fast. I have never had one running at
less than 20-30 minutes per step. But seems the clients have
pure processing available now, and I just still cant get over this!.

Oh well, I am excited for ME :D:D

[Captain Helghas]

How are you running it without a HDD?

[ChasR]

p2079 isn't a Gromac it's a GBGromac. GBGromacs run faster than Gromacs on AMD machines.

[ghettocomp]

This one said it was a Gromacs, Ill go with that, still faster
on this machine than my main rig, (a faster Sempron as well) :)
[22:38:05]
[22:38:05] *------------------------------*
[22:38:05] Folding@Home Gromacs Core
[22:38:05] Version 1.86 (August 28, 2005)
[22:38:05]
[22:38:05] Preparing to commence simulation
[22:38:05] - Assembly optimizations manually forced on.
[22:38:05] - Not checking prior termination.
[22:38:05] - Expanded 266930 -> 1341233 (decompressed 502.4 percent)
[22:38:05] - Starting from initial work packet
[22:38:05]
[22:38:05] Project: 1707 (Run 15, Clone 16, Gen 20)
[22:38:05]
[22:38:05] Assembly optimizations on if available.
[22:38:05] Entering M.D.
[22:38:11] Protein: p1707_TZ2_unf_g3405
[22:38:11]
[22:38:11] Writing local files
[22:39:49] Extra SSE boost OK.
[22:39:49] Writing local files
[22:39:49] Completed 0 out of 500000 steps (0)
[22:47:49] Writing local files
[22:47:49] Completed 5000 out of 500000 steps (1)
[22:55:50] Writing local files
[22:55:50] Completed 10000 out of 500000 steps (2)
[23:03:49] Writing local files
[23:03:49] Completed 15000 out of 500000 steps (3)
[23:11:49] Writing local files
[23:11:49] Completed 20000 out of 500000 steps (4)
[23:19:50] Writing local files
[23:19:50] Completed 25000 out of 500000 steps (5)
[23:27:52] Writing local files
[23:27:52] Completed 30000 out of 500000 steps (6)
[23:35:53] Writing local files
[23:35:53] Completed 35000 out of 500000 steps (7)
[23:43:54] Writing local files
[23:43:54] Completed 40000 out of 500000 steps (8)
[23:51:54] Writing local files
[23:51:54] Completed 45000 out of 500000 steps (9)
[23:59:54] Writing local files
[23:59:54] Completed 50000 out of 500000 steps (10)
[00:07:54] Writing local files
[00:07:54] Completed 55000 out of 500000 steps (11)
[00:15:56] Writing local files
[00:15:56] Completed 60000 out of 500000 steps (12)
[00:23:57] Writing local files
[00:23:57] Completed 65000 out of 500000 steps (13)
The GB Gromacs I have on another rig is slower by twice. :shrug:
still fast to me...

[ghettocomp]

How are you running it without a HDD?
I am writing up a small thing to explain that one. Easy to do, even better
that after configuration that you no longer need a video card either!

[the garynator]

tell me tell me tell me tell me... i can't wait, i have some machines that only need ram to be folding *****s than :D

[AlabamaCajun]

Nice Job GC, now you've cut a path for me!
Which XP chip and board is that?

[ghettocomp]

Well, I bought whatever was cheap at Frys Elextronics, I Got:
Sempron 2100, the First one to run with only power and network
cable attached, no hard drives, floppy, no CD, NO VIDEO! Yessssss!!!
and it sucked up a New Core and WU from stanford so fast that I almost
missed it. I think that without the extra video, each board can consume
around 20-30 watts less than before, thus opening a way to actually
run 2 or more motherboards with reasonably efficient power use from 1
PSU.
http://members.cox.net/lwcma6/ppd/DCFC0004.JPG

This one is (*I Think*) A Celeron 2800, still attached to the video
until I can get the configurations complete. The motherboard on this
layer is really a PITA. To run PXE you have to have video & Keyboard
connected to select the PXE boot option. This might be the first mobo
that will get my experimental boot Thumb (flashdrive with a MBR) this
has been configured to act as a PXE Nic, and then can be used to
hold or transfer an OS if needed.
http://members.cox.net/lwcma6/ppd/DCFC0005.JPG

This particular board is the Folding Server for the setup. It is a
P3-700, it was doing nothing, but now has a great new purpose.
I purposly left the video in place for trouble shooting, if needed.
all my computers are accessable and workable from the VNC hookups
that I had arranged. :D
http://members.cox.net/lwcma6/ppd/DCFC0006.JPG

This third compy is a Sempron 3100+ boot options are fantastic!
runs right into PXE without any fooling around.
http://members.cox.net/lwcma6/ppd/DCFC0007.JPG

These last pictures are a parting shot of the computer closet, just
before I close the door again for the night. :rolleyes: what a mess
in there.. fortunately it is all setup just for testing and configuration.
kind of like a hidden computer test bench. To the right is a Compaq
Server, it is only running a pair of P-Pro 200's but I might just convert
that unit to be the Folding server. I have Windows NT Server on
there and think it might be right for the job..

http://members.cox.net/lwcma6/ppd/DCFC0008.JPG

[ghettocomp]

:D Laugh your Butts off everyone! I love my computer closet, it is kind of like a giant
computer case. It just suits me fine.. :D

[Audioaficionado]

Nice lookin' spaghetti factory ghettocomp :p

[ghettocomp]

someday I might clean it up. most of that stuff on the wall will be moved to the big box when the finish is dry.'
best part of that closet is I can lock it and nobody has any access. I do not even need to open the door except for a hard reboot :D

[ghettocomp]

I gotta fess up the details of how it is done. It is really really really easy :D
read all the info Here at this page (http://reilly.homeip.net/folding/diskless.html)
Since I do not use XP any longer, and absolutely prefer Windows 2K, Might even work with Windows 98 *cough*sucks**cough* with a little tweaking. I set it up on Windows 2K, but I might use NT Server, (Gotta get my $1500 out of that somehow). Another change I made is that I had forced my SmoothWall DHCP box to assign the IPs to every computer on the folding crew. A small amount of work, but It has been worth it. Sometime tonight I probably will have to dump a couple of WU's in the trash while I re-assign the IP's.

[the garynator]

freakin' hawt man, that makes things super cheap! Thanks!

[JDXNC]

Awsomeness! I'm gonna try this out!

[AlabamaCajun]

We have got to get the Modds to assign you the Rank of "Chief Ghetto Officer".
This closet "Rules" and "Owns". Wish I had closets :cry: :drool:

someday I might clean it up. most of that stuff on the wall will be moved to the big box when the finish is dry.'
best part of that closet is I can lock it and nobody has any access. I do not even need to open the door except for a hard reboot
"Whatever you do, lock it if you invite the Fire Marshall over for Speghetti"

[godofgorks]

I don't care what you say, that sure get's ghettocomp sure lives up to his name...


and I like that :thup:

nice work I didn't get a chance to read over your article yet, but looking forward to here soon...

[LandShark]

nice work and great headless idea for those running Windows. :thup: haven't read your article yet, but have it bookmarked for future reference!! ;)

[TollhouseFrank]

1 question.

HOW DOES IT WORK WITHOUT VIDEO!?!?! In my experience, every mobo i've ever used and ever worked on will not boot without video present, whether it is onboard or something in the slot (whether the video works or not doesn't matter... it just had to have something there).

How do you get around that built-in check?

[ihrsetrdr]

ghettocomp, I love it! The closet idea is superb...it's an artwork in-progress! I've wanted to do a PXE setup for the longest time, but don't have the network savvy to make it happen.

Anyway... :beer:

[Mark620]

Question???

Go to your router configuration window and turn off the DHCP server. - is this required?

[seadave77]

Respect

Nice find ghettocomp!

[Misfit138]

Very impressive. Excellent work!

[ghettocomp]

1 question.

HOW DOES IT WORK WITHOUT VIDEO!?!?! In my experience, every mobo i've ever used and ever worked on will not boot without video present, whether it is onboard or something in the slot (whether the video works or not doesn't matter... it just had to have something there).

How do you get around that built-in check?
there is a setting in bios, where it can set to "halt on no errors" that bypasses nearly everything. Has worked on everything I tested it on, with the exception of some really old motherboards. some boards with built in video will allow the video to be shut off. The thing that I am now kinda P.Od at is that I have gone out and purchased a buttload of new video cards that I now do not need:cry: Oh, well.. I only spent $20 or so

Question???

Go to your router configuration window and turn off the DHCP server. - is this required?
it is supposed to avoid confusion for the tftpd server, but I have left mine on with pretty much no problems. it helps if you can hard code the Mac addresses with the IP's choswn for the boards by the router. what happens from what I have seen is that the headless clients will boot and load the initial os with the ip that is given by the windows folding server, then after the newly loaded OS is loaded and initialized, it seems to grab an ip from the router which may confuse everything, but by then it is all ready snagged stuff from stanford and is folding. you can point the browser at that client and watch the fun. each client has browser access to its stats.

the best bet is just to set up the farm on a totally separate network and isolate it somehow, which I have not done. if your network works on a different IP set, you could get away with being on the same network.


