[repilce]

hello all.. well was just conjering up this ideah on so fast folding...
this will only apply to linux users... so winblows users might as well pass this one on..

I have been get''n back to my c programming stuff and i was thinking about the scheduling algorythms that linux uses.. if a person was to modify the scheduling so that either the time slices are bigger or to configure it to some extent that a "first come first serve" algorythm could be implemented the speed at which the folding at home client could run would be SIGNIFACANTLY faster than the every-day run of the mill folder..

from what i have gathered most of the 2.4.X kernels try to keep the time slice around 50ms and use sort of an old "round robin" pre-emptive system along with a priority opt system..

so right now any sytem folding with the stock scheduler will fold only with the un-used processes and kindly give up to any old process that is ran.. which could be anything as stupid as the screen saver for x..

but what if once a wu was started, all the cpu would do is work on that wu.. (or run the folding process) until it was complete.. with absolutely no 50ms or any interuptions... just imagine the speed at which a wu could be completed...

tell me what you think... if i can pull this off im thinking of trying to put together a mini "distrobution" that will maybey runn of CD and use this system.. if this is possible even crappy old pentiums could make some pretty great strides..

it would be great if the source to the folding project was available so that the "niceness" of the program could be over-written.. but since that's not possible this is one way i can see would greatly increase the team 32 status if all our linux users would contribute..

[OSUmaxx]

Well, I'm not a *nix expert, but I like your way of thinking. Would giving folding 100% of the time interfere with the writing and network functions that need to work? Anyway, I'll let an expert chime in here...

[repilce]

Well, I'm not a *nix expert, but I like your way of thinking. Would giving folding 100% of the time interfere with the writing and network functions that need to work? Anyway, I'll let an expert chime in here...

no since part of the folding "process" is to call up the internet connection (and whatever process it needs to use it) it will do it just like any other time..

[axlecrusher]

I don't think you would see a huge improvement in speed simply because FAH would get 99% of the CPU on an idle system. What's 1 more percent?

Axle

[repilce]

well not that it takes a great amount of time compared to how long the time slices are but over how many "desicions" it has to make each time the time slice is up.. well they can add up over several wu's if u think about it..
everytime the cpu even has to think about taking another process in it's taking time away from the fold..

[KaHNZa]

Logic tells me that yes, it would speed up Linux folding. But not enough to be worth the trouble. But I'm just a linux newb thats not even running linux right now. So I could very easily be wrong. I'd like to see if Arkaine23 has anything to add...

[axlecrusher]

If you did modify the scheduling and what not, you would have a computer that would be useless, beside for folding. The only time I could see this useful is maybe with a farm. But you would not be able to monitor the nodes remotely because FAH would use ALL the CPU cycles. No cycles for ssh. I don't even know if linux would be able to refresh the content on the screen if you use up all the CPU cycles. Forget being to type anything on the keyboard, your mouse would be useless, but you don't really need a mouse anyways. If you want to see what it is like, set the priority of FAH on windows to realtime. You WILL have to hit reset to gain controll of your computer.

Axle

[repilce]

1st) i dont' run winblows
2nd) i see what your gett'n at though and have thought about that myslef.. i know it willl have to be a NON-INTERACTIVE system.. but yes it's use will be better for farms.. i'm not talking about using something like this for interactive use on your main computer ! it will definately be a challengse trying to do what i want and not make it a "first come first serve' schedular..

[axlecrusher]

I'm still intrested to see what you can get it to do. I don't usually run windows either, except if I need to do some stuff in Maya, and anther video software. It would be cool if you could turn it into the "folding OS." Maybe a striped down version of linux, and slightly modified.

Axle

[repilce]

it'll be a lil bit before i actually starting rippign the code apart.. gota do some layouts and dome "theoretical" thinking ,... but any advancements i' make in it i'll definately keep posted..