I need some help running two SMP instances

[veryhumid]

I read a couple places that I can get a PPD boost similar to the VM method, but within Windows. I got the affinity changer (http://distributed.org.ua/forum/index.php?showtopic=1149) and after that things didn't really go right.

I went to Stanford and ran the SMP installer and ran that .bat file :(. I thought it would differentiate but it seems to have mucked up the original install. I did get both running and saw about 600 more ppd with two 2144 pointers instead of one. However, during the day I stopped one for some gaming and when I restarted it I got a client core communications error and it deleted the work. I uninstalled the second instance, deleted the folder and then deleted the work folder of the original instance. Things are going okay but I'd like to get a second instance going again.

What is the correct way to run two instances?

[=ACID RAIN=]

yeah with SMP x 2 you can't stop it or it will hose the work every time. I have seen it recover (and it should) but usually for me it hoses it no matter what.

For the right way, make a folder in program files (or wherever) called FAH, and make another called FAH2 at the same level. Name them what you want, just make 2 folders, is the point. Install one instance in FAH and install a second copy in FAH2. Change machine ID for one instance anything other than 1.

[veryhumid]

That is actually what I did, different machine ID and everything. I will try again but without running the .bat.

[torin3]

Are you running 5.91 or the 5.92 upgrade? I thought the 5.92 upgrade is able to prevent you loosing work units if you have to stop. I'm running 5.92 on my work machine, but I'm not quite sure how to install it a second time without messing things up, as it needs to be installed on top of 5.91 to work.

[veryhumid]

thanks, torin. I didn't know that about 5.92. I was using two 5.91, I'll try the upgrade this afternoon.

[torin3]

thanks, torin. I didn't know that about 5.92. I was using two 5.91, I'll try the upgrade this afternoon.

If it works, I think I'll try it that way myself. Uninstall everything, install 2 copies of 5.91, then run the upgrade once.

I tried VMWare on my work machine, but it wouldn't play nice with our firewall software, so I have to run WinSMP.

[veryhumid]

Okay, I have both going now. I am seeing about 3700PPD with one p2653 and one p3065. Before, I was getting about 3000 to maybe 3200 depending. I think two p2653 would get me closer to the magical 4k.

Just a tip:

I used the FAH installer to make the directory for the second instance and then extracted the 5.92 files into it. I re-ran the .bat but I am not sure if it was even needed or not.

[torin3]

Whoo-hoo! Glad it is working for you.

Did you test a shutdown to see if it did/did no lose the unit?

I think I'll try it tomorrow when it finishes up the unit it is on now. If it does work, I'll try shutting one down and seeing what happens.

[torin3]

Ok, I tried it and it seems to be working. Some minor glitches, like the fact that I wasn't installing it right, or installing the second 5.91 reverted the 5.92 down to 5.91. Anyway, I'm now running both at 5.92.

I'm not 100% sure but it looks like it does save the work unit on the second instance if you shut down the first one. It looks like it is going to lose it, then it starts back up.

The reason I'm not 100% sure, is I'm using cmdow to hid the windows while they are running, and one of them glitched the way it does sometimes and I wasn't able to unhide it to shut it down properly. So, I may have lost the unit on reboot.

But both are running. I'll see how much more time the percents take. I was running about 8.5min per percent on one instance. (don't run FAHmon)

[veryhumid]

8 minutes is an excellent time. Which unit was that? I actually bailed on the two winsmp and gave the vmware a shot. It took a bit to get it going because I've never used Linux and the guide is out of date, but I have two 1760-pointers about 11-12 mins a frame 4200-4600ppd). I am going to see how this goes for a while, but it's good that we figure out the dual SMP things, too. It's easier than VM.

[torin3]

I don't remember the specific unit, but it was one of the 1760 point ones.

However, even with SMP affinity changer, it looks like I'm running over 20 minutes per frame on each of these instances (3064 and 3065).

Maybe I should install FAHmon and see if I'm gaining or losing by running two instances.

EDIT: Well, it says about 3800 PPD. This is on a 3.3Ghz Q6600.

[veryhumid]

I like FAHmon myself. It's good to have around. You could also just use a calculator. Find how many work units per day for each instance and multiply each one by the point value of the work unit.

for example: 10 minutes/frame * 100 frames = 1000 minutes to complete the wu. 1000 minutes/60min. per hour = 16.67 hours to complete that work unit. Then divide 24/16.67 = 1.44 work units per day. If the work unit were worth 1000 pionts, you would make 1440 points per day.

[torin3]

Yep, I've done the calculator method before, but I was lazy here. ;)

I'll shut one off and see how fast it is on one client.

[torin3]

Well, it looks like while 5.92 will prevent you from losing a work unit *every single time* you shut down one, it won't prevent you from losing the occasional WU. And it looks like my best time on a p3064 is about 2800PPD on this machine. So two instances, one on p3064 and one on p3065 (which by itself did about 1800PPD) pulling 3500PPD is quite respectable. I'm still getting a signifigant boost.

[surfasb]

I like FAHmon myself. It's good to have around. You could also just use a calculator. Find how many work units per day for each instance and multiply each one by the point value of the work unit.

for example: 10 minutes/frame * 100 frames = 1000 minutes to complete the wu. 1000 minutes/60min. per hour = 16.67 hours to complete that work unit. Then divide 24/16.67 = 1.44 work units per day. If the work unit were worth 1000 pionts, you would make 1440 points per day.

Man, 10 min a frame? I'm VMing 2 smps and I only get 14 min a frame on this q6600. then again I'm only runnning @ 300 x 9 off a stock cooler. I didn't think it would make up for 4 mins though. Any thoughts.?

[torin3]

With a q6600, I could get about 10 minutes a frame on 2 VMs running about 3.6Ghz. This is on bog normal 1760 point units.

[veryhumid]

Man, 10 min a frame? I'm VMing 2 smps and I only get 14 min a frame on this q6600. then again I'm only runnning @ 300 x 9 off a stock cooler. I didn't think it would make up for 4 mins though. Any thoughts.?


You are fine, my numbers were just to demonstrate the calculation. I'm doing about 12 mins depending on how much I use my comp. running 2 VMs @ 3.33.