What I think I may do is also write something on how I set it up, Like a tutorial, so to make every step as easy as possible. It really is very easy to set it all up. after I did it once I was amazed how great it works! :D

ghettocomp, I love it! The closet idea is superb...it's an artwork in-progress! I've wanted to do a PXE setup for the longest time, but don't have the network savvy to make it happen.

Anyway... :beer:
Don't really need much network saavy with this one. just a windows machine and a little time (actually very little) if you are familiar with windows. The instructions I found are very simple to follow, and I am happy to answer questions. If I don't know the answer, I will try to work it out somehow.

[JDXNC]

I got it working last night, very easy indeed. I just pulled the hard drive from one of my folding rigs and tried some diskless action :D

I left DHCP enabled on my router and it still worked fine. The only thing that sucks for me is being on 56k, downloading the client and core each time sux, but it does work :D

[ghettocomp]

it is a Power Saver!! no extra components and it saves a little power on all levels.

[Misfit138]

Again, excellent work gc! I really like this concept, and I'm glad I've held off building a farm; this method seems much more cost effective than the plethora of hard disks and opticals required otherwise.
Now there's 1 less reason to build a farm for all of us who've been putting it off.
Keep updating the guide as often as you can!

[Mark620]

downloading the client and core each time sux, but it does work :D

sux more than you know...a power failure wastes the work done on a WU :bang head

Im on buggy power...have power glitches on a daily basis...hence my array of UPSes...

[maph]

Hi all,

Looks like you found Notfred's diskless folding tutorial. He's a member of Team Techreport and created quite a few different versions of diskless folding(if you had linked to his main page for it, you can see he has USB/CD folding as well.) As for not including core/client, I believe it was to comply to the Stanford's stance on only d/ling it from stanford directly and do not distribute, but I could have rememebered it wrong. Anyways, any questions can be directed to him on the TR folding Forum.

OT: I started reading your forum a while back, lots of good folding information (esp. on INTEL machines, too bad I don't own any :p ), fold on!

Maph

[ghettocomp]

:welcome: Maph,
Yea it is NotFreds, Just had to share it, especially after it worked so well!
I saw the USB and CD stuff, but the diskless stuff was the most fascinating.
I liked how it centralized the backups of the storage. The part that I liked of
this little tutorial was that there is very little hardware required to set up the
folding farm. And Yes, I Liked that it would download the client AND Core.
Oh, :cool: Even better, was it appeared to be using the windows client as
well. :thup:

[maph]

Thanks for the welcome. I would go diskless too if i had any mobo/cpus hah, cuz I dont have enough hd/cdrom myself either(esp. cdrom, not even all of my comp has that) btw, does it d/l the 5.02 or 5.04 client with the diskless folding?

[ghettocomp]

Thanks for the welcome. I would go diskless too if i had any mobo/cpus hah, cuz I dont have enough hd/cdrom myself either(esp. cdrom, not even all of my comp has that) btw, does it d/l the 5.02 or 5.04 client with the diskless folding?
I have confirmed It is the windows 502 client. Actually, the log file tells us it is :)

[ihrsetrdr]

Here is another tutorial I found while googling "NotFreds diskless folding"- http://reilly.homeip.net/folding/diskless.html . Doesn't look as complex as it sounds.

[ghettocomp]

Thats the one I posted back on the first page here (http://www.ocforums.com/showpost.php?p=4233958&postcount=13)
and like you/I have said, it is extremely easy todo. and if you
look at " http://reilly.homeip.net/folding/ " you get another
set of tutorials by the same person on how to create a bootable CD,
or USB to run totally diskless, headless (no video card required after
setup) as well. AND it all folds in a very minimal Linux using the Windows
Client! Ends up being extremely fast! Well.. faster than windows just slightly,
and certainly a little faster than the Linux client!
I have not figured how to configure EMIII to monitor, but you can just point
the browser window at the ip for each client and it serves up a page to show
the progress and log files. :)

[threeme2189]

so what you did was setup a mobo + cpu + ram + network so it can fold?
no hdd no cd drive no video card...wow. i gotta get an old pc to try this out on!

[AlabamaCajun]

Thanks Ghetto, I missed it the first time. "I must have been running headless last night" :p

[ghettocomp]

I didnt post the other tutorials links, mostly because I was still ooo-ing and Ahhh-ing over the fantastic work that had been done in the Windows folding page. This kind of stuff makes setting up a rack farm or "Big Box" so much Cheaper, simpler and easier to do.

[ghettocomp]

I am writing up a small thing to explain that one. Easy to do, even better
that after configuration that you no longer need a video card either!
Still writing it up, although I think that the origional page from Notfred is pretty good. I just want to show my current hardware configuration and such. This current configuration will still be good when i drop in a cluster program to do a few speedy things every once in a while. :D

First things are first, I still need to figure out how to get the configuration to change slightly for slow rigs so it will grab the timeless tinkers on them. surely it is easy, but I might have to question Notfred about how that could be done. I found out that the program already checks to see how many processors and adjusts to grab a client for each :thup:

[maph]

I have confirmed It is the windows 502 client. Actually, the log file tells us it is :)

Ok, thanks for the confirmation, was wondering about that. BTW since you mentioned you are using 2k(which is also my prefered OS), did you find any steps in his tutorial that you have to find alternate ways to accomplish due to it being in XP originally?

[ghettocomp]

Ok, thanks for the confirmation, was wondering about that. BTW since you mentioned you are using 2k(which is also my prefered OS), did you find any steps in his tutorial that you have to find alternate ways to accomplish due to it being in XP originally?
believe it or not, the first time I installed it, it was run from just the default stuff, and only entered the numbers in the tftpd32 server program very similar to how notfred had shown. I never changed the IP configurations on that computer at all, and then just started up the client mobos with PXE enabled. And :eek: it all worked like a charm! I'm sure that somewhere down the road the whole network is going to kill itself, but I will deal with it then, or have it finally isolated in my Big Box I am constructing. :)

[yanz]

there is a setting in bios, where it can set to "halt on no errors" that bypasses nearly everything. Has worked on everything I tested it on, with the exception of some really old motherboards. some boards with built in video will allow the video to be shut off. The thing that I am now kinda P.Od at is that I have gone out and purchased a buttload of new video cards that I now do not need Oh, well.. I only spent $20 or so

now you made me think i should remove the video card on my dedicated folding rig! :)

can't remove the hdd though, power failures are almost every two days or so. fortunately it has an ups.

[ghettocomp]

now you made me think i should remove the video card on my dedicated folding rig! :)

can't remove the hdd though, power failures are almost every two days or so. fortunately it has an ups.
I have noticed that the clients backup their work on the main server directory around every 2 hours or so. upon restart there should not be too much lost, just 2 hours at the very most! I waited for two hours for the first backup to appear then killed one client. When it was restarted, it picked up data from the backup and then continued on from there :thup: Since I am always messing with my network, that backup routine has been a great plus.

[Soichiro]

Nice guide. I should try this now that I found out my old skt A mobo and PSU still work *gasp*. But how often does it backup the WU to the server?

[ghettocomp]

Only every 2 hours.
But that is enough for most things. at least not too much is lost if something
happens to the clients.

[ghettocomp]

After spending the last few days monitoring and fooling around with the network
portions of this Idea. I have determined that it is at the top of my Folding needs list!

I did find that you should have this headless setup isolated from any networking you may have. Problem that developed was both DHCP functions on at the same time will
eventually confuse them and the network will drop the clients fast. It is not
a very serious problem as you have to make sure the primary DHCP is started
first, then boot the TFTPD32 server. Then when each client is rebooted
everything is restored from the auto backups checkpoints and all is well :D


What I am thinking after I have seen it all stabilize over the next week or so
is that I may have to create a connection sharing rig and have the whole
folding network run through that :thup: should be good from there.
I feel that may keep both networks reasonably isolated from each other,
especially if the isolated folding network is given completely different IP
addressing.

On to bigger and better. Next thing would be to see about making individual
changes in the configs depending on the IP address requested or hard coded
in the servers registry. should be just a little matter of learning a little more
Linux :cool: or forcing the change with a bootable Thumbdrive?

[the garynator]

so you say isolate the network... what about an internet connection? Say i have a dedicated server, and all of the clients, would i have to have a seperate router/switch AND a second internet connection, or will hooking the diskless network up to my normal network w/ internet router to router work? or do you just mean have a dedicated server?

[PLOBBY]

Hehehe looks like my closet, except that I only have two running...

[ghettocomp]

Well, I have added another mobo to my wall-o-Crap, another Frys Speciale :)
Now if only I would quit messing with the setup, I might get some serious points!

so you say isolate the network... what about an internet connection? Say i have a dedicated server, and all of the clients, would i have to have a seperate router/switch AND a second internet connection, or will hooking the diskless network up to my normal network w/ internet router to router work? or do you just mean have a dedicated server?
Right now, everything is through one of my windows rigs and acting as a TFTPD32 server. If/when I redo the connections, I think that I will be using my NT Server and open up the internet sharing components. Then Add a switch to the shared side and i believe all would be good. Seems to work fine as is, though if the smoothwall machine is ever rebooted, it kills the folding clients. I then have to restart the tftpd server program to regain communications with the clients again, and sometimes with everything else on the network :shrug: It works, somehow...

EDIT:: 01/19/06 On the site for the TFTPD32 program is a set of instructions on how to program the server to get the MAC address from the registry and match it up with the IP you want to use. Very simple actually. That I what I have since done and this seems to work very well!
__________________
This Sig is Fake!!
http://tinyurl.com/9mbn4

[dwschoon]

Well, I have added another mobo to my wall-o-Crap, another Frys Speciale :)
Now if only I would quit messing with the setup, I might get some serious points!


Right now, everything is through one of my windows rigs and acting as a TFTPD32 server. If/when I redo the connections, I think that I will be using my NT Server and open up the internet sharing components. Then Add a switch to the shared side and i believe all would be good. Seems to work fine as is, though if the smoothwall machine is ever rebooted, it kills the folding clients. I then have to restart the tftpd server program to regain communications with the clients again, and sometimes with everything else on the network :shrug: It works, somehow...

EDIT:: 01/19/06 On the site for the TFTPD32 program is a set of instructions on how to program the server to get the MAC address from the registry and match it up with the IP you want to use. Very simple actually. That I what I have since done and this seems to work very well!
__________________
This Sig is Fake!!
http://tinyurl.com/9mbn4

When I have more time, ill have to try this. Ive been trying to convert my win2k fileserver to overclockix to run my farm, but have been having trouble with the share drives and the printer. If this works, ill just leave it win2k and still use it as the server. BTW I like your sig.

[dz_jad]

hmmm. very interesting topic.
so, I'm not a network guy, I know the min. basics. You have a router, and hook the computers to it, and the internet connection, and it works after you run the windows stuff to connect to it. Here is my question: how do you isolate it then? like, I see you say isolate, I think I might, sorta, know what you are talking about, but how do ya do it?
you run another hub or router between the server and the clients? and just plug in from the first network to the hub for the internet connection?

[ghettocomp]

In actuality, I have not isolated any rigs from the network at all. seems the tftpd server searches for clients on an entirely different port than the standard DHCP process. To minimize the chance of crossing and confusing any IP addresses, I entered a more or less Static IP scheme into the server computers registry. The website that publishes the TFTPD32 server program has very detailed instructions on how to do that.
since doing that little bit of footwork, I can now use my main rig on off days to go 'Diskless/windowless windows' folding as well. So now I fold on one IP and run windows on another one entirely! So now when I have finished using windows, I reboot using the PXE network boot option and the rig picks up the new "assigned" IP and begins the diskless/windowless option almost immediately.

The only drawback I have with this farming software, is that you can lose up to (more or less) two hours of folding time on a restart. :( Since each motherboard uses its entire raw processing powerand can make up wu's in short order, that time lost I do not consider to be too much of a problem.

[jstutman]

Bringing this back to life, Everything is well here using the above method. However they dont appear to be finding the "file" they need.

tftpd32 shows the systems booting, but they all fail with a "file not found"

I extracted the headless client zip into the same directory, just like it says. edited the file too.

[ghettocomp]

Bringing this back to life, Everything is well here using the above method. However they dont appear to be finding the "file" they need.

tftpd32 shows the systems booting, but they all fail with a "file not found"

I extracted the headless client zip into the same directory, just like it says. edited the file too.
the diskless.zip file has to be unzipped into the same directory as the TFTPD32 server program is. you will have 4 things to be unzipped:
pxelinux.0
kernel
initrd
and a folder called: pxelinux.cfg

Oh another thing...
in the Reilly page of instructions here (http://reilly.homeip.net/folding/diskless.html). in regards to changing the .cfg file in the pxelinux.cfg folder, DO NOT - and I repeat: DO NOT USE WORDPAD like he says, Use notepad to change the " default " file. wordpad will cause that error sometimes. after that, you should be good to go! EDIT: Before I forget, The ' default ' file has no extensions, so it should not look like ' default.cfg ' or ' default.txt '

Friday or Saturday night this week, I will be giving very detailed instructions to set it up on Win 2000 including how to get newer mobos and stubborn older motherboards up and running diskless, along with getting everything non-essential (like video) off of it :D. Should be clear. :shrug:

[WarriorII]

cleeeear azzzz mud. ;)

:thup:




me thinks I have 2k around here someplace....... runnin XPsp2
(that's second 'puter #2) :D

[ghettocomp]

cleeeear azzzz mud. ;)

:thup:




me thinks I have 2k around here someplace....... runnin XPsp2
(that's second 'puter #2) :D
XP is good too :D I Just have an extreme preference for W2K. the directions
on the origional site use XP and are very good. ( except the wordpad/notepad thing :) )

[jstutman]

I Also had to seperate the networks. The reason behind this, was devices that connected to the network that were none PXE had problems. For example, my vonage device was taking about 2 minutes to finally get assigned a ip. This problem may be bad in the future when Im expecting phone calls. I also had problems getting my xbox and ps2 online. The problem appears to be the program's slowness at assigning ip address's.

made sure, i followed the instructions to the "T" however, still get this error.
ile <0> : error 2 in system call CreateFile The system cannot find the file specified.

Fixed it, I had mistyped the boot file. its supposed to be pxelinux.0. I had pxelinuc.0 (stupid fat fingers)

Has anyone got EMIII to work with this? using the IP 192.168.1.11
what would the directory be to allow emIII to monitor?

[jstutman]

Still Not working.... New Error


Previously allocated address acked [09/02 12:00:09.741]
Read request for file <pxelinux.0>. Mode octet [09/02 12:00:09.851]
<pxelinux.0>: sent 24 blks, 11800 bytes in 0 s. 0 blk resent [09/02 12:00:09.913]
Rcvd DHCP Discover Msg for IP 0.0.0.0, Mac 00:11:D8:5E:84:4A [09/02 12:12:15.132]
DHCP: proposed address 192.168.1.11 [09/02 12:12:15.538]
Rcvd DHCP Rqst Msg for IP 0.0.0.0, Mac 00:11:D8:5E:84:4A [09/02 12:12:17.288]
Previously allocated address acked [09/02 12:12:17.288]
Read request for file <pxelinux.0>. Mode octet [09/02 12:12:17.397]
<pxelinux.0>: sent 24 blks, 11800 bytes in 0 s. 0 blk resent [09/02 12:12:17.444]

[ghettocomp]

Fixed it, I had mistyped the boot file. its supposed to be pxelinux.0. I had pxelinuc.0 (stupid fat fingers)

Has anyone got EMIII to work with this? using the IP 192.168.1.11
what would the directory be to allow emIII to monitor?

I don't think it works. I have been trying several things and nothing yet. The files are correct but seems the addressing is limited. Could be just to prevent tampering, or it is just because it is Linux OS running windows ( 98 ) and no share available. However, if things need to be known, just point the web browser of any computer on the same network at the address of each client and you will get links to log files an stuff. this is great because of the limiting of cpu cycles that could be used for folding :)

[iceage]

This looks like a great deal! I have a few questions though:

1) Will this work if I'm using a wireless router to network from a DSL modem? Our house isn't wired for broadband in every room and I have our family computer downstairs and my folding farm is planned for an upstairs room (ergo the wireless router idea.)

Thanks!

[dwschoon]

I don't think it works. I have been trying several things and nothing yet. The files are correct but seems the addressing is limited. Could be just to prevent tampering, or it is just because it is Linux OS running windows ( 98 ) and no share available. However, if things need to be known, just point the web browser of any computer on the same network at the address of each client and you will get links to log files an stuff. this is great because of the limiting of cpu cycles that could be used for folding :)

I even tried mapping a network drive to it, and no luck. I did get one up and folding though. It works great!!! Thanks ghetto! :cool:

[dz_jad]

This looks like a great deal! I have a few questions though:

1) Will this work if I'm using a wireless router to network from a DSL modem? Our house isn't wired for broadband in every room and I have our family computer downstairs and my folding farm is planned for an upstairs room (ergo the wireless router idea.)

Thanks!
I'm pretty sure it will work, in theory (i thought about this before, but havent done it), its still a network. as long as it has the options of PXE boot, I think.. (blind leading the blind here). Its the same as a wired network, only no wires... no reason why it shouldnt work.

[infinitevalence]

The only problem i have with this is that i cant figure out how to get it to work with Hyperthreading :( other than that it works like a charm.

[Hack30]

you rock :attn: this will make it so much easier.

[ghettocomp]

you rock :attn: this will make it so much easier.
and in the very long run... It will be cheaper.

[dwschoon]

Is there any way to set flags, or change the cfg for different computers?

[lennytiger]

Is there a way to do this whilst using internet connection sharing? I don't have a router?

[dwschoon]

Is there a way to do this whilst using internet connection sharing? I don't have a router?

I would think you could ics to a switch with all the other comps on it. I have a separate router, so i have no worries.

[lennytiger]

The problem is ICS has a built in DHCP which conflicts with TFTPD, bootip or something like that. Is there anyway around that?

[unhappy_mage]

"Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery" :cool:

Glad you got this working, looks cool. I built a pair of similar things OCers might be interested in - fold-server (http://fold-server.sourceforge.net/) and Foldix (http://hardforum.com/showthread.php?t=964162). Fold-server is the same thing as this project, except it's an entire Linux system; you install it on a machine with two Nics, plug your real network into one side and your FAH machines into the other, and they fold away. Foldix is for standalone machines; put the disk in and it'll *autoformat* a hard drive, and go start folding. Both are monitorable by EM3; fold-server also has a monitoring interface which looks like this (https://66.93.18.35/cgi-bin/log.pl). They both use the Linux client to fold (and save the cores and client!); I may look into the Windows client now that someone's done it.

My next project is porting fold-server to the Linksys WRT54G boxes. That makes for even easier b0xen deployment ;)

OP, if you want help on linux-related stuff, an installer for this (I also did setup-fold (http://userpages.umbc.edu/~willm1/setup-fold/)), anything, let me know what I can help with and I'll be glad to.

http://www.hardfolding.com/ftag1.php/mem/150072.png (http://www.hardfolding.com?go=38&tm=33&id=150072)http://www.hardfolding.com/utag.php/mem/1392.png (http://www.hardfolding.com?go=36&id=1392)

[dz_jad]

thanks for the tips and such. I'll definately have to try this out as soon as I get up and folding.

[iceage]

Will this work if I use WMP54G linksys wireless cards to link the MBs to my network router? Or do I have to use a RJ-45 cable connection from a wired router to the MB built-in network adaptor?

[Hack30]

someone has to figure out how to get this to work on dually rigs

[iceage]

I thought it did work on duallies, but wouldn't detect HT.

Edit: WMP54G wireless cards are not PXE bootable (or I'm doing something wrong :rolleyes: )

[infinitevalence]

thats the problem, it works on duallies but does not see HT, and i want my HT :) 4cpu > 2cpus right now.

[iceage]

Tis true. I'm guessing that 4 logical processors on a regular setup is better than 2 diskless.

Is it because the diskless is linux based that it doesn't use HT?

[infinitevalence]

no linux can see HT its just that the version that is used does not support it. Right now with HT on on my my xeon boxes im seeing around 400-500 PPD

[dwschoon]

"Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery" :cool:

Glad you got this working, looks cool. I built a pair of similar things OCers might be interested in - fold-server (http://fold-server.sourceforge.net/) and Foldix (http://hardforum.com/showthread.php?t=964162). Fold-server is the same thing as this project, except it's an entire Linux system; you install it on a machine with two Nics, plug your real network into one side and your FAH machines into the other, and they fold away. Foldix is for standalone machines; put the disk in and it'll *autoformat* a hard drive, and go start folding. Both are monitorable by EM3; fold-server also has a monitoring interface which looks like this (https://66.93.18.35/cgi-bin/log.pl). They both use the Linux client to fold (and save the cores and client!); I may look into the Windows client now that someone's done it.

My next project is porting fold-server to the Linksys WRT54G boxes. That makes for even easier b0xen deployment ;)

OP, if you want help on linux-related stuff, an installer for this (I also did setup-fold (http://userpages.umbc.edu/~willm1/setup-fold/)), anything, let me know what I can help with and I'll be glad to.

http://www.hardfolding.com/ftag1.php/mem/150072.png (http://www.hardfolding.com?go=38&tm=33&id=150072)http://www.hardfolding.com/utag.php/mem/1392.png (http://www.hardfolding.com?go=36&id=1392)

Does your system allow setting different flags for each layer?

[iceage]

no linux can see HT its just that the version that is used does not support it. Right now with HT on on my my xeon boxes im seeing around 400-500 PPD

Same here. When I get the patty melts or 56 points, it goes down a bit. I think some better memory timing would help some but I'm using value mem.

I'm putting together a P5P800 SE & Intel 805 folding rig to see what that'll do.

[dwschoon]

Same here. When I get the patty melts or 56 points, it goes down a bit. I think some better memory timing would help some but I'm using value mem.

I'm putting together a P5P800 SE & Intel 805 folding rig to see what that'll do.

I am eagerly awaiting results from that combo. I have been seriously considering the same.

[iceage]

I'm pretty sure the 805's will keep slowly coming down in price. I thought I snagged 2 P5P800 SE refurb boards for $65 at the egg, but they cancelled my order for both. :argue: :bang head It really bugs me when retailers don't promptly update their site. Not even an email saying "Sorry, we screwed up".

[unhappy_mage]

Does your system allow setting different flags for each layer?
Sorry I missed this. My system autoconfigures, so that it looks at how "big" the box is and determines what flags to give FAH. It's based on cpu flags (if it has SSE, MMX and the like), how much memory the machine has, and cpu speed. You could theoretically change the parameters, but they're fairly reasonable.

The simplest way to deal with HT is, unfortunately, turning it on and off in BIOS. Linux will see all the virtual processors, and (with my system, anyways - haven't looked at what this does) start one instance of FAH per virtual CPU. Thus, if HT is on it starts 2N, if it's off just N.

http://www.hardfolding.com/ftag1.php/mem/150072.png (http://www.hardfolding.com?go=38&tm=33&id=150072)http://www.hardfolding.com/utag.php/mem/1392.png (http://www.hardfolding.com?go=36&id=1392)

[iceage]

Looking for some help with this. I have tftpd32 loaded and when I boot the diskless client it gives me this in the TFTP Server tab.

Rcvd DHCP Discover Msg for IP 0.0.0.0, Mac 00:11:D8:14:98:8B [27/03 19:07:22.781]
DHCP: proposed address 192.168.1.123 [27/03 19:07:22.781]
Rcvd DHCP Rqst Msg for IP 0.0.0.0, Mac 00:11:D8:14:98:8B [27/03 19:07:24.781]
Previously allocated address acked [27/03 19:07:24.781]

And thats all. No network activity showing that its loading a core and WU. In the 'current action' field it says, "Previously allocated address acked".

I'm using a linksys router as a switch, with the server PC plugged into port 3 and the diskless workstation plugged into port 2. Router is powered on.

Needless to say, I'm a network n00b. Any help is appreciated!!

Btw, currently I'm trying to use 1 PC-DL as the server and another PC-DL as the diskless workstation.

[iceage]

Ok. I had to set the wireless network connection and the local area network connection to have the same default gateway. At this point I get all the way to the diskless workstation looking to 'Resolve www.stanford.edu...failed: Temporary failure in name resolution." Then it reports error code 1 - "wine: cannot find 'FAH502-Console.exe"

Here is the take from the TFTPD server...

Rcvd DHCP Discover Msg for IP 0.0.0.0, Mac 00:11:D8:14:98:8B [28/03 22:37:22.984]
DHCP: proposed address 100.110.120.140 [28/03 22:37:22.984]
Rcvd DHCP Rqst Msg for IP 0.0.0.0, Mac 00:11:D8:14:98:8B [28/03 22:37:25.015]
Previously allocated address acked [28/03 22:37:25.015]
Read request for file <pxelinux.0>. Mode octet [28/03 22:37:25.015]
Using local port 3932 [28/03 22:37:25.015]
<pxelinux.0>: sent 24 blks, 11800 bytes in 0 s. 0 blk resent [28/03 22:37:25.031]
Read request for file <pxelinux.cfg/01-00-11-d8-14-98-8b>. Mode octet [28/03 22:37:25.093]
File <pxelinux.cfg\01-00-11-d8-14-98-8b> : error 2 in system call CreateFile The system cannot find the file specified. [28/03 22:37:25.093]
Read request for file <pxelinux.cfg/646E788C>. Mode octet [28/03 22:37:25.093]
File <pxelinux.cfg\646E788C> : error 2 in system call CreateFile The system cannot find the file specified. [28/03 22:37:25.093]
Read request for file <pxelinux.cfg/646E788>. Mode octet [28/03 22:37:25.093]
File <pxelinux.cfg\646E788> : error 2 in system call CreateFile The system cannot find the file specified. [28/03 22:37:25.093]
Read request for file <pxelinux.cfg/646E78>. Mode octet [28/03 22:37:25.093]
File <pxelinux.cfg\646E78> : error 2 in system call CreateFile The system cannot find the file specified. [28/03 22:37:25.109]
Read request for file <pxelinux.cfg/646E7>. Mode octet [28/03 22:37:25.109]
File <pxelinux.cfg\646E7> : error 2 in system call CreateFile The system cannot find the file specified. [28/03 22:37:25.109]
Read request for file <pxelinux.cfg/646E>. Mode octet [28/03 22:37:25.109]
File <pxelinux.cfg\646E> : error 2 in system call CreateFile The system cannot find the file specified. [28/03 22:37:25.109]
Read request for file <pxelinux.cfg/646>. Mode octet [28/03 22:37:25.109]
File <pxelinux.cfg\646> : error 2 in system call CreateFile The system cannot find the file specified. [28/03 22:37:25.109]
Read request for file <pxelinux.cfg/64>. Mode octet [28/03 22:37:25.125]
File <pxelinux.cfg\64> : error 2 in system call CreateFile The system cannot find the file specified. [28/03 22:37:25.125]
Read request for file <pxelinux.cfg/6>. Mode octet [28/03 22:37:25.125]
File <pxelinux.cfg\6> : error 2 in system call CreateFile The system cannot find the file specified. [28/03 22:37:25.125]
Read request for file <pxelinux.cfg/default>. Mode octet [28/03 22:37:25.125]
OACK: <tsize=143,> [28/03 22:37:25.125]
Using local port 3942 [28/03 22:37:25.125]
<pxelinux.cfg\default>: sent 1 blk, 143 bytes in 0 s. 0 blk resent [28/03 22:37:25.140]
Read request for file <kernel>. Mode octet [28/03 22:37:25.406]
OACK: <tsize=1886563,> [28/03 22:37:25.406]
Using local port 3943 [28/03 22:37:25.406]
<kernel>: sent 3685 blks, 1886563 bytes in 1 s. 0 blk resent [28/03 22:37:26.343]
Read request for file <initrd>. Mode octet [28/03 22:37:26.359]
OACK: <tsize=10285056,> [28/03 22:37:26.359]
Using local port 3944 [28/03 22:37:26.359]
<initrd>: sent 20089 blks, 10285056 bytes in 5 s. 0 blk resent [28/03 22:37:31.453]
Rcvd DHCP Discover Msg for IP 0.0.0.0, Mac 00:11:D8:14:98:8B [28/03 22:38:51.609]
DHCP: proposed address 100.110.120.140 [28/03 22:38:51.609]
Rcvd DHCP Rqst Msg for IP 0.0.0.0, Mac 00:11:D8:14:98:8B [28/03 22:38:51.625]
Previously allocated address acked [28/03 22:38:51.625]
Read request for file <latest.100.110.120.140.2>. Mode netascii [28/03 22:38:51.687]
File <latest.100.110.120.140.2> : error 2 in system call CreateFile The system cannot find the file specified. [28/03 22:38:51.703]
Read request for file <latest.100.110.120.140.1>. Mode netascii [28/03 22:38:51.703]
File <latest.100.110.120.140.1> : error 2 in system call CreateFile The system cannot find the file specified. [28/03 22:38:51.703]

Any ideas?

[InTheFlow]

Do you have to have a copy of XP or Win2K for each headless system you set up for folding?

[ghettocomp]

Ok. I had to set the wireless network connection and the local area network connection to have the same default gateway. At this point I get all the way to the diskless workstation looking to 'Resolve www.stanford.edu...failed: Temporary failure in name resolution." Then it reports error code 1 - "wine: cannot find 'FAH502-Console.exe"

Here is the take from the TFTPD server...

Rcvd DHCP Discover Msg for IP 0.0.0.0, Mac 00:11:D8:14:98:8B [28/03 22:37:22.984]
DHCP: proposed address 100.110.120.140 [28/03 22:37:22.984]
Rcvd DHCP Rqst Msg for IP 0.0.0.0, Mac 00:11:D8:14:98:8B [28/03 22:37:25.015]
Previously allocated address acked [28/03 22:37:25.015]
Read request for file <pxelinux.0>. Mode octet [28/03 22:37:25.015]
Using local port 3932 [28/03 22:37:25.015]
<pxelinux.0>: sent 24 blks, 11800 bytes in 0 s. 0 blk resent [28/03 22:37:25.031]
Read request for file <pxelinux.cfg/01-00-11-d8-14-98-8b>. Mode octet [28/03 22:37:25.093]
File <pxelinux.cfg\01-00-11-d8-14-98-8b> : error 2 in system call CreateFile The system cannot find the file specified. [28/03 22:37:25.093]
Read request for file <pxelinux.cfg/646E788C>. Mode octet [28/03 22:37:25.093]
File <pxelinux.cfg\646E788C> : error 2 in system call CreateFile The system cannot find the file specified. [28/03 22:37:25.093]
Read request for file <pxelinux.cfg/646E788>. Mode octet [28/03 22:37:25.093]
File <pxelinux.cfg\646E788> : error 2 in system call CreateFile The system cannot find the file specified. [28/03 22:37:25.093]
Read request for file <pxelinux.cfg/646E78>. Mode octet [28/03 22:37:25.093]
File <pxelinux.cfg\646E78> : error 2 in system call CreateFile The system cannot find the file specified. [28/03 22:37:25.109]
Read request for file <pxelinux.cfg/646E7>. Mode octet [28/03 22:37:25.109]
File <pxelinux.cfg\646E7> : error 2 in system call CreateFile The system cannot find the file specified. [28/03 22:37:25.109]
Read request for file <pxelinux.cfg/646E>. Mode octet [28/03 22:37:25.109]
File <pxelinux.cfg\646E> : error 2 in system call CreateFile The system cannot find the file specified. [28/03 22:37:25.109]
Read request for file <pxelinux.cfg/646>. Mode octet [28/03 22:37:25.109]
File <pxelinux.cfg\646> : error 2 in system call CreateFile The system cannot find the file specified. [28/03 22:37:25.109]
Read request for file <pxelinux.cfg/64>. Mode octet [28/03 22:37:25.125]
File <pxelinux.cfg\64> : error 2 in system call CreateFile The system cannot find the file specified. [28/03 22:37:25.125]
Read request for file <pxelinux.cfg/6>. Mode octet [28/03 22:37:25.125]
File <pxelinux.cfg\6> : error 2 in system call CreateFile The system cannot find the file specified. [28/03 22:37:25.125]
Read request for file <pxelinux.cfg/default>. Mode octet [28/03 22:37:25.125]
OACK: <tsize=143,> [28/03 22:37:25.125]
Using local port 3942 [28/03 22:37:25.125]
<pxelinux.cfg\default>: sent 1 blk, 143 bytes in 0 s. 0 blk resent [28/03 22:37:25.140]
Read request for file <kernel>. Mode octet [28/03 22:37:25.406]
OACK: <tsize=1886563,> [28/03 22:37:25.406]
Using local port 3943 [28/03 22:37:25.406]
<kernel>: sent 3685 blks, 1886563 bytes in 1 s. 0 blk resent [28/03 22:37:26.343]
Read request for file <initrd>. Mode octet [28/03 22:37:26.359]
OACK: <tsize=10285056,> [28/03 22:37:26.359]
Using local port 3944 [28/03 22:37:26.359]
<initrd>: sent 20089 blks, 10285056 bytes in 5 s. 0 blk resent [28/03 22:37:31.453]
Rcvd DHCP Discover Msg for IP 0.0.0.0, Mac 00:11:D8:14:98:8B [28/03 22:38:51.609]
DHCP: proposed address 100.110.120.140 [28/03 22:38:51.609]
Rcvd DHCP Rqst Msg for IP 0.0.0.0, Mac 00:11:D8:14:98:8B [28/03 22:38:51.625]
Previously allocated address acked [28/03 22:38:51.625]
Read request for file <latest.100.110.120.140.2>. Mode netascii [28/03 22:38:51.687]
File <latest.100.110.120.140.2> : error 2 in system call CreateFile The system cannot find the file specified. [28/03 22:38:51.703]
Read request for file <latest.100.110.120.140.1>. Mode netascii [28/03 22:38:51.703]
File <latest.100.110.120.140.1> : error 2 in system call CreateFile The system cannot find the file specified. [28/03 22:38:51.703]

Any ideas?

No Ideas here, It actually looks like a DHCP server problem. Have you entered the IP and Mac addresses of each of the layers into the server computers registry? that may make a difference.
Also.. You are using wireless? that may be something too..

[iceage]

I talked with some people over at tech forums where notfred posts alot of stuff. It seems my wireless connection and my wired connection to the diskless stations is conflicting. I'll have to move my wireless router upstairs and run the diskless stations by wire to the router. I have wireless PCI cards and I'll have to use those on the downstairs computers. No biggie, just didn't want to move things around any more than necessary.

[ghettocomp]

I talked with some people over at tech forums where notfred posts alot of stuff. It seems my wireless connection and my wired connection to the diskless stations is conflicting. I'll have to move my wireless router upstairs and run the diskless stations by wire to the router. I have wireless PCI cards and I'll have to use those on the downstairs computers. No biggie, just didn't want to move things around any more than necessary.
kind of what I thought, looked like two DHCP servers fighting for control. Did you get everything resolved yet?

[Rpkole]

thankyou ghetto i just got 2 diskless rigs up and running the would have ben headless but they have onboard video :p

[AlabamaCajun]

"Thread Diving"

This thread could be a sticky! :hint:

[robertm]

You should not need to disable DHCP on your router not sure you need to enable the DHCP on the tftpd software. If I remember correct this type of setup uses bootp or some such network layer. If so it will find the tftpd server without it running the DHCP server. Once I get some of my older systems up and running I will try this out and give more detail. I used to run a number of system at work off diskless for time clocking function with out accounting software. I had different DHCP and bootp/tftpd servers. But these where both linux based systems so I need to do some testing to confirm setups.

[ghettocomp]

I have never disabled the DHCP of my smoothwall or of the TFTPD server either. There is an option where you enter the Mac address of each diskless layers NIC and your desired IP address into the windows registry of the server and as the BootP picks up the mac address, It assigns the IP and runs from there, 99.9% (PFA) of the time with no errors.

The whole trick of getting it to run properly is to make sure you follow the instructions given. If you get creative like I tried at first, it will fail. Only problem i have now is that I can't find any way to run Beta WUs.

[Rpkole]

hey ghetto do you know why evey time the client is retarted it d/l a new core
and is there any way to set it up so it will jsut get the core off the main box

[ghettocomp]

It has to download the core and client each time directly from Stanford to avoid violating any of their rules. besides, it is not a bad thing to start fresh with each restart. the only thing saved on the main box is the work that has been done, Just have to allow around 2 hours for each backup to happen.

[iceage]

I need to get a kill-a-watt and find out how much I'm saving on power with the headless/diskless setup. I know how much I'm saving on vid cards/HDs! ;) :eek:

[ErikD]

I have been thinking of doing something like this with some spare P3s I have sitting around. So all of the work and usual config files that would go in the F@H folder are saved to the server in some folder?

Now I just need to find some cheap P# motherboards and PXE capable NICs.

[the garynator]

I have been thinking of doing something like this with some spare P3s I have sitting around. So all of the work and usual config files that would go in the F@H folder are saved to the server in some folder?

Now I just need to find some cheap P# motherboards and PXE capable NICs.
you don't have to worry about the wu's or config files sept when initially setting it up... There's a main one that the server uses to send the os to the layer...

The wu's aren't stored like they are in normal folding, they are in the form of backup files which are only backed up every 2 hours (unfortunately).

Oh, and you don't need a pxe compatible nic either, just a boot disk, whether it be a usb thumb drive (assuming the board is capable of booting from usb) or a floppy disk. All this disk does is load the nic and tell the computer to boot off the network. All the info needed to make one of these is located on that page (at least linked).

If you take a crack at it (and i'd suggest you do, it's absolutely wonderful) make sure you follow the directions to a T the first couple times so you can get used to how it works. If you have problems feel free to ask, but try going through the how-to again and make sure everything's correct. I had a problem where i named the "pxelinux" "prelinux" and luckally I looked at the log file a couple of times and was able to fix it in about 5 minutes.

Good luck! :thup:

[ErikD]

Well funny story. I have a bunch of P3s sitting in a cabinet, and a small ESD bag full of PC100 SDRAM sitting on my desk. So all I would need to complete this is a motherboard, PSU, and NIC. Well on my way home tonight I spotted an old PC in the trash. Wouldn't you know its a P3!

Well I gutted it to try this out. I got the TFTP server running, and I saw the request for an address, etc. Now how do I know that the client is actually folding like it should be? Wait 2 hours to see a backup file? How long should it take before I can see the web monitoring page? Reason I ask is that when I looked in on it using the onboard video it was just sitting there saying TFTP......... and then a curser. Couldn't ping it or view the web page.

My ultimate plan is to fill my server closet with diskless folders as I have the time/money/parts. Probably look into doing multiple per PSU diskless/headless pure network boot.

[ghettocomp]

Ditto!

I would suggest for ease of anything to use the Folding CD for older motherboards. The CD eliminates most headscratching and questions. The CD itself contains all the files that the server would download to the layers anyway. Once the OS and F@H is loaded, the computer no longer has any need for the CD so power usage is very minimal anyway. Just make sure after 2 hours that your layers are backing up to the TFTPD32 server.

Another Tip: watch for the MAC address of your NIC and enter it into the registry using the instructions (to the letter) given by the author of TFTPD32. This way if the computer is offline for any time for maintenance or whatever and restarted, that layer will get the same IP and pick up where it left off. :)

[ErikD]

With some fooling around I got it working totally diskless. Turns out that not only did I need to set the BIOS to PXE boot I also needed to set the NIC to PXE boot. It is now folding diskless!

Not for long thoush as sitting on the floor of my room it is just waiting to be stepped on. Now that I know it works I will be running some more CAT 5 cables into my server closet for the farm.:beer:

[ghettocomp]

Hey hey!! :thup: another Closet folder...

[ErikD]

Hey hey!! :thup: another Closet folder...

Yep. I started my network with a Linksys 4 port router in my room and running CAT 5 to each room in the house that would have a PC. I then upgraded to a Cisco 16 port switch, and currently it is a 24 port. I never thought I would use them all, but... I also never thought that I would need so many cable runs, but I keep adding one at a time saying this is the last one. I know, famous last words.

Anyway I also have three more PIII CPUs sitting in a closet which I might buy motherboards and PSUs to get up and folding.

[Duke3d87]

How do i track the status of my wu? I've been looking around and can't find a way to do it.

I'm doing it like this: http://reilly.homeip.net/folding/diskless.html

[the garynator]

How do i track the status of my wu? I've been looking around and can't find a way to do it.

I'm doing it like this: http://reilly.homeip.net/folding/diskless.html
go to the machine's IP address.
EDIT: sorry...point your web browser to the machine's IP address /EDIT


oh and to answer a question from above...No, you only need xp on the machine acting as a server.

[ErikD]

Type in the IP address of the diskless client in a web browser. It will give links to the log file and unitinfo file.

[Duke3d87]

Thanks!

i got a Core_7a core and i'm not sure how large it is.

Protein: p2095_Protein

And i'm getting about 20 minutes/frame

[23:09:47] Completed 0 out of 12500000 steps (0)
[23:28:18] Writing local files
[23:28:18] Completed 125000 out of 12500000 steps (1)
[23:46:49] Writing local files
[23:46:49] Completed 250000 out of 12500000 steps (2)
[00:05:22] Writing local files
[00:05:22] Completed 375000 out of 12500000 steps (3)
[00:23:55] Writing local files
[00:23:55] Completed 500000 out of 12500000 steps (4)
[00:42:26] Writing local files
[00:42:26] Completed 625000 out of 12500000 steps (5)
[01:00:58] Writing local files
[01:00:58] Completed 750000 out of 12500000 steps (6)
[01:19:30] Writing local files
[01:19:30] Completed 875000 out of 12500000 steps (7)
[01:38:02] Writing local files
[01:38:02] Completed 1000000 out of 12500000 steps (8)
[01:56:34] Writing local files
[01:56:34] Completed 1125000 out of 12500000 steps (9)
[02:15:06] Writing local files
[02:15:06] Completed 1250000 out of 12500000 steps (10)
[02:33:37] Writing local files
[02:33:37] Completed 1375000 out of 12500000 steps (11)
[02:52:10] Writing local files
[02:52:10] Completed 1500000 out of 12500000 steps (12)
[03:10:42] Writing local files
[03:10:42] Completed 1625000 out of 12500000 steps (13)
[03:29:16] Writing local files
[03:29:16] Completed 1750000 out of 12500000 steps (14)
[03:47:51] Writing local files
[03:47:51] Completed 1875000 out of 12500000 steps (15)
[04:06:24] Writing local files
[04:06:24] Completed 2000000 out of 12500000 steps (16)

So thanks guys. The CPU is an AthlonXP-M 2500+ so it's at stock right now, but i want to push it up to at least 2.2 GHz. That means new HSF and whatnot.

[the garynator]

p2095_Protein = 172 pointer

60 minutes times 24 hours = 1440
20 minutes x 100 frames = 2000
1440 minutes/2000 minutes=0.72
0.72*172 points =123.84 ppd

so she's putting out about 124ppd on that work unit...not too bad :thup:

[Duke3d87]

thanks. I'm going to take the rest of the stuff out. I took out my AIW X800XT b/c the fan was starting to rattle but i've still got a tv tuner, audigy and USB PCI Expansion thing in it. I've got another AthlonXP-M that I want to employ...

[ghettocomp]

p2095_Protein = 172 pointer

60 minutes times 24 hours = 1440
20 minutes x 100 frames = 2000
1440 minutes/2000 minutes=0.72
0.72*172 points =123.84 ppd

so she's putting out about 124ppd on that work unit...not too bad :thup:

O mannnn.. So thats the calculation!, I have been trying to figure that out!
and to think I do formulary calculations all night, and this one threw me..

[ihrsetrdr]

I need to get a kill-a-watt and find out how much I'm saving on power with the headless/diskless setup. I know how much I'm saving on vid cards/HDs! ;) :eek:

I use a Greenlee clamp on amp meter simuliar to this:


http://www.geocities.com/hrsetrdr/OC_forums/61-724l.jpg


Also useful for a million other jobs. In my setup, I have 2 dedicated circuits for the computer room and can measure the amp draw from either circuit at the breaker panel. Then, I can do the calculations to get the cost...:eek:

['Cuda340]

Another Tip: watch for the MAC address of your NIC and enter it into the registry using the instructions (to the letter) given by the author of TFTPD32. This way if the computer is offline for any time for maintenance or whatever and restarted, that layer will get the same IP and pick up where it left off.

Apparently original site is not hosting files anymore. Does anyone have said instructions? (For entering the MAC address of Nic into registry.)

Thanks

[Lord_Anubis]

here is the new homepage http://tftpd32.jounin.net/, I think the instructions are in the help file.

[Rpkole]

ok i got a new prob with teh diskless folding i have a laptop that for some reason pulls down 2 clients even tho it is a P-M

[pik4chu]

Apparently original site is not hosting files anymore. Does anyone have said instructions? (For entering the MAC address of Nic into registry.)

Thanks
from the help file
Q: Can the DHCP server assign static IP ?
A: Yes. Create a new "string value" registry key under HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\TFTPD32\DHCP. The key's name will be the host's mac-address (ie 0A:0B:0C:0D:0E:0F). The key's data value will be the desired IP address (ie 192.168.1.2).

[atom]

curious, but why run FAH under wine when there is a native linux version? other than that, this does exactly what I wanted.

[ghettocomp]

curious, but why run FAH under wine when there is a native linux version? other than that, this does exactly what I wanted.
In most cases Linux folds slower, Wine uses the windows version that even with the overhead to run Linux/wine/FAH is slightly faster.

[Angry_Norwegian]

Arghh..a friend of mine had an even ghettoer comp than this. It was merely a cardboard box with a lot of porn stickers on it. Too bad I never took a pic of it :cry:

[iceage]

Anyone having this problem lately? It is only occuring on Core 82.

[02:36:37] + 645120 bytes downloaded
[02:36:39] + 655360 bytes downloaded
[02:36:42] + 665600 bytes downloaded
[02:36:42] + 675840 bytes downloaded
[02:36:42] + 686080 bytes downloaded
[02:36:43] + 696320 bytes downloaded
[02:36:45] + 706560 bytes downloaded
[02:36:46] + 716479 bytes downloaded
[02:36:46] Verifying core Core_82.fah...
[02:36:46] Signature is VALID
[02:36:46]
[02:36:46] Trying to unzip core FahCore_82.exe
[02:36:46] Decompressed FahCore_82.exe (1683456 bytes) successfully
[02:36:46] + Core successfully engaged
[02:36:51]
[02:36:51] + Processing work unit
[02:36:51] Core required: FahCore_82.exe
[02:36:51] Core found.
[02:36:51] Working on Unit 04 [August 10 02:36:51]
[02:36:51] + Working ...
[02:36:55] CoreStatus = 63 (99)
[02:36:55] + Error starting Folding@Home core.
[02:37:00]
[02:37:00] + Processing work unit
[02:37:00] Core required: FahCore_82.exe
[02:37:00] Core found.
[02:37:00] Working on Unit 04 [August 10 02:37:00]
[02:37:00] + Working ...
[02:37:05] CoreStatus = 63 (99)
[02:37:05] + Error starting Folding@Home core.
[02:37:10]
[02:37:10] + Processing work unit
[02:37:10] Core required: FahCore_82.exe
[02:37:10] Core found.
[02:37:10] Working on Unit 04 [August 10 02:37:10]
[02:37:10] + Working ...
[02:37:14] CoreStatus = 63 (99)
[02:37:14] + Error starting Folding@Home core.
[02:37:14]
Folding@Home will go to sleep for 1 day as there have been 5 consecutive Cores executed which failed to complete a work unit.
[02:37:14] (To wake it up early, quit the application and restart it.)
[02:37:14] If problems persist, please visit our website at http://folding.stanford.edu for help.
[02:37:14] + Sleeping...

[02:36:56] Waking.
[02:36:56] - Attempting to download new core...
[02:36:56] + Downloading new core: FahCore_82.exe
[02:36:57] + 10240 bytes downloaded
[02:36:57] + 20480 bytes downloaded
[02:36:57] + 30720 bytes downloaded
[02:36:58] + 40960 bytes downloaded
[02:36:58] + 51200 bytes downloaded
[02:36:58] + 61440 bytes downloaded
[02:36:59] + 71680 bytes downloaded
[02:36:59] + 81920 bytes downloaded
[02:37:00] + 92160 bytes downloaded
[02:37:00] + 102400 bytes downloaded
[02:37:00] + 112640 bytes downloaded
[02:37:01] + 122880 bytes downloaded
[02:37:01] + 133120 bytes downloaded
[02:37:01] + 143360 bytes downloaded
[02:37:02] + 153600 bytes downloaded
[02:37:02] + 163840 bytes downloaded
[02:37:03] + 174080 bytes downloaded
[02:37:03] + 184320 bytes downloaded
[02:37:03] + 194560 bytes downloaded
[02:37:04] + 204800 bytes downloaded
[02:37:04] + 215040 bytes downloaded
[02:37:04] + 225280 bytes downloaded
[02:37:05] + 235520 bytes downloaded
[02:37:05] + 245760 bytes downloaded
[02:37:06] + 256000 bytes downloaded
[02:37:06] + 266240 bytes downloaded
[02:37:06] + 276480 bytes downloaded
[02:37:07] + 286720 bytes downloaded
[02:37:07] + 296960 bytes downloaded
[02:37:07] + 307200 bytes downloaded
[02:37:08] + 317440 bytes downloaded
[02:37:08] + 327680 bytes downloaded
[02:37:09] + 337920 bytes downloaded
[02:37:09] + 348160 bytes downloaded
[02:37:09] + 358400 bytes downloaded
[02:37:10] + 368640 bytes downloaded
[02:37:10] + 378880 bytes downloaded
[02:37:11] + 389120 bytes downloaded
[02:37:11] + 399360 bytes downloaded
[02:37:11] + 409600 bytes downloaded
[02:37:12] + 419840 bytes downloaded
[02:37:12] + 430080 bytes downloaded
[02:37:12] + 440320 bytes downloaded
[02:37:13] + 450560 bytes downloaded
[02:37:13] + 460800 bytes downloaded
[02:37:14] + 471040 bytes downloaded
[02:37:14] + 481280 bytes downloaded
[02:37:14] + 491520 bytes downloaded
[02:37:15] + 501760 bytes downloaded
[02:37:15] + 512000 bytes downloaded
[02:37:15] + 522240 bytes downloaded
[02:37:16] + 532480 bytes downloaded
[02:37:16] + 542720 bytes downloaded
[02:37:17] + 552960 bytes downloaded
[02:37:17] + 563200 bytes downloaded
[02:37:17] + 573440 bytes downloaded
[02:37:18] + 583680 bytes downloaded
[02:37:18] + 593920 bytes downloaded
[02:37:18] + 604160 bytes downloaded
[02:37:19] + 614400 bytes downloaded
[02:37:19] + 624640 bytes downloaded
[02:37:20] + 634880 bytes downloaded
[02:37:20] + 645120 bytes downloaded
[02:37:20] + 655360 bytes downloaded
[02:37:21] + 665600 bytes downloaded
[02:37:21] + 675840 bytes downloaded
[02:37:21] + 686080 bytes downloaded
[02:37:22] + 696320 bytes downloaded
[02:37:22] + 706560 bytes downloaded
[02:37:23] + 716479 bytes downloaded
[02:37:23] Verifying core Core_82.fah...
[02:37:23] Signature is VALID
[02:37:23]
[02:37:23] Trying to unzip core FahCore_82.exe
[02:37:23] Decompressed FahCore_82.exe (1683456 bytes) successfully
[02:37:23] + Core successfully engaged
[02:37:28]
[02:37:28] + Processing work unit
[02:37:28] Core required: FahCore_82.exe
[02:37:28] Core found.
[02:37:28] Working on Unit 04 [August 11 02:37:28]
[02:37:28] + Working ...
[02:37:32] CoreStatus = 63 (99)
[02:37:32] + Error starting Folding@Home core.
[02:37:37]
[02:37:37] + Processing work unit
[02:37:37] Core required: FahCore_82.exe
[02:37:37] Core found.
[02:37:37] Working on Unit 04 [August 11 02:37:37]
[02:37:37] + Working ...
[02:37:41] CoreStatus = 63 (99)
[02:37:41] + Error starting Folding@Home core.
[02:37:46]
[02:37:46] + Processing work unit
[02:37:46] Core required: FahCore_82.exe
[02:37:46] Core found.
[02:37:46] Working on Unit 04 [August 11 02:37:46]
[02:37:46] + Working ...
[02:37:51] CoreStatus = 63 (99)
[02:37:51] + Error starting Folding@Home core.
[02:37:51]
Folding@Home will go to sleep for 1 day as there have been 5 consecutive Cores executed which failed to complete a work unit.
[02:37:51] (To wake it up early, quit the application and restart it.)
[02:37:51] If problems persist, please visit our website at http://folding.stanford.edu for help.
[02:37:51] + Sleeping...

[Hack30]

Yes I'm experienceing the same thing. What gives?:shrug:

[iceage]

I think it has something to do with Notfred's diskless setup and that core. Something about how the kernel is setup to use Wine as the operating platform. I read some posts at the techreport forum. I'll have a link to them up tonight. Don't have the bookmark here at work.

[ghettocomp]

After the demise of my poor little 'ole PIII server (http://www.ocforums.com/showthread.php?t=473681), I have the setup running again.

The total time to reset the new server and have all layers running was less
than 30 minutes. Oh Joy!

after not paying attention to what i was really doing the first time I
configured everything, I figured I would see If I could set this up without
following any further instructions.

I started by dragging the old Dualie P-Pro server from its deathbed, the
closet in another room, I plugged the power cord into the back, I attached
the video, Network, keyboard, and mouse connections. Then I pressed the
power button....

...Dead...

...My first thought was "CRAP!, It died in storage" After I checked it
out, I was looking around behind the computer and saw what the problem
was. Actually what I found is, it was probably better to plug the other end of
the power cord into the power socket as well. :D:o Pressed the power
button again, and the whole thing lit up like it was supposed to. I erased all
the extra schtuff running and downloaded and installed the newest copy of
TFTPD32 from the authors website. I then dl'd a fresh copy of diskless.zip
from notfreds link, and installed that into the same directory as the tftpd
server program. I checked a couple of settings, to make sure they were
what i kinda figured what they should, be.. Then started the tftpd32 server
program.

so far, so good.

rebooted the first diskless layer and waited... within 10 seconds it started
picking up all the diskless running info, then downloaded a new client, core
and WU. I was off and running! and Big honkin' WU at that! probably forgot
to turn off the big packets thing anyway :D

Tomorrow though, I have to make the final registry adjustments to make sure
that the silly stuff keeps picking the correct ip addresses when they reboot. I
also might add an additional NIC to make sure that the Farm is totally isolated
from the local network to eliminate any further booting problems. I noticed
there is an option in teh TFTPD server to force it to listen at one NIC/IP for
any discovery schtuff. should be easy to configure from there.

[WarriorII]

LOL, good job. :)

Glad to hear you're back in business.

:attn:

[Hack30]

Ghetto,
Do you have any dual core diskless folders, I can't seem to get mine up and running keeps giving me 'wine can't find FAH502.exe' pxe boots loads sees the dual cores and then 'wine can't find FAH502.exe'. Any thoughts on what this could be other layers not affected at all just the dual layer.

[ghettocomp]

I have one dual core system. I'll try and get that one to boot with the diskless setup one more time. I never could get it to cooperate. I thought it was just me or something. :)
If I can get it to duplicate that problem, maybe I can come up with some sort of answer. :)

[Hack30]

Don't tear up anyting you got rigged up. I just wanted to know if anyone else had the same trouble with dual core layers as I. I'm trying to get it to run borgix. At least it will be folding if I can.

Thanks for the info.

[Audioaficionado]

Don't try to fold with that PPro server, not even timeless WUs. It should last for years if you don't cook it with FAH ;)

[ghettocomp]

Don't try to fold with that PPro server, not even timeless WUs. It should last for years if you don't cook it with FAH ;)
LOL, actually it can do a timeless WU in around 4-6 7-10 days, not too bad. I think I better run it with 2 instances :p
Wont cook the cpu's anyway, I replaced Compaq's Crap stock stuff with something that suits me better, and added a couple of fans as well, the whole thing runs much better. :)
Besides, I have a few extra CPU's, PSU, voltage regulators (a compaq thing) and even a spare mobo! this thing aint dieing soon!

[Juliecheng]

I have read on www.disklessangel.com.but ,I haven't known what is diskless's solvetion !

[Juliecheng]

I have use the da ,I think this is a very good softwear

[U D13 N0W]

Resurecting an old post here, seeing as no one has added to it in about 9 months.
I'm trying to set up a folding farm, and this method seems nearly perfect for me, but i do have one detail that might be an issue. I would be using a laptop with only one network port on it as the server. Do i need to buy either a USB network port or a PCMCIA network port card, and if i do which would be better? Would there be any extra configuration as far as getting the port to commuicate?
My current set up from top to bottom:
School Ethernet connection
Netgear FS605 hub
Dell laptop; Xbox 360

The set up that im thinking would be either:
School Ethernet connection
Netgear FS605 hub
Xbox 360; Netgear FS605 hub (i have two of them and the second would have DHCP disabled)
four diskless folders; dell laptop

or would i have to set it up like:
School Ethernet connection
Netgear 605 hub
Xbox 360; dell laptop
(from dell laptop network port that would be added) Netgear 605 hub w/o DHCP
four diskless folders

Would the second option work properly? (seeing as there are only 5 ports total on the hub the second wouldnt involve me buying a new hub.

The main question is whould i have to set it up differently?

[Adak]

:welcome: U D13 Now.

I'm no network guy by a long shot, but sounds like you could do it either way.
My idea would be to make each rig as independent as possible. If you want to take the laptop or XBox elsewhere for a while, try to leave the other folders still able to communicate.

I have no server, but four folders all going into one router, then to the modem. If one has a problem, it doesn't affect any of the others. :)

Your firewall needs to have FAH on it's "exclusion" list, so it will let fah communicate when it needs to. FAH uses ports 8080 and 80, but that should not be a problem to open if needed.

The less equipment you need, the less troubleshooting problems later on, and less expense, now. :)

Hopefully, we'll get a network guru in here to clear up any questions.

[dfonda]

Welcome U D:welcome:

That netgear is a switch isn't it? (As opposed to a hub) switch's are better. Make sure it woks in Full duplex.

EDIT: Yeah its a switch Full duplex.:thup:

I take it you don't need wireless? You can run wires to everything? If you would at some point need wireless an inexpensive Router could replace your switch.

The second way looks good.

[U D13 N0W]

ok i'll try setting up the with the second setup. Would there be any changes for the instructions thou. I'm not familier with using USB neworking devices or the PCMCIA cards. Would that change any of the IP addresses or information, or would i have to throw in some extra steps along the way? Which seems to be the better option the USB or the PCMCIA? if no one has any major pros/cons for either i'll just go with which is cheeper.

[U D13 N0W]

Does anyone know if the diskless folding setup in this forum allows for overclocking? I had been playing around with Mandriva Linux 2008.0 and for some reason i could never OC. The OC were all through bios and right now i've got the same board running windows XP and the OC shows up fine. I'm not sure if anyone else has run into this and on the mandriva forums they say that it OCs fine so im confused:beer:
If this light linux and wine setup wont OC i may try running it through XP with a bit of creativity it could probably be set up in a similar way to this (but with an hdd on each F@H box).

As a side note, yes i am making sure that the OC is stable before Folding with it :attn:

[Adak]

There is nothing about diskless folding that stops O/C'ing, per se. That depends on your exact board, chipsets, drivers, etc.

Sounds like Mandriva just hasn't got the low-down on your board for O/C'ing, or for reading that O/C, just yet. That's been the problem with Linux. For Windows, every board and program is well tested, but for Linux, it's just not real profitable, so it's not a real high priority.

The better option (USB or PCMCIA), just depends on which is better supported by your BIOS, and OS. Unless someone has worked with the same equipment, drivers, OS and BIOS, how could you say with any certainty how this gear will work together?

[U D13 N0W]

There is nothing about diskless folding that stops O/C'ing, per se. That depends on your exact board, chipsets, drivers, etc.

Sounds like Mandriva just hasn't got the low-down on your board for O/C'ing, or for reading that O/C, just yet. That's been the problem with Linux. For Windows, every board and program is well tested, but for Linux, it's just not real profitable, so it's not a real high priority.

AH! ok i get it. So if a full linux distro hasnt noticed the OC on my board's bios what are the odds that this light verson running wine wouldn't catch the OC (i get the comment about personal setup being a complete variable, just looking for a shot in the dark estimation)